YOU WOULDN'T read about it - the Tamworth region has been left without Sydney newspaper deliveries, while school holiday travellers have been stuck in traffic, as rain wreaks havoc on the highway.
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The New England Highway is the main route between Tamworth and the city and remains closed to all traffic at both Singleton and at Maitland.
Authorities have urged travellers to avoid the area or delay driving, though a detour for light vehicles is in place.
Cars can use White Avenue, Blaxland Avenue, Bridgeman Road to Obanvale, then Retreat Road, Dyrring Road, Gresford Road & Queen Street to return to the highway. Expect delays.
The New England Highway is now closed between the Golden Highway and Range Road at Whittingham.
The Golden Highway is still closed.
Road closures in the Hunter that could affect people travelling from Tamworth:
- Singleton - New England Highway remains closed between White Avenue and Pitt Street. Southbound heavy vehicles are being stopped at Muswellbrook, and all northbound vehicles are now being stopped at Whittingham.
- Whittingham - New England Highway is closed between the Golden Highway and Kelso Street in Singleton.
- Whittingham - Range Road is closed between New England Highway and Golden Highway.
- Maitland, the New England Highway remains closed between the roundabouts at High Street and Church Street. Light vehicles are being diverted through the town centre while heavy vehicles can use the Hunter Expressway instead.
The heavy vehicle restrictions and terrible weather have stopped some deliveries in their tracks, including newspapers coming from Sydney.
That included today's edition of The Land.
Several local news agencies across the region - including Tamworth, Inverell, Glen Innes and Manilla - told customers they were left without city papers to sell.
There are hopes the deliveries will return to normal tomorrow.
The Leader is printed locally and will be available.
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Residents are reminded to never drive through floodwaters and stay off the roads if possible, and long delays are expected.
The latest traffic information can be found at the Live Traffic NSW website.
Major inundation at Singleton was taking place on Thursday morning, with the flood level expected to reach a peak of about 13.71m - exceeding the level of 13.15 reached in March.
Singleton and Maitland were left off a list of 23 local government areas declared natural disaster zones earlier this week, which unlocked joint state-federal support for affected residents and businesses.
The Hunter, Central Coast, Sydney and the Illawarra have been lashed by wild weather dumping torrential rain.
A wildlife sanctuary at Barrington Tops has also been affected.
Tamworth has had enough rain to bring out the brollies or stay indoors but not enough to cause flooding or road closures.
Tamworth's only rain gauge at the airport clocked a drop more than 20mm in the past two days.
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Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
Police and crime reporter at the Newcastle Herald. Email: afalkenmire@austcommunitymedia.com.au
