More black top on the GRR

[Isuzumu]

Just found this notice on the WA Main Roads site, looks like it will be all black top to El Questro by the end of the year.

Entered: 13/06/2012 10:02:25 AM

TRAFFIC NOTICE

Gibb River Road – Improvement Works

Main Roads WA would like to advise road users that 18km of pavement and sealing works will commence on the east end of the Gibb River Road on Monday 18th June to September 2012.

Works will be completed in 4 sections and will join existing sealed sections from the intersection of Great Northern Highway to El Questro turnoff.

Traffic Management will be in place, sections under construction will be detoured and under speed restrictions.

The aim of these works is to improve safety and all weather driving conditions for this section of road.

For further information on road conditions within the region please contact our Kimberley office on 9158 4333 or 138 138 (24/7).

Find out about Perth metropolitan road incidents and events on Twitter @www.twitter.com/perth_traffic and regional information at @www.twitter.com/wa_roads

Issued: 1000 hrs on 13/06/2012

[whitey1]

Yeah they're linking up the bitumen thats already there. I was talking to a truckie thats working on it back at the end of may, and was told it was going to the Pentecost.

[krisandkev]

I am not sure if that is a good thing?  We love dirt roads.  And after this there will be thousands of caravans going there!  Glad we have already been there.

Kevin

[Isuzumu]

We are going next year, probably be our last serious off road journey, would like to do it as early in the season as possible so we miss the crowds.

[speewa158]

Knowing the way they do it the road will be broken up in record time & back to dirt . Its called progress   

[Tjupurula]

I am not sure if that is a good thing?  We love dirt roads.  And after this there will be thousands of caravans going there!  Glad we have already been there.

Kevin

Dn't worry Kevin, with the amount of rain in that area sometimes, the bitumen may not last all that long.
Tjupurula

[speewa158]

Dn't worry Kevin, with the amount of rain in that area sometimes, the bitumen may not last all that long.
Tjupurula

& l thought l was sinical 

[whitey1]

We are going next year, probably be our last serious off road journey, would like to do it as early in the season as possible so we miss the crowds.

Its not exactly an off road journey going along the Gibb. Some of the side trips are though. The Gibb River Road is just a dirt road that happens to take you to some pretty awesome places!
The worst part of the road was between Home Valley and Emma Gorge.

[Isuzumu]

Its not exactly an off road journey going along the Gibb. Some of the side trips are though. The Gibb River Road is just a dirt road that happens to take you to some pretty awesome places!
The worst part of the road was between Home Valley and Emma Gorge.

We will be going up to Mitchell Falls and Kalumburu (Honey Moon Bay) so that will be the harder part I would imagine.

[SteveandViv]

We will be going up to Mitchell Falls and Kalumburu (Honey Moon Bay) so that will be the harder part I would imagine.

Yep, most likely. At the end of the day a lot of the Major used roads are getting sealed as it just cost to much t maintain them the way they are. The Gibb is not considered a touch road and hasn't for years. It's sealed for our end to Windjana Gorge and that caters for all those wanting to get out there form the Derby end and it's the same from the Kun end to Elquestro (sp) I expect.

And the Vans can still not get into some of those places due to the river crossings so there is some relief there. Cape Leveque is also being tared and if you have driven it you'll know why. There is nothing fun about that road and so many people use it it just makes sense. It may take them 10 years but it will start as soon as the gas hub goes in

[SteveandViv]

Just found this notice on the WA Main Roads site, looks like it will be all black top to El Questro by the end of the year.

Entered: 13/06/2012 10:02:25 AM

TRAFFIC NOTICE

Gibb River Road – Improvement Works

Main Roads WA would like to advise road users that 18km of pavement and sealing works will commence on the east end of the Gibb River Road on Monday 18th June to September 2012.

Works will be completed in 4 sections and will join existing sealed sections from the intersection of Great Northern Highway to El Questro turnoff.

Traffic Management will be in place, sections under construction will be detoured and under speed restrictions.

The aim of these works is to improve safety and all weather driving conditions for this section of road.

For further information on road conditions within the region please contact our Kimberley office on 9158 4333 or 138 138 (24/7).

Find out about Perth metropolitan road incidents and events on Twitter @www.twitter.com/perth_traffic and regional information at @www.twitter.com/wa_roads

Issued: 1000 hrs on 13/06/2012

They finished it 3 weeks ago as we found out on our last work trip up there.

[fuji]

It's only a few kms of tar. Imagine doing all the way to Cape Leveque. I doubt if they will go to my favourite spot to Middle Lagoon. Rough as guts but who cares. Keeps the old farts away.

[Rob n Tab]

We don't find Middle Lagoon road that bad. When we were up there for the October long weekend everyone was complaining about the road but it was probably the best we have seen it for years
The inland (nillabubaca) road from Derby was the worst we have seen though. It was like driving down a long green tunnel with the occasional branch slapping the mirrors to remind you not to veer off the centre of the track. Still 10 times better than the cape road though.

[Top.ender]

mmmmmmm...  I remember when a trip up the Cape took 3 to 4 hrs minimum...and when there was no way in hell that you,d try the Gibb in a caravan...Ahhhh the Good Old Days 

I also remember 15 years ago on our first trip up the Telegraph...all we heard was" its ruined now " , you should have seen it 5 years ago... guess what?? we had the time of our lives !!  

[SteveandViv]

It's only a few kms of tar. Imagine doing all the way to Cape Leveque. I doubt if they will go to my favourite spot to Middle Lagoon. Rough as guts but who cares. Keeps the old farts away.

About 60K. They won't go much further - I hope. No real reason though, lift the Gulf of Carpinteria Hwy.

That's coming. The shire have committed to having it sealed with in ten years. If the gas hub goes ahead then that will be halved.

As the roads up the top are funded by grants you never know what they will seal, if they see value from a local perspective then they will. The reason the top part is sealed was due to the fact that the indigenous travel between those places often and needed something better than what they had. The rest is shire owned and not sealed.

[savio]

How Funny!
I was just talking to a bloke who surveyed the GRR back when
He said it took all day just to do ? so many miles
Very interesting to talk to
I asked him where his book was and he said he did consider writting one once

He also surveyed in and around La Grange Community and other places

[SteveandViv]

We don't find Middle Lagoon road that bad. When we were up there for the October long weekend everyone was complaining about the road but it was probably the best we have seen it for years
The inland (nillabubaca) road from Derby was the worst we have seen though. It was like driving down a long green tunnel with the occasional branch slapping the mirrors to remind you not to veer off the centre of the track. Still 10 times better than the cape road though.

That road is pretty good from the turn off up until you turn off the station road. Jack Burton grades that often ( My wife is the Financial controller for him and Vicky - Yeda Pastoral Company) Your right about the run out to Beagle bay though. It is over grown. Would hate a cow to pop its head out

[fuji]

That road is pretty good from the turn off up until you turn off the station road. Jack Burton grades that often ( My wife is the Financial controller for him and Vicky - Yeda Pastoral Company) Your right about the run out to Beagle bay though. It is over grown. Would hate a cow to pop its head out

Any nice places to stay in Middle Lagoon steveandviv? We were there for three nights last year but can't remember the  name of the place.  Hopefully be up there in middle of June.  Young aboriginal girl ran the place. Has hot showers, boat ramp with provision to park your van right on the small cliff face.

Wayne

[db]

Any nice places to stay in Middle Lagoon steveandviv? We were there for three nights last year but can't remember the  name of the place.  Hopefully be up there in middle of June.  Young aboriginal girl ran the place. Has hot showers, boat ramp with provision to park your van right on the small cliff face.

Wayne

I think its just called 'Middle Lagoon'.  We spent a week there, no where near long enough.

[krisandkev]

Yep, nice place Middle Lagoon.



But Gnylmarung Retreat is also pretty good, same area as Middle lagoon.



I think our favourite was Whale Song, also in the same area.

[SteveandViv]

Yes, Whale song is a beaut place - agreed. And Middle Lagoon is as well. I don;t think you can really go wrong around that area. I've been lucky this year as I work wit some land owners we get to go to a few other places where there are no facilities but it's fun and different to be taken out by locals, hunting and fishing, eating Turtle was - different etc.

If you ge the time I think the less traveled roads are worth a look if you like remote.

But in saying that I'd camp any where u that way, it is magic.

[savio]

How true SteveandViv
My less traveled road would have to be Turkey Lagoon NT just past Ngukurr after a wet (and the rest)
and the locals still make me smile thinkn of our camping trips but their turtles were billabong ones and the smell kept me away which was just as well cause turtle was 1 thing they weren't keen on sharing LOL and the cracking noise of the Barra gawd I could go on and on ---