Roads Update - Safety Reminder and Current Projects

Published on 12 March 2026

ROAD SAFETY MESSAGE

Council reminds road users to be vigilant and take care during severe wind and rain events due to the potential for trees and other debris falling on roads.

Care should also be taken when considering driving through floodwaters due to the potential for unseen obstacles, washed out sections of road and the potential for vehicles and people to be washed off the road – if in doubt, choose a safer route or wait until the water recedes.

ROADS UPDATE

There have been significant works to restore safe pedestrian and emergency vehicle access to the Anson Bay beach via the Pacific Cable Track / Anson Bay Track, which included remediation following significant landslips after the heavy rainfall.

New signage has been installed to remind track users to be vigilant of potential rockfall on sections of the track. The track has reopened for the public to continue much enjoyed use.

Significant stabilisation and rehabilitation works have also been completed on Marshs Road leading down to Ball Bay, greatly improving vehicle access and addressing drainage issues. Several sections of road had washed out over time or been covered by landslips due to the large volumes of water that can flow into the area during major rain events, making access down to the bay difficult.

This rehabilitation work was essential to the ongoing safe access for fuel supply to the island, and ensuring tourists and residents can continue to safely navigate and explore the area.

The team will start to undertake resealing works (tar seals) and resurfacing works (tar and metal/rock) on a number of roads in the coming months as resources allow.

These works are an important part of the road maintenance cycle. Maintaining a road while it is still in a serviceable condition requires significantly less time and resources to improve, preserve and extend its life.

This is far more efficient than planning and undertaking a full reconstruction of roads once a majority of a surface has failed.

These minor works also quickly reduce the potholing needs of the island and associated time-loss, allowing greater focus on important road reconstruction projects.

CURRENT PROJECTS

Road Reconstruction

The first section of Anson Bay Road reconstruction has commenced this month between Headstone Road and Mission Road, with initial works started on the road edges ahead of the main body of works which are to follow shortly.

Some road closures will be required during standard work hours (7:00am to 3:00pm), to allow these works to be undertaken safely and quickly. Closure details will be announced at least one (1) day prior to closure through Council’s social media channels and radio.

Culvert Replacement
Culvert replacements will be ongoing in the coming months along Anson Bay Road ahead of road reconstruction works.

Due to the narrow width of the road at two (2) sections of Anson Bay Road (shown in the image below), short-term road closures will be required to complete the works. Vehicles will be unable to pass through for up to two (2) hours while works are underway, as there will be a trench through the road.

These works are intended to occur on Mondays, when no flights are operating, with closures anticipated to be from 11:00am to 1:00pm.
Please plan any travel accordingly. Closures times will be advertised in advance through Council’s social media channels, radio and text message alerts.

Council thanks the community for your patience as we strive to make these significant improvements.

To view the Anson Bay Road Closure Plan and Anson Bay Culvert Replacement Locations images, please refer to this media release.