After a massive effort, Megalong Road, the only access into and out of the valley, will reopen at 5pm today (March 29), just a week after floods washed part of it away.
While it was closed, Megalong RFS volunteers helped deliver groceries to trapped residents and visitors, as well as ferrying people who needed to get out of the valley.
RFS captain, Robert Morse, said his volunteers had met several deliveries from Coles Online at the damaged road, which was passable on foot. They walked across, collected bags and took them back to teh RFS station which become an impromptu distribution centre.
Max Horn, president of the Megalong Valley community and land owners association, said the road closure during the big wet last week had left a number of visitors stranded, including sodden campers.
There had also been a big wedding party staying in local accommodation.
"Some managed to escape before the road destabilised. One group piled into two large four-wheel drives. They left their other cars so they'll have to come back at some stage."
Some of the campers were helped out by Mr Morse and the RFS.
Mr Horn said he and others had arranged temporary accommodation with friends for their children to be able to get to school.
A spokeswoman for council said: "Council crews have worked tirelessly since the rain stopped five days ago, in order to get one lane of the road reopened. Community members, who have been unable to drive in or out of the valley since the road was closed on March 21, will now be able to access the area by vehicle."
Access is via one lane and there are signage and barriers in place, to help direct traffic. Access is restricted to vehicles with a gross weight of less than 15 tonnes. Access is allowed for cars with trailers, caravans and horse floats.
Note, there will be no vehicle access for about three hours from approximately 10am on Wednesday (March 31) while the temporary road is sealed. Please go to bmcc.nsw.gov.au/flooding-2021-megalong-valley for further updates on this.
Traffic control teams will remain in-place until the work on the temporary road is completed (expected to be Wednesday afternoon). Council will commence the design of the full road reconstruction following that.
Drivers should also be aware of a landslip further down Megalong Road, which is also blocking one lane. Council cannot begin to clean this area until geotechnical engineers have developed a plan to fix it, as disturbance of this material may create a further slip. Signage and barriers are in place. There will be temporary traffic lights installed there prior to the Easter long weekend.
The shuttle bus, organised by council to assist Megalong Valley residents and businesses during the road closure, will not operate after 4pm today (March 29).
The Coles service to deliver groceries to 52 Shipley Road, Blackheath (Blackheath Glen Reserve) will no longer operate after today, now that the road is reopening.