The Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) has announced restrictions to agricultural machinery travelling on the Newell Highway were lifted November 7.

An RTA spokesperson said a restriction was imposed on vehicles more than 3.5 metres wide on Thursday 2 December, because heavy rainfall caused roads to flood and road surfaces to become saturated.

"This restriction was not meant for harvest vehicles with appropriate permits, although it was hoped restrictions would discourage motorists travelling unnecessarily on the already damaged roads," an RTA spokesperson said.

"Farmers are asked to give way to oncoming traffic, as being forced onto wet, unsealed road shoulders can cause vehicles to become bogged down.

"The wide load detour via the Castlereagh Highway at Coonabarabran is under water and it will take extra time for harvesters to get through Dubbo.

"If harvesters are required to be on the roads, they are being encouraged to travel by inland routes and avoid Dubbo and other localities affected by flooding.

"The RTA is regularly reviewing restrictions to traffic on all flooded roads.

"Due to the heavy rainfall, some restrictions are being imposed that will affect oversize and overmass vehicles. These restrictions will limit the damage being caused to flooded, saturated or unsealed roads.

"Loads exceeding 3.5 metres wide or 80 tonnes gross mass are not permitted to travel on or west of the Newell Highway until further notice.

"These dimension and mass limit restrictions only apply to vehicles authorised under class 1 permits and notices.

The RTA said the following exemptions are in place and although these vehicles are not affected by the restrictions, they are asked to exercise caution to prevent damage to roads and unnecessary inconvenience and risk to other road users:

  • Agricultural machine (header, tractor etc);
  • Agricultural implements being towed by an agricultural machine; and,
  • Agricultural machine/implement being carried on a heavy vehicle.