![Finally open to all traffic after being closed for over 2 weeks.]()
Finally open to all traffic after being closed for over 2 weeks.
One location that had received hundreds of millimetres of rainfall as fallout from ex Tropical Cyclone Tiffany in January 2022 was the small location of Glendambo on the Stuart Highway.
The rainfall was claimed to be a one in two hundred year event and the results were the complete closure to all road traffic north of the town and south of
Coober Pedy for just over 2 weeks, as
well as closing the main railway line to the Northern Territory and Western Australia for over a month.
![The Stuart Highway finally open to all vehicles.]()
The Stuart Highway finally open to all vehicles.
![The Stuart Highway finally open to all vehicles.]()
The Stuart Highway finally open to all vehicles.
![Its going to take a very long time for the water to dry up at Glendambo]()
Its going to take a very long time for the water to dry up at Glendambo
![The Stuart Highway finally open to all vehicles.]()
The Stuart Highway finally open to all vehicles.
![The Stuart Highway finally open to all vehicles.]()
The Stuart Highway finally open to all vehicles.
![The Stuart Highway finally open to all vehicles.]()
The Stuart Highway finally open to all vehicles.
At its peak there was over 300 millimetres of water covering the Stuart Highway that stretched for over a kilometre. With that much water, authorities were unable to
test the structure of the highway and after calls from the government to get this extremely import road link open.
When the rain finally stop, the water level was finally starting to drop and after tests were carried out, only truck able to travel through the water, as its depth was still classed as still too deep of other road vehicles.
![The floodwater had hatched millions of Shield Shrimps]()
The floodwater had hatched millions of Shield Shrimps
![This dead Shield Shrimp was as big as a 20 cent piece]()
This dead Shield Shrimp was as big as a 20 cent piece
![The floodwater have also attracted new wildlife to the area.]()
The floodwater have also attracted new wildlife to the area.
![A section of the Stuart Highway where a channel was made to help clear the floodwaters]()
A section of the Stuart Highway where a channel was made to help clear the floodwaters
![The main road to Kingoonya is still closed]()
The main road to Kingoonya is still closed
![The floodwaters on the northern side of the highway]()
The floodwaters on the northern side of the highway
Within a couple of days, four wheel drive were able to be escorted through during daylight hours, while all other vehicles were still banned from entering the water.
In an attempt to drain the water quicker, road teams cut away three channels across the Stuart Highway resulting in millions of litres of water draining to the northern side of the highway, with the body of the water extending for over a kilometre north of the highway.
My photos were taken only 3 days after the highway was opened to conventional vehicles and still shows the extent of the water, and will last like this for quite some time.
![Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.]()
Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.
![Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.]()
Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.
![Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.]()
Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.
![Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.]()
Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.
![Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.]()
Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.
![Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.]()
Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.
![Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.]()
Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.
![Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.]()
Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.
![The floodwaters have now attracted new wildlife into the area.]()
The floodwaters have now attracted new wildlife into the area.
![Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.]()
Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.
![An inland sea north of the highway as far as the eye can see]()
An inland sea north of the highway as far as the eye can see
![Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.]()
Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.
![The floodwaters will now transform the Outback.]()
The floodwaters will now transform the Outback.
![Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.]()
Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.
![Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.]()
Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.
![Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.]()
Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.
![The ground undermined this sign on the side of the highway]()
The ground undermined this sign on the side of the highway
![Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.]()
Floodwaters line the Stuart Highway at Glendambo.
![The side of the Stuart Highway is now a new home for Red Necked Avocets and hope the eggs hatch]()
The side of the Stuart Highway is now a new home for Red Necked Avocets and hope the eggs hatch
![Within a few months, the countryside will be covered in wildflowers.]()
Within a few months, the countryside will be covered in wildflowers.
![The area in now dotted with small inland lakes, east of Glendambo]()
The area in now dotted with small inland lakes, east of Glendambo