The Mitchell Highway has been closed between Orange and Wellington as the region continues to battle the aftermath of a record-breaking 24-hour period of rain.
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Rising flood waters have already severed the Great Western Highway, near Bathurst's Bunnings, and LiveTraffic has confirmed the Mitchell Highway heading north west is also shut.
The update says the highway is closed in both directions due to flooding at Apsley to Orange. There's a diversion available in both directions along Burrendong Way. However, LiveTraffic is urging everyone to delay non-essential travel due to the flooding across the Central West.
The lower level bridge in Hereford Street remains closed, as water levels continue to peak. The water level is peaking at major flood levels at just under seven metres.
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Despite rising water levels, the State Emergency Service (SES) has reassured the city that levee banks around Bathurst will hold after fears they could be overcome by flooding.
At around 11.30am Monday morning, the Bureau of Meteorology put out an alert warning that levees could break following significant rainfall and flooding.
However, SES spokesperson David Rankine said that is not the case.
While the Macquarie River is expected to peak at seven metres, he said the bureau was misinformed about the risk to the levees and has since retracted its alert.
Other major closures across the west include:
- The Newell Highway is closed in both directions between Forbes and Parkes.
- The Newell Highway is also closed between Forbes and Wyalong, and between Jerilderie and Gillenbah.
- The Escort Way is closed between Forbes and Cudal.
- Henry Parkes Way is closed between Parkes and Manildra, and between Condobolin and Parkes.
- Lachlan Valley Way is closed in Forbes, as well as between Forbes and Jemalong, and between Gooloogong and Cowra.
- Lachlan Valley Way is also closed between Legh Street and Morongla Road at Cowra.
- Henry Lawson Way is closed between Forbes and Grenfell.
- Canowindra Road is closed at Canowindra.
- The Mid Western Highway is closed at Back Creek.
- The Mid Western Highway is also closed at Erigolia, east of Rankin Springs.
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