One lane on Waterfall Way to reopen on Sunday

The connection from Armidale to the coast will be restored in time for the Easter long weekend.

Author

Ellie Chamberlain
March 20, 2026

Vehicles - including school buses - will be allowed on Waterfall Way this weekend, two months after a major landslip over the road between Dorrigo and Bellingen forced its closure.

What happened: On January 19, a landslip of more than 200 tonnes closed Waterfall Way between Horseshoe Road and Boggy Creek Road – about 18km west of the Pacific Highway.

  • Waterfall Way spans from the highway to Armidale. The slip has disrupted inland residents and the industries that rely heavily on the arterial route.

Bellingen business owners want you to know the town is open

A landslip on Waterfall Way – a road that spans from the Pacific Highway to Armidale – has led to confusion over access.

One at a time: The site will reopen to traffic on Sunday, March 22, operating under one-way conditions.

  • From Sunday, one lane will operate on the northern side of the road under temporary traffic signals, with vehicles travelling through the slip site one direction at a time at a reduced speed of 40 km/h. 

A gravel filled shipping container wall has been installed to protect passing vehicles.

Safety first: Access will continue to depend on the ongoing stability of the slope, and the road may need to close at short notice in response to rainfall, rockfall or changing ground conditions. 

  • In that case, light vehicles will be diverted back onto the alternate route via Summervilles Road.

Two months on, funding announced for Bellingen Shire’s recovery after 200-tonne landslip

Low-interest loans have been offered to small businesses and primary producers to help "bridge the gap in their recovery”.

What next: The NSW Government’s assessment of Waterfall Way between Bellingen and Dorrigo, which aims to identify options for short and long-term improvement, is expected to be completed in the second half of the year.

Thumbnail: A gravel filled shipping container wall has been installed to protect passing vehicles. Image NSW Government.