Relentless pressure of rising flood water caused a weak section to give way, leaving a crater where the road should have been just before 6am on Saturday.

Hundreds of vehicles were stranded on either side unable to cross and the washaway's timing was not good, coming as it did on the opening day of the 55th Morobe Show in Lae.

EMTV News reported that attendance figures for the show's opening day were down, mainly cause by heavy rain.

The Morobe Department of Works was able to repair the damaged section of the road with a Bailey Bridge and by Monday morning, traffic was once again able to move freely on the highway.