MOTORISTS ignoring road closure signs, witches hats and concrete barriers on the Toowoomba-Karara Road, are not only risking serious damage to their cars, they now also face a hefty fine.

Leyburn Police officer-in-charge Constable Chris Stewart slammed those ignoring three sets of closure measures to use the road as a shortcut.

“The surface integrity of the road is shot,” he said.

“There are holes on it, trees across it, edges fallen away and because of the flooding there are sections where the bitumen has folded up like carpet.

“It is absolutely too dangerous to drive.”

Constable Stewart said originally he put up road closure signs, but when he noticed motorists were driving round them, he asked council to erect concrete barriers. He also had electronic message boards put up at Karara and Cambooya informing road users of the closure.

However, all three efforts have failed as drivers simply manoeuvre around the obstacles and take their chances on the road.

Constable Stewart is now patrolling the area issuing tickets to anyone flouting the law.

Main Roads inspectors were out looking at the road at the weekend but it is unclear for how long it will remain closed.