THE flooding of the Loddon River is starting to take its toll on the local road network.

Tragowel West residents found Gilmore Lane impassable on Monday morning after increasing flows eroded the gravel road.

The force of the flowing water broke the sub-soil down, creating a one-metre wide gap that even four-wheel drive vehicles would struggle to manoeuvre.

Residents living on the western side of the affected road have reported a trip to surrounding areas are now taking 40 minutes compared to five minutes.

"The local school bus stops on the corner of Gilmore Lane and the (Loddon Valley) highway, and it is now a 40-kilometre trip my wife has to go through twice a day," resident Michael Somerville said.

"I work nearby, and often have to travel back home to collect things.

"This isn't even a real flood. It was worse in 1996."

The road has been closed indefinitely, but residents believe Gannawarra Shire Council could have done more to alleviate the issue.

Affected residents had been warning the shire that the installation of pipes under the road surface to provide a suitable path in the event of a flood would not be suitable.

Shire infrastructure, environment and regulatory services director, Martin Duke said yesterday that he hoped that it was hoped that the water would recede enough to enable the the shire to repair the floodway today.

"We have been rationalising some of our older bridges and it is to be expected that low-level crossings will become inundated," he said.

Mr Duke said that all landholders in that area had an alternative route back to the highway.