The highway looked like a missile had hit it, creating a five metre crater.
Some nearby homes appeared to have had their front doors kicked in.
Other residents claimed it felt like their roof lifted off during the blast.
The full extent of the damage created by a truck full of chemicals that exploded on a major highway after a fatal crash is still unknown.
However, progress is being made, with the Bruce Highway reopening in central Queensland days after the blast.
The male driver of a ute died in a head-on collision with a B-double semi-trailer carrying 42.5 tonnes of ammonium nitrate near Bororen early on August 30.
Hours later the truck carrying the chemicals commonly used in fertilisers exploded with a blast radius of 500m, with shock waves felt for kilometres.
"The site itself looks like a missile has hit the side of the road," Gladstone Mayor Matt Burnett told AAP.
The full extent of damage is unclear, with property assessments ongoing.
"Some people are reporting significant damage to their houses," Mr Burnett said.
"Some (houses) look like someone has kicked the door in.
"Someone did report that it felt like their roof lifted off but I haven't verified that."
Then there was the impact of the highway's closure, with diversion routes set up since Friday.
Some businesses that rely on the highway's heavy traffic had reported losses of up to $10,000 a day.
The Bruce Highway section near the blast finally reopened on Tuesday night with two lanes, a 60km/hr speed limit and traffic management in place.
But road repairs around the site might take weeks, Mr Burnett said.
"We know these communities rely on Bruce Highway traffic and for five days no one has been through," he said.
"I have never seen a crash close the highway this long ... and I have been on the council 24 years.
"Regardless if it reopens with one or two lanes, (traffic) will still be slow. It will be a work site for at least the next 20 days."
The highway's reopening will provide some relief for local businesses.
But Mr Burnett said the council would seek state and federal support.
"While it is not a fire or a flood, it is still a disaster," he said of the blast.
"There needs to be support for those affected."
The rail line near the explosion reopened on Saturday night.
Crews have been working around the clock on the damaged road since Sunday.
"There is a massive five-and-a-half metre crater," Mr Burnett said of the blast site.
"If it happened further up the road ... where there are houses and businesses right on the highway it would have been even worse."
Transport Minister Bart Mellish confirmed the highway's reopening, with permanent works at the blast site to continue.
"I want to thank all the workers who helped make this possible, and all drivers for their patience over the last few days," he said in a statement.
Mr Burnett hoped visitors would consider helping local businesses when the highway reopened.
"If you are travelling through, schedule a stop. They'd appreciate it," he said.
