Works on Western Australia’s Great Northern Highway continues with the Australian Government investing $44.91 million to upgrade the Maggie – Wyndham section of the project.
This section of the Great Northern Highway upgrade will help improve freight links for regional industry as well as improve road safety between the Victoria Highway and the Port of Wyndham.
This project is funded under the $600 million Northern Australia Road Program which helps upgrade high-priority roads across northern Australia.
“These works are an investment in safety and jobs, by making the highway safer for all drivers, including heavy vehicle operators and tourists, and improving freight efficiency for the region’s industries,” Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said.
WA Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti said that this project will be upgrading approximately 28 kilometres of the Great Northern Highway, between the Victoria Highway and the Port of Wyndham.
“The project will involve reconstructing approximately 5.7 kilometres of the Great Northern Highway at Maggie’s Jump Up, including construction of a northbound overtaking lane and widening and overlaying an additional 22 kilometres,” Ms Saffioti said.
Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan said that projects such as the Great Northern Highway upgrade is another way the Australian Government is delivering on its commitment to invest in the North to support new jobs as well as new opportunities.
“This upgrade will mean a safer and more reliable access to the Port of Wyndham for industries operating in the Kimberley region.
“It will also give road trains, heavy vehicles and tourists safer overtaking options, as well as minimise the impact of flooding to maintain year-round access to major towns. We’re investing in road projects right across Northern Australia to better connect communities to service and connect producers to their markets,” Senator Canavan said.
This project will also include upgrading 44 culverts as well as the construction of floodways and off-road drainage, and upgrade works to existing intersections.
“This section of the highway is heavily used by mining operations in the area, including iron ore and nickel mining in the south, and is a key inter-town link between Wyndham, Kununurra and Halls Creek,” Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price said.
Construction on the Great Northern Highway – Maggie to Wyndham upgrade is expected to commence in early 2018, weather permitting.
This upgrade project is jointly funded by the Australian and State Governments, each contributing $44.91 million and $11.23 million respectively.
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