Known as ‘Australia’s longest short-cut’, the 2720 kilometres that make up Outback Way are set to be fully sealed as part of a major $678 million project.
Linking Queensland, the Northern Territory and Western Australia by road, Outback Way is a vital freight route.
The WA section of the route is formed by the Great Central Road and extends 872 kilometres from Laverton to the WA/NT border, with 736 kilometres currently unsealed.
The WA Government put a proposal to the Federal Government late last year for the joint funding arrangement which will see the WA section of the highway sealed by 2030.
The Federal Government has allocated $400 million to complete the 872 kilometre seal through WA, with the WA Government committing a further $100 million towards the project.
“When complete, this project will see 872 kilometres of road throughout WA fully sealed, providing better access to remote communities, better links from east to west and exciting new tourism prospects,” said Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.
“With the recent flooding of the Trans-WA rail line, we know how important it is to have alternate routes for freight to come into WA.
“The SA floods demonstrated the need for more resilient transport options into the future and Outback Way is clearly one of them.”
The remaining funding will help seal the road in the Northern Territory and Queensland.
In WA, about $52 million has so far been spent to upgrade the route, with an additional $112 million already allocated for works over 147 kilometres through to 2025-26.
Yesterday’s funding announcement means there is an additional $500 million to complete the final 589 kilometres over the next seven years.