Three existing single-lane bridges will be replaced with dual-lane bridges on the Great Northern Highway between Halls Creek and Kununurra, as part of a $33 million project.
Those being replaced are the bridges over Arthur Creek, Frog Hollow Creek and Tickalara Creek on the Great Northern Highway.
The existing single-lane bridges at Arthur Creek, Frog Hollow Creek and Tickalara Creek saw a total of 44 crashes recorded between 2017 to 2021.
“This is great news for the people of these communities who depend on reliable and safe travel and freight transport links between and beyond these localities,” to Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King.
“The Australian Government is pleased to be co-funding these much-needed bridge replacements, effectively reducing safety hazards and streamlining passenger travel and freight transport links between these essential communities.”
The upgrades will result in the removal of three of the remaining 13 single-lane bridges in the Kimberley, in a bid to help improve safety.
“The project will support the continued growth of the Western Australian economy by improving the efficiency, safety and reliability of Great Northern Highway between Port of Broome and Port of Wyndham,” added WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.
Construction is scheduled to begin by mid-2023.
These new bridges will be in addition to the New Fitzroy River Bridge project, which will see a new two-lane bridge over the Fitzroy River constructed, after the existing bridge was critically damaged from flooding by ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie.