Nearly $80 million worth of road upgrades and improvements are currently underway north and south of Newman, WA, which the state government says will significantly improve freight productivity and safety in the Pilbara region.
The construction of five new overtaking lanes (three northbound, two southbound) between Newman and Munjina (Auski) on the Great Northern Highway is expected to be completed later this year.
A further six overtaking lanes between Munjina (Auski) and Port Hedland as part of a second stage will also commence construction later this year.
A total of $50 million has been allocated to deliver the 11 the overtaking lanes under the Roads of Strategic Importance program, which is jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian governments.
With more than 60 per cent of traffic between Newman and Port Hedland comprising of heavy vehicles, the state government said the new lanes will enhance the existing freight network, increasing transport efficiency and improving road safety.
A further $29 million is also being invested to seal the shoulders and install audible edge lines to more than 150km of the Great Northern Highway between Kumarina and Newman.
The works are being delivered as part of the state government’s $1 billion Regional Road Safety Program, which will see safety upgrades delivered to around 10,000km of the state’s regional road network by the middle of 2025.
Eight hundred kilometres of road network in the Pilbara has now been upgraded through the program. The program is jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian Governments.
Both projects come on top of a number of completed freight productivity improvements in the Pilbara region.
The $21 million worth of improvements were delivered through Stage One of the Freight Vehicle Productivity Improvements Program and focus on amenity and safety-related projects including:
- Great Northern Highway, Newman (Road Train Assembly Area) – sealed parking area, installation of ablution block, lighting and line marking;
- Great Northern Highway, Munjina (Auski) – sealed parking area and improved access for heavy vehicles;
- Great Northern Highway, Karijini Drive – upgraded heavy vehicle rest area, provision of shelter, benches, lighting and ablution block;
- Great Northern Highway, Redmont (Road Train Assembly Area) – installation of modern ablution block;
- Great Northern Highway (Area C), heavy vehicle rest area – installation of modern ablution block; and
- Great Northern Highway, Bell Street (Road Train Assembly Area) – installation of modern ablution block.
“Improving freight productivity and road safety go hand in hand, and our Government is absolutely committed to making the movement of goods around our State as smooth as possible,” said WA transport minister Rita Saffioti.
“The Pilbara remains the engine room of the state and national economy, and our government will continue to invest in projects that allow us to unlock the region’s full economic potential.”