A series of road upgrades are now underway to support the import of wind turbine and renewable energy components into the Pilbara, for the construction of the $140 million Pilbara Hydrogen Hub.
Ground has been broken on the Lumsden Point Access Road and Pinga Street intersection upgrades to support the Pilbara Hydrogen Hub at Port Hedland on the north coast of Western Australia.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the upgrade will better facilitate large imported materials being moved from Lumsden Point and improve traffic access to the area.
“These port upgrades in the Pilbara will help unlock trade and investment opportunities and support a future made in Australia,” she added.
Along with supporting the transport of oversize components by road, the road and intersection work at Lumsden Point also support the export of battery metals such as lithium and copper concentrates.
Additionally, a new grade-separated rotary interchange will be constructed at the current intersection of Great Northern Highway and Pinga Street.
Two new single-span, 15-metre-long structures, with four lanes over a round underpass will connect Pinga Street to the new Lumsden Point Access Road.
New ramps will allow access on and off the Great Northern Highway, with new turning pockets to be built at the Lumsden Point Access Road.
The new intersection is aimed at improving traffic flow and reducing congestion at Lumsden Point and Pinga Street, while also facilitating the safe movement of oversize vehicles out of Lumsden Point.
Lumsden Point provides an alternative import facility to Fremantle.
Substantial progress has already been made on the new Lumsden Point Port development, which includes new shipping berths and a substantial lay-down area for imported equipment.
The Australian Government has committed $565 million in grant funding to support common user port upgrades at Port Hedland and Dampier in the Pilbara.
In February, the Australian and WA Governments finalised a $140 million agreement to build a hydrogen hub in the Pilbara.
The Pilbara Hydrogen Hub is anticipated to become operational around mid-2028. Its planned pipeline capacity will enable hydrogen production of approximately 492,000 tonnes per annum – which is enough to power 26,000 heavy vehicles a year.