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Government awards Carpentaria Highway contract

The new federal government has chosen who will upgrade the vital NT freight route

The federal and Northern Territory governments are delivering a major upgrade to various sections along 138 kilometres of the Carpentaria Highway and have announced the contract recipient for the works.

A design and construct tender has been awarded to Exact Contracting for $67 million for stage one upgrades.

The $150 million program of work is jointly funded on an 80:20 basis and will be delivered in two separate stages over two years.

Stage one will include the first 48 kilometres of the Carpentaria Highway and is expected to be completed by April 2023.

Stage two will see upgrades from chainage 50 kilometres to chainage 140 kilometres.

Upgrades will include creating a two-lane sealed road with a raised formation to improve flood immunity and constructing culverts to improve cross drainage where required.

The works are anticipated to support 135 jobs, with an Indigenous Employer and Supplier Use target of 29 per cent.

The upgrades to the Carpentaria Highway complement multiple strategic projects currently underway that aim to bring the Territory’s vision to become a world-class gas production, manufacturing and services hub to reality.


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New federal minister for transport Catherine King says recent times have proven the importance of maintaining key freight routes to counter weather events.

“These upgrades will include creating a two-lane sealed road with a raised formation to improve flood immunity and constructing culverts to improve cross drainage where required,” King says.

“We know how important good roads are to the NT. That’s why we are investing in key freight roads and access roads for remote communities across the Territory.”

NT infrastructure minister Eva Lawler says: “Upgrading Carpentaria Highway will involve sealing, widening and elevating the road alignment to increase flood immunity, meaning this important route will have improved accessibility throughout the year while also allowing more access to health services and economic opportunities.”

“Connecting the Territory and making sure business can keep moving is important.”

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