Marble Bar Road is one of the Pilbara Region’s most notorious roads, but roughly 92km of the thoroughfare is set to be sealed in a seven-stage project to help boost the region’s economic potential.
The first 15km stretch of upgrades is currently underway, with works to seal a further 23km of road expected to commence in the coming weeks.
Improving the road quality to a two-lane, sealed road will enable safer travel for all road users, not least the heavy vehicle operators carting ore from a number of mines in the area.
Atlas Iron has committed $60 million to the project and partnered on its completion with the state government.
With flooding often taking the road out of action and isolating remote Aboriginal communities as a result, Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel says locals and mining companies are both set to benefit from the sealing.
“Marble Bar Road is the only link for a number of remote communities for food, supplies and essential services,” Michel says.
“During wet season the road can be closed for up to three months as floodwaters rise, meaning communities become isolated, and food and provisions have to be transported in by air at significant cost.
“Sealing the road will significantly improve serviceability for the local community.”
The project in its entirety is expected to be completed in late 2025.
An eight-kilometre deviation around Nullagine will also be constructed to improve road safety and reduce noise through the town.
“The Pilbara is critical to Western Australia’s economy and improving freight productivity and road safety is something this government is committed to,” Transport Minister Rita Saffioti says.
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