The importance of road transport in the continued productivity of West Australia’s Pilbara region is being prioritised with $80 million worth of road upgrades currently being undertaken.
Two projects are currently being delivered north and south of Newman, roughly 450km south of Port Hedland to improve freight safety and productivity in the region.
Over 60 per cent of traffic between Newman and Port Hedland consists of heavy vehicles, which has motivated a $50 million project to construct 11 new overtaking lanes on the route.
Five (three northbound, two southbound) of these lanes will be constructed on the Great Northern Highway between Newman and Munjina (Auski) and completed later this year.
Six further overtaking lanes between Munjina (Auski) and Port Hedland will commence construction later this year as part of a second stage of works.
A further $29 million has been allocated to seal the shoulders and install audible edge lines, aka rumble strips, to over 150km of the Great Northern Highway between Kumarina and Newman.
West Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti says the upgrades indicate how crucial a productive Pilbara region is to Australia’s national economy.
“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,” Saffioti says.
“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.”
Premier Roger Cook added the projects will also benefit the mining and tourist industries in the region.
“The Pilbara is a key economic hub for Western Australia and it’s so important that we continue to support safe access for our heavy vehicle operators in the region,” Cook says.
“These projects will continue to foster investment and growth in the region’s tourism and mining sectors, by providing better access and connectivity.
“It’s also fantastic to see that these projects providing opportunities for Aboriginal businesses and building local skills and talent, creating brighter futures for our local communities.”
These two projects are being delivered as part of the wider Regional Road Safety Program, which has allocated $1 billion to improving roughly 10,000km of West Australia’s regional road network by the middle of 2025.
Improvements made through the joint state and federally funded program so far include:
- 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.
- Great Northern Highway, Bell Street (Road Train Assembly Area) – installation of modern ablution block.
Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel hammered home the importance of the heavy vehicle industry to ensuring West Australia continues to thrive.
“The heavy haulage industry is absolutely critical to the Pilbara and Western Australia, so providing our truck drivers with safer roads and better facilities is an absolute must,” Michel says.
“The overtaking lanes between Newman and Port Hedland will be a game changer for our community, providing motorists with regular opportunities to overtake and avoid risk-taking behaviour.”
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