New passing lanes on important WA freight route will open this month
November 22, 2010
New passing lanes on the North West Coast Highway will open this month as part of efforts to accommodate a growing freight task.
Western Australia Transport Minister Simon O’Brien says the two new lanes between Burkett Road and Barrdale in the Gascoyne will be ready by the end of November.
He says the highway is a major freight route used by triple road trains north of Carnarvon and demand for freight movement will only increase in the Gascoyne and Pilbara regions as the mining sector expands.
“The Gascoyne and Pilbara form the foundation of Australia’s buoyant economy, with much of our crucial mining infrastructure located in these regions,” he says.
“With expansion in the two regions set to increase even further, it is vital we ensure one of the major routes to the region is safe and reliable.”
Meanwhile, O’Brien says re-sealing works over 8km on Great Northern Highway in the Kimberley have been completed. The works are part of a $4 million upgrade of the Great Northern Highway.