Archive, Industry News

Freight, road trains to benefit from cash injection

WA to invest in roads to accommodate 36.5m road trains and improve safety for motorists and heavy vehicles

August 21, 2012

The Western Australian Government will pump more than $40 million into country road projects to accommodate road trains and improve safety.

The government today announced $46.1 million be allocated under the Safer Country Roads initiative over three years, with money going to the Wubin-Mullewa Road between Perenjori and Morawa, as well as various sections of Goldfields Highway between Wiluna and Meekatharra.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell says $21.6 million will be spent on the Perenjori to Morawa section of the Wubin-Mullewa Road to complete the upgrade of the link from single-lane seal width to two-lane width. He says the upgrade will improve the safety of heavy and light vehicles sharing the route.

“A further $20million will be allocated to the construction and sealing of passing opportunities and floodways between Wiluna and Meekatharra on Goldfields Highway. This 180km section of highway is predominantly gravel-sheeted with limited sealed passing opportunities,” he says.

The government has also allocated a $3.5million upgrade to the Bunjil-Carnamah Road to accommodate 36.5m road trains and $1million to widen the seal on Indian Ocean Drive.

Buswell says the $20 million investment in the Goldfields Highway will promote the development of the intermodal transport terminal at Kalgoorlie-Boulder as a hub for freight from the east, serving the Pilbara and mid-west regions.

The government says the projects are in response to the rapid growth of the mid-west resources sector, the proposed PortLink project and the increase in road freight volumes.

It says the road upgrades will provide significant benefits for local communities, including supporting the safe and efficient movement of users and freight.

Bookmark and Share

Previous ArticleNext Article
Send this to a friend