Safety improvements are coming for road and freight users in the eastern Kimberley thanks to three bridge upgrades for the Great Northern Highway between Halls Creek and Kununurra.
A contract has been awarded to Fortec Australia Pty Ltd for the delivery of the upgrades.
Three existing single-lane bridges will be replaced with dual-lane bridges over Arthur Creek, Frog Hollow Creek and Tickalara Creek on the Great Northern Highway.
The existing single-lane bridges at Arthur Creek, Frog Hollow Creek and Tickalara Creek present considerable safety hazards to motorists. From 2017 to 2021, 44 crashes were recorded within the project area.
The upgrades will result in the removal of three of the remaining 13 single-lane bridges in the Kimberley, significantly reducing the risk of crashes at each location.
The $33 million works are jointly funded by the Australian and State Governments under an 80:20 funding split.
Construction is scheduled to commence by mid-2023.
The project will complement the New Fitzroy River Bridge project, which will see a new two-lane bridge over the Fitzroy River constructed, after the existing bridge was critically damaged from flooding generated by ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie.
As stated by Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King:
"This is great news for the people of these communities who depend on reliable and safe travel and freight transport links between and beyond these localities.
"Projects like this are important to not only assist employment and businesses in the communities these bridges connect, but also to provide better infrastructure and safer roads lasting long into the future.
"The Australian Government is pleased to be co-funding these much-needed bridge replacements, effectively reducing safety hazards and streamlining passenger travel and freight transport links between these essential communities."
As stated by WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"The long-awaited bridge improvements on Great Northern Highway in the eastern Kimberley are becoming a reality with a contract awarded to construct three bridges over Arthur Creek, Frog Hollow Creek and Tickalara Creek.
"The project will support the continued growth of the Western Australian economy by improving the efficiency, safety and reliability of Great Northern Highway between Port of Broome and Port of Wyndham.
"It will also support regional economic development by encouraging the continued development of the regional tourism industry through improved travel times, travel experience and reliability."
