The tender toupgrade Keep River Road has been awarded to local company Exact Contracting PtyLtd for $58 million.
NorthernTerritory Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, Eva Lawler said the upgrades will improve road safety and increase flood immunity, ensuringyear-round access to such an important supply route.
Duringconstruction alone this project will more than 100 local jobs.
These workswill also support Project Sea Dragon - the $1.45 billion prawn aquacultureproject which has the potential to create around 1500 ongoing local jobs.
Work will helpaccess to remote communities like Legune Station, Spirit Hills Station, CannonHills Station, Kneebone Outstation and Marralum Family Outstation. It will alsostrengthen transport connections for agriculture, resources and pastoralindustries creating opportunities for future investment and more jobs for theregion, Ms Lawler said.
Works will bedelivered in two stages, with stage 1 works including the upgrade of 13.4kilometres from the WA border to a two-lane standard toward the Legune Station,and a bridge over the Keep River. Stage 2 works will include a bridge overSandy Creek.
The road islocated on the Western Australia/Northern Territory border, approximately 47kilometres northeast of Kununurra and 160 kilometres northwest of Timber Creek.
Deputy PrimeMinister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional DevelopmentMichael McCormack said the works would improve safety and reliability of thecritical supply route and support economic growth in the north.
The FederalGovernment is making good on its commitment to get Australians where they needto go sooner and safer, Mr McCormack said.
This is animportant investment on a vital transport link for industries which rely onthis road to move produce from paddock to plate as well as give the localeconomy a shot in the arm with construction jobs.
Senator for theNorthern Territory Sam McMahon said the investment would deliver a significantboost for the region.
This isfantastic news for the local community and for the whole Northern Territory,Dr McMahon said.
