A $4 million construction contract has been awarded for the continued works on critical port access infrastructure at the Port of Port Hedland.
Pilbara Ports Authority awarded the contract for Stage 4 of the Utah Road Pavement Rehabilitation Project to AllRoads Pty Ltd. AllRoads has committed to sourcing its construction workforce within Western Australia.
Under the contract, a 1.2 kilometre stretch of Utah Road will be upgraded, following some deterioration from increased traffic loads of iron ore and other products.
Utah Road connects the Great Northern Highway with the Utah Point Bulk Handling Facility at the Port of Port Hedland. The Utah Point Bulk Handling Facility is a multi-user port facility, used by junior miners for the export of iron ore and other minerals.
Utah Road also provides access to BHP's Finucane Island port facility, the Roy Hill Port Facility, the FMG Anderson Point Port Facility and a public boat ramp.
Constructed in 2009, Utah Road is the sole access for road trains delivering bulk product to the Utah Facility.
The Utah Road Pavement Rehabilitation Project is being carried out in five stages. Stage 3 was completed in late 2019.
As stated by Ports Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
"The ports in the Pilbara are essential for our State's economy, and the Port of Port Hedland continues to report record throughput numbers.
"Maintaining critical assets like Utah Road is essential to facilitate current and future trade through the Pilbara region.
"This road construction project will keep our miners moving and will sustain jobs as we work to reopen our state's economy.
"Our government remains focused on delivering for the Pilbara, by supporting the regional economy, delivering infrastructure and creating local jobs."
As stated by Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel:
"I welcome this project, which will create local jobs in the Pilbara and keep our world-class ports operating to their full potential.
"The McGowan Government is delivering on its promise to create local jobs and keep the economy moving."
