The Australian and Northern Territory governments continue to invest in key NT roads, with the recent awarding of a contract to upgrade a further 34 kilometres of the Tanami Road.
This vital inter-regional link services many Aboriginal communities and is a key tourism, pastoral, mining and freight route.
A $49.5 million tender has been awarded to NT business Exact Contracting to upgrade the road between Renehans Bore and Refrigerator Bore.
The existing gravel road will be upgraded to a two-lane sealed standard, along with road safety enhancements and additional culverts to improve drainage.
Works will begin in early 2026 and are expected to be completed by November 2026.
Another package of works is currently being delivered for 21 kilometres of the road by Sitzler Pty Ltd, who were awarded a $26 million contract in October 2025.
It follows 150 kilometres of the Tanami Road recently sealed from Yuendumu to west of Chilla Well in June 2025.
Meanwhile, Exact Contracting is continuing upgrades to the Carpentaria Highway - a key access road to the Beetaloo Sub-basin and also an important service route for the tourism, pastoral, agricultural and mining sectors.
The $68 million package of works will upgrade another 35 kilometres of the highway and deliver a new bridge at October Creek by June 2026.
Further south, work also continues sealing a 27-kilometre section of the Plenty Highway. This is part of a joint Australian and Northern Territory Government commitment to develop the Outback Way as a fully sealed east-west transport link through central Australia.
Delivered by Aldebaran Contracting, this project will bring the total length of dual lane seal on the Plenty Highway to 155 kilometres when completed. In Kakadu National Park, the first works under the $70 million Australian Government funded Road Upgrades (Kakadu National Park) program have commenced.
Amrock Civil are currently progressing the first package of works which will upgrade and realign a two-kilometre section of Kubara Road. Works are expected to be completed in May 2026 under a $1.55 million contract awarded in October 2025.
DAC Enterprises was awarded a nearly $9 million contract in January 2026 to upgrade 8 kilometres of Maguk Road with work expected to commence at the onset of the dry season and be complete by January 2027.
Quotes attributable to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
"Sealing and upgrading the Tanami Road is reducing disruptions during the wet season, improving road safety and giving communities greater certainty when it comes to access to essential goods and services."
"The investment from the Australian Government, in partnership with the NT Government, to seal the next section of the Tanami will extend those benefits a further 34 kilometres."
Quotes attributable to NT Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure Bill Yan:
"The projects support regional economic development.
"The NT Government's Infrastructure Plan committed $2 billion in targeted road improvements and this investment is already unlocking real work on the ground.
"Better roads mean better outcomes for freight, mining, tourism and locals - and this is exactly what we're delivering as part of our year of action, certainty and security."
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour:
"The Albanese Labor Government is committed to improving road infrastructure right across the Northern Territory.
"The sealing of these roads will bring more economic opportunities to our regions while also allowing remote Territorians to get around easier to visit family and access services in the bigger hub towns.
"Delivering for the bush is a key priority of mine and I'll keep fighting in Canberra to deliver for remote Territorians."
