Great Northern Highway

The Australian Government has started detailed planning for the renovation of the Great Northern Highway, a 218km corridor between Muchea to Wubin.

The A$384m project is expected to include upgraded intersections and addition of overtaking lanes along with widening of the highway.

The planning review process for the project is expected to be completed over nine months, which will include revised upgrade strategy for improvement in driver safety and economic performance of the highway for smoother freight movement.

"The highway will be upgraded to a standard that will enable triple-length road trains operating north of Wubin to travel 160km further south."

The government has funded A$307.8m to conduct review and construction works while the remaining amount has been contributed by the Western Australian government, which has also provided an additional A$7m. The Australian Government has also contributed A$28m towards the Bindi Bindi curves section upgrade.

Pearce federal member Christian Porter said: "As a vital corridor for the state’s resources industry, this section of highway between Muchea and Wubin, is notorious as one of our state’s most dangerous stretches of roads and is in desperate need of upgrading."

Western Australia minister for transport Dean Nalder said that Great Northern Highway is an important link between resource-rich regions in the north and export ports located in the south of Australia.

Nalder added: "When the full package of works is completed, the highway will be upgraded to a standard that will enable triple-length road trains operating north of Wubin to travel 160km further south."

Image: Gone Driveabout 25, Great Northern Highway near Payne’s Find, Western Australia. Photo: courtesy of Wikipedia.