Three bridge upgrades are on the way for road and freight users on the Great Northern Highway between Halls Creek and Kununurra, in the eastern Kimberley region of Western Australia.
Fortec Australia Pty Ltd has been awarded the contract for the upgrade. The Australian owned company, specialising in construction, engineering and geotechnical services, is expected the commence the $33 million works by mid-2023.
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 current safety hazards to motorists. From 2017 to 2021, 44 crashes were recorded within the project area.
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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.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King says the upgrade is great news for the community.
“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,” King said.
“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.”
The project is expected to 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.
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