Great Northern Highway Miling Straight safety upgrades complete

New overtaking lanes have now opened on the Great Northern Highway’s Miling Straight, with new rest areas also nearing completion in an effort to reduce travel times and improve safety.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael McCormack said the upgrade is part of the Australian Government’s longer term vision to improve efficiency and road safety on one of Western Australia’s important freight corridors.

“Around Australia—especially in regional Australia—we are investing to make sure people can get home sooner and safer,” Mr McCormack said.

Western Australian Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti said the upgraded 22-kilometre section was now open to traffic between Miling North Road and Gatti Road, with additional roadside stopping places to be completed soon.

“In addition to the extra passing opportunities and rest areas, the Miling North Road was also realigned to provide a staggered T-intersection with the Great Northern Highway in order to make crossing the highway safer,” Ms Saffioti said.

Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price said the new Miling Straight section provided a superior road layout while avoiding areas of environmental significance.

“The Muchea to Wubin upgrade is improving an important link between Perth and the state’s north and it complements the Northlink WA project, which includes a new Road Train Assembly Area being constructed in Muchea,” Ms Price said.

Federal Member for Pearce Christian Porter said upgrades were now underway on 25 kilometres of the highway either side of Miling Straight, including the Miling Bypass and Pithara Section.

“With the recent $220 million federal funding announcement for the Bindoon Bypass section of Great Northern Highway, future movements of the 53.5-metre road trains travelling south to Muchea will be smoother, faster and safer,” Mr Porter said.

The Federal Government has committed $275.8 million to the Great Northern Highway Muchea to Wubin Upgrade with the WA Government committing $68.95 million.

Side roads, roadside stopping places and landscaping works are expected to be completed in the coming months, with the entire package of works expected to be completed in late 2019.