A 20-kilometre section of the Roper Highway in the Northern Territory will be upgraded and sealed following the award of a $25 million contract – part of the Federal Government’s Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) program.
As part of the ROSI initiative, the Australian Government has pledged to invest a total of $5.8 billion, in joint investment with the state governments, to help connect regional businesses to local and international markets, and better connect regional communities.
Local Territory company Allan King & Sons has been awarded a $25 million tender to seal and upgrade the Roper Highway from the Wilton Bridge to the Ngukkur Community.
Territory business Black Cat Civil is also undertaking $3.37 million worth of upgrades of 4.7 kilometres between the Wilton and Roper bridges, as well as the upgrade of the Roper Highway at the Urapunga Access Road intersection.
Connecting the Stuart Highway to Ngukurr along the Roper River, the 206-kilometre long Roper Highway is a major route for pastoral, mining and community.
The upgrades will provide improved access to the major aboriginal communities of Ngukurr, Numbulwar and Rittarangu (Urapunga), as well as to the fishing and tourist attractions of the Roper River and Limmen National Park.
Apart from the improved access to nearby communities, sealing the Roper Highway will also minimise vehicle weight and type restrictions on the road and improve flood immunity.
Norther Territory’s Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics, Eva Lawler said sealing the Roper Highway was a priority of the Territory Government.
“Creating all year weather access in our regions ensures we are resilient and ‘open for business’ – which is good for locals, visitors, freight and tourism operators,” she said.
Sealing works are also currently ongoing on 4.5-kilometre section of the Roper Highway about 25k kilometres west of the community of Ngukurr. The Australian Government and the Northern Territory Government have jointly invested $5.4 million for the project.
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