Another section of the $355m Central Arnhem Road Upgrade to get underway
Another section of the Central Arnhem Road in the Northern Territory will soon be upgraded, and local Territory business Allan King & Sons Construction has been awarded a $36.8 million contract to undertake the works.
Central Arnhem Road is a 645-kilometre-long corridor that connects the regional centre of Nhulunbuy to the Stuart Highway. This vital road services many Aboriginal communities and it is a key tourism drive and freight route for the mining and pastoral industries.
Allan King & Sons Construction will be carrying out upgrades to an 18-kilometre section of the road from the Mountain Valley Station turnoff to the Mainoru homestead turnoff.
Major works are expected to commence in September of this year and be completed by December 2026. This project will support 60 jobs, including 12 Indigenous workers and 5 apprentices.
“The Lawler Labor Government is making real inroads in sealing Territory roads and this latest package of works for the Central Arnhem Road will improve connectivity, travel time, flood immunity and importantly road safety.
“The Central Arnhem Road Corridor project provides significant opportunities for economic development in the region as well as Aboriginal employment opportunities over a number of years.
“The rollout of upgrades on this key corridor are prioritised to make the most immediate difference with survey works and consultation already underway to progress the future packages,” Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Joel Bowden said.
Central Arnhem Road Upgrade map (source: NT Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics)
About 85 per cent of the Central Arnhem Road is unsealed and the Northern Territory Government envisions a two-lane sealed connection for the entire corridor to improve road user experience especially during the wet season.
The current upgrade is part of the $355 million Central Arnhem Road Upgrade project, which is jointly funded by the Northern Territory and Australian Governments. The overall project will deliver sealing, reconstructing, widening and flood immunity improvements to the road. Other works will include improvements to drainage, bridges, culverts and road alignments.
Three sections of the Central Arnhem Road, with a total span of over 24 kilometres, have already been upgraded. This covers the road near Beswick, the Goyder approaches and Bulman Airfield.
Meanwhile, planning is underway for a further five packages for the Central Arnhem Road Upgrade project, providing a solid pipeline of projects for industry along this key regional corridor.
“The Albanese Government is delivering on the biggest NT road build ever. Our partnership with the Lawler Labor Government will make driving easier, quicker, and safer for all Territorians,” Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour said.
Source: Northern Territory Government Newsroom; Northern Territory Government – Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics; Roads & Infrastructure Australia
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