Updated February 2012
Port Hedland
We are planning to realign Great Northern Highway around the Wedgefield industrial area in Port Hedland.
This project is expected to deliver many benefits to the Port Hedland community, including:
- Reduced road train incidents with local traffic;
- Improved road safety;
- Improved access to new port and harbour areas; and
- Improved traffic flows between Port and South Hedland.
Current status
Three contractors submitted detailed tenders in late 2011 for this project. Following our comprehensive assessment process, Macmahon Contractors has been selected as the preferred proponent and, subject to negotiations, we expect to award a Design and Construct contract in February 2012.
Scope
We have developed the concept for this project in close consultation with local industry, stakeholders and the community.
A Project Reference Group has met regularly to provide input into the design concept, which now includes:
- Approximately 8 km of new road;
- A major interchange at the Broome turn-off, enabling uninterrupted flow for local traffic over Great Northern Highway;
- New intersection with Utah Point Road to provide access to the western port area (grade-separation of this intersection is subject to funding);
- New link to South Hedland (Hamilton Road);
- New road bridge over the BHP rail line;
- New low level bridge at South Creek;
- New road embankment across low-lying areas;
- Associated drainage, including culverts, to maintain tidal flows;
- Access to Wedgefield industrial area via a connection to Pinga Street north;
- Access to the port’s proposed area of development to the north of Wedgefield, where BHP reclaimed dredged spoil has been deposited; and
- Access to Landcorp’s proposed area of development to the east of Wedgefield.
A Focus Group comprising local community representatives has also been established to help refine the public art and landscaping components of this project.
Both the Project Reference Group and Focus Group will continue to have input once the Design and Construct contract has been awarded.
It is expected that the project cost will be approximately $188m. Funding is jointly provided by the Federal (80%) and State Governments (20%).
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Port Hedland is the biggest volume port in Australia and it continues to grow in line with increased mining activity in the state's north west. To cope with this growth the port is planning additional berths to the south west of its current location.
The amount of traffic on the Port to South Hedland link has also grown by 25 per cent over the past three years and this road is currently servicing about 15,000 vehicles per day. This growth is creating increased conflict between heavy haulage vehicles and local traffic and often causes delays at major intersections.
Further information
Our latest Project Newsletter May 2011 (4 page PDF 644 KB) will provide you a complete overview of this project.
For more information please contact:
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