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Construction to begin on Karratha-Tom Price Road

Shannon BeattiePilbara News
The Karratha-Tom Price Road.
Camera IconThe Karratha-Tom Price Road. Credit: Pilbara News, Tom Zaunmayr

September is set to be a landmark month in the Pilbara, with a road project decades in the making finally coming to fruition.

Construction of the Karratha to Tom Price Road has been a bone of contention for a long time, with delays leaving many people to wonder if it would ever happen.

But now the $81 million contract for stage three of the road, a 50km stretch which begins at the end of the already sealed Karratha section, has been awarded to mining and civil contractor MACA.

MACA Civil general manager Mark Davidovic said the company’s appointment followed on from its successful completion of the Coongan Gorge upgrade project near Marble Bar earlier this year.

“The Coongan Gorge project was completed nearly eight months ahead of schedule and produced an outstanding outcome for the community and road users in this area,” he said.

“We value the communities we operate in and look forward to working with local suppliers and businesses to produce an outstanding enhancement to this iconic section of road near Millstream National Park.”

Pilbara Newsunderstands an official sod-turning is being organised for mid-September, with the project expected to be completed by May.

Main Roads spokesman Dean Roberts said the agency was not anticipating any difficulties in the construction.

“All regional projects have their obstacles — material sourcing, weather and remoteness ... but these will be managed as part of the project,” he said.

“The earlier detection of asbestos has meant that the contractor will also be working with an asbestos management plan.”

The project involves the reconstruction of 48km of the Karratha to Tom Price Road, including a 10mm seal, new line marking, road furniture and culvert replacement/extensions where required.

Main Roads was unable to provide an update on stage four of the road, which has received funding from the Federal Government and would connect stage three to Tom Price. It said it was still in development.

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