Highway upgrades for safer travel

Warren Truss
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development

Peter Styles
Minister for Transport
Minister for Infrastructure

Bess Price
Member for Stuart

CONSTRUCTION works on the Buntine Highway will begin tomorrow with a $2.5 million upgrade of four bridges along the heavily used route.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss said the Australian Government’s $2 million toward the upgrades would provide benefits to freight companies and travellers.

“The four current bridges have a restrictive load limit which has implications for road trains and cattle movements,” Mr Truss said.

“Upgrades to the load limit will increase traffic flow and improve safety, which will benefit all travellers on this busy highway.

“We are committed to developing infrastructure and services in the Northern Territory and that means investing in our transport links.”

Northern Territory Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Peter Styles said the upgrades were an investment in remote and regional Australia.

“This is part of our government’s ongoing commitment to developing the bush and we have committed $500,000 to this $2.5 million project,” Mr Styles said.

“In a region as diverse and vast as the Northern Territory, we rely on quality roads and infrastructure and this upgrade forms part of that critical investment in regional Australia.”

Member for Stuart, Bess Price welcomed the upgrades to the major transport route.

“The Buntine Highway is a major transport route for my electorate and provides vital access to Indigenous communities such as Kalkarindji and Yinguwunarri,” Mrs Price said. “The completion of this project will mean better connectivity for our remote communities and more opportunities for jobs, driving development in Northern Australia.”

The Australian Government’s $2 million contribution is being funded as part of its Heavy Vehicle Safety and Productivity Program.

Upgrades to the Buntine Highway are expected to be completed by the middle of the year.

Source: ProjectLink.com.au

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