A contract has now been awarded to seal 150 kilometres of the Tanami Road, with works on the first 60 kilometre section due to begin next month.
The rough Outback road that links Alice Springs to Western Australia has long been seen as the ultimate adventure for well-equipped grey nomads … but as the bane of the lives of many truck drivers who use the route.
The Big Rigs publication reports that Northern Territory business, Exact Contracting, has been awarded $73 million tender for construction of the first stage of the works, as well as the planning for the second stage.
Works on the first 60 kilometres are anticipated to start next month and be completed by September 2023. Construction on the second stage is due to commence in October 2023.
“Sealing the next 150 kilometres of the Tanami will be greatly welcomed by all who have to regularly travel that route, particularly freight haulers, pastoralists and locals, said Northern Territory Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister, Eva Lawler. “The unsealed road is difficult to maintain and is often in a poor state,”
Bigs Rigs reports that the Tanami Road forms part of the Alice Springs to Halls Creek Roads of Strategic Importance corridor, connecting Alice Springs with North-West Western Australia and sees considerable traffic volumes including heavy vehicles.
“Sealing Territory roads makes for easy journeys meaning less wear and tear on vehicles, reduced freight costs, improved reliability and makes sure business keeps moving in a safe and productive way,” said Minister Lawler.
Last month, the WA Government further underlined its own commitment to sealing the Tanami Road between Halls Creek and the NT Border.
In the state budget, it allocated just over half the $500-million price tag in the forward estimates, a contribution shared between WA and the Commonwealth.
The budget notes said the remainder would be allocated beyond the forward estimates, while the project was expected to take the best part of a decade to complete due to the challenges posed by the harsh environment and remote location.
Every wet season the Tanami Road suffers significant damage and communities can be cut off for months at a time.
Curtin University supply chain expert Elizabeth Jackson told the ABC that sealing the road also had benefits to the wider region, by providing another avenue for delivering goods to the Kimberley.
“The opportunity to develop and broaden our transport links in and out of this state to ensure a free, steady flow of products is absolutely wonderful news,” she said. “We’ve experienced the dreadful outcomes of Covid and natural disasters to our overland links … these are examples of why we need this Tanami Road so desperately.”
Am I excited by the prospect of a fully sealed Tanami Road? You bet your boots I am, fantastic news along with the sealing of the Great Central Hwy.
Sealing outback roads means more traffic driving at higher speeds resulting in more wildlife carnage.
And more caravan accidents!
About 12 years ago we camped three times on three separate nights along the Tanami Track and loved the solitude and the star filled nights. There was not a lot of rubbish except for the occasional middens of “dem green fellows”. At Wolff Creek Crater we camped alone. Imagine what it will be like at the crater after the track is bitumen – thousands of campers each year, rubbish and paper daisies everywhere – tourists trampling all over the crater not caring about the damage they are doing to the 200,000,000 year old site, Then BIG 4 caravan park; or the like; will take the opportunity to build a park to cash in on the thousands of caravanners, then a snack bar, followed by a Super market,and Servo ,etc, etc, ….
More people ill-equipped with Mr Google’s knowledge etc at 90 kph because doing the speed limit doesn’t “save fuel” , keep it dirt to keep the idiots off it.
I see far more idiots on it than I see on it than on other roads, with the Gibb being the next on the list.
As someone who lived in a WA community and travelled to alice springs to shop this is great news
Am I excited, NO !!! Having travelled safely for its entire length when Rabbit Flat was still open, and sold cold beer, over a four day period while enjoying the almost solitude, the increase in (an)grey nomads wanting to get there sooner will dampen the enjoyment. I can understand the need for the sections between each end and Yuendemu or Bililuna needing to be maintained for good access, but the rest yeah/nah.