One of Australia’s great adventure drives … the Tanami Road … has taken another giant step towards being fully sealed.
The NT Government has completed the sealing of 150 kilometres of the iconic route in Central Australia, which it says will significantly improve safety and access for industry, tourists, and remote communities.
The 1,035-kilometre long Tanami Road connects Alice Springs to the Great Northern Highway near Halls Creek in Western Australia. The road is known for its rugged desert landscapes, including the Wolfe Creek Crater National Park.
Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure Bill Yan said the project marks a major milestone in opening up the Territory and supporting regional economic development.
Here comes the bitumen! Another 150 kilometres of the Tanami Road is now sealed. PIC: NT Government
“The Tanami Road is a lifeline for many industries and communities across Central Australia – this upgrade will make travel safer, faster and more reliable,” he said. “Better roads mean better outcomes for freight, mining, tourism and locals – and this is exactly what we’re delivering as part of our year of action, certainty and security.”
The $197 million project, jointly funded by the Northern Territory and Australian Governments, has sealed a 150-kilometre stretch of road from Yuendumu to west of Chilla Well. The work was delivered in two stages: 60 kilometres in the first stage and 90 kilometres in the second.
Tanami Road is a key inter-regional freight and access route linking Alice Springs to Western Australia, servicing remote Indigenous communities, pastoral stations, and mining operations.
The Territory and Australian Governments have committed $289 million in the Budget 2025 -26 to continue upgrading the Tanami.
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Sure am. I hope the trucks don’t stuff it up.
When a new stretch of road like this is sealed it attracts quite a lot of people.
We stay away in more remote quieter locations.