New bridge opens to traffic in the eastern Goldfields

Road closures caused by flooding will be a thing of the past at Lake Raeside on the Goldfields Highway, with the opening of a new 120m long bridge.

Transport Minister Simon O'Brien today officially opened the Lake Raeside Crossing, 10 kilometres south of Leonora, which was a vital link for Goldfields communities and the mining industry.

"The area has a long history of flooding which has often resulted in the lengthy closure of the Goldfields Highway," Mr O'Brien said.

"The road is the only sealed link between Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the northern Goldfields, which includes the communities of Leonora, Laverton, Leinster, Mt Keith and Wiluna.

The Minister said major flooding in 1995 and 2000 highlighted just how important an upgrade of the crossing was.

"The closure of the Goldfields Highway has a significant impact on access and the delivery of goods and services to mining areas and settlements in the north-eastern Goldfields," he said.

"The new bridge will replace the much smaller existing bridge, which is only 20 metres long, making the journey much safer and more comfortable.

"It will also significantly reduce the likelihood of long-term road closures during any future flooding at Lake Raeside."

Mr O'Brien said there were numerous safety benefits associated with the project, the most significant being that road users would no longer have to negotiate water over the road or drive on an uneven surface.

"The project has also provided a significant boost to the local economy, with contractor Ertech, accommodating their workforce in Leonora and sourcing products and services locally where possible," he said.