$11M allocated to build Bunbury-Augusta Road deviation

10/6/94

Nearly $11 million has been allocated under the State Budget to build the Ludlow deviation on the Bunbury-Augusta Road.

Transport Minister Eric Charlton said the work involved constructing 17 kilometres of high-standard single carriageway road with five overtaking lanes.

"The road will bypass the Ludlow National Park, helping to preserve the native forest and in particular the unique stands of tuart trees," Mr Charlton said.

"A major contract associated with the work has already been let to Macmahon Contractors (WA) Pty Ltd.

"Planning and design will make provision for widening the road to a dual carriageway in the future when traffic flow increases."

The work would take about eight months.

Provision was also made in the Budget for the continuation of design work and commencement of construction of a second carriageway to provide a four-lane dual road system on the Old Coast Road from Lake Clifton, south to the Australind bypass.

Mr Charlton said $3.8 million had been allocated for the work.

In total, more than $350 million would be spent on Western Australian road maintenance and construction in 1994-95 under the State Budget.

Mr Charlton said Main Roads' total budget of $350.62 million was $1.81 million more than the 1993-94 allocation.

"Commonwealth funds to the State for roads are down in real terms," he said.

"The State Government has responded by increasing State-sourced funding this year by $15 million and directing all untied Commonwealth funds amounting to $43.4 million to roads.

"We have been able to increase State resources for roads by redirecting money from the public transport system, in line with the Coalition's pre-election policy.

"The Government will continue redirecting these funds - derived from State fuel levy revenue - back into roads until the full annual amount of about $43 million is rightfully put into road construction and maintenance."

Main Roads has budgeted to spend 48 per cent of its outlays on road preservation and the balance (52 per cent) on upgrading and new construction programs.

Major projects for 1994-95 in rural areas include:

·       $1.6 million to reconstruct 4.5 kilometres of Albany Highway near Cranbrook;

·       $1.6 million to replace the bridge on Albany Highway at Beaufort River;

·       $2.3 million to reconstruct various sections totalling 5.2 kilometres of the Albany-Lake Grace Road near Kalgan River, west of Gnowangerup;

·       $7.5 million for reconstruction and widening of Eyre Highway, east of Norseman, at 28 Mile Hill and Jimeerlana;

·       $13.3 million to reconstruct failed sections of Great Eastern Highway between Northam and Merredin, specifically between Meckering-Cunderdin and Hines Hill-Merredin, as well as 2.5 kilometres at Tomalockin Creek, east of Cunderdin;

·       $1.1 million to reseal nearly 37 kilometres of various sections of Great Northern Highway near Sandfire roadhouse;

·       $1.5 million to recondition sections of Great Northern Highway west of Fitzroy Crossing;

·       $1.3 million to reconstruct five kilometres of sections of Great Northern Highway between Pithara and Wubin;

·       $8.3 million for upgrading Great Northern Highway between Bow River and Victoria Highway;

·       $1.7 million for sealing 63 kilometres of Great Northern Highway between Cue and Nannine;

·       $1.4 million to reconstruct nearly five kilometres of Albany Highway between Gleneagles and North Bannister;

·       $2.7 million for the continued upgrading of Albany Highway between Kojonup and Mt Barker;

·       $3 million to reconstruct another eight kilometres of Brookton Highway near Brookton as part of the widening program;

·       $2.3 million to upgrade Burkett Road, involving constructing and sealing nearly 10 kilometres to improve access to Exmouth and Coral Bay;

·       $10.9 million for upgrading between Bunbury and Busselton to provide a 17-kilometre-high standard single carriageway road with five overtaking lanes to bypass Ludlow tuart forest;

·       $1.3 million to continue preconstruction work on the Kalgoorlie to Meekatharra Road between Lake Miranda and the Mt Keith deviation section;

·       $4.3 million to complete a sealed road from Shaw River to Marble Bar to reduce transport costs to the mining sector;

·       $3.3 million to commence realignment of a 14.5 kilometre section of North West Coastal Highway at Barrabiddy;

·       $1.2 million for widening and sealing of 19 kilometres of the Geraldton-Mt Magnet Road between Mullewa and yalgoo;

·       $1 million for the reconstruction, widen and sealing of 3.5 kilometres of pavement between Arthur River and Behn Ord Road, east of Wagin and the reconstruction of 10 kilometres of gravel shoulders as part of an ongoing project to widen sections between Behn Ord Road and Dumbleyung.

Media contact:  Dean Roberts 321 7333/Pager 480 9999 (94065)