Report shows serious deficiencies in National Hwy network standards

9/12/95

A Main Roads report on Western Australia's National Highway network has identified serious standards deficiencies.

Transport Minister Eric Charlton said today the Main Roads assessment, a requirement of the Federal Government owned and funded National Highways through the Australian Land Transport Development program, was a complete inventory on the state of the National Highway system in WA.

"In the past, Main Roads has concentrated solely on the condition of the pavement," Mr Charlton said.

"This time it includes nine additional areas of assessment which are crucial to determining the true state of the National Highway network in WA.

"The WA road network accounts for 25 per cent of the national system over a total distance of 4,650 kilometres."

The additional categories of assessment include pavement width, vulnerability to flooding, alignment suitability, safety at intersections, grades and the total environment.

Mr Charlton said in broad terms the investigation showed many sections of the system were in poor condition, some were too narrow, highly trafficked stretches were poorly aligned and many sections were deficient.

"By failing to ensure high road standards the Federal Government is working against the objectives of the National Highway System, which are to facilitate trade, provide safe and reliable access, minimise community costs and support regional development," the Minister said.

He said the Main Roads assessment confirmed the dangerous environment of  the Perth to Northam section of Great Eastern Highway.

The assessment found this section old and of a standard not in keeping with present requirements. It was wrongly positioned, unsafe and the scene of many fatalities in recent years.

The assessment of other sections of the National Highway system included:

GREAT EASTERN HIGHWAY

·       Northam-Southern Cross; much of the road is old and the design obsolete for heavy traffic. Built in the 1960s for slow and light traffic (up to five-tonne trucks), it now carries 80-tonne road trains, is decaying and has reached the end of its serviceable life;

·       Southern Cross-Coolgardie; most of the section is in good condition, although the width of 6.8 metres is inadequate for road trains;

·       Coolgardie-Esperance Highway (Coolgardie to Norseman); weak and failing pavement, below standard width, subject to flooding and potentially dangerous.  Adequate for the 1960s when built, but obsolete for the needs of the 1990s.

EYRE HIGHWAY

·       Much of the road is 30 years old, badly worn and below standard with decaying sections of pavement, substandard sight distance and narrow seal widths.

GREAT NORTHERN HIGHWAY

·       Roe Highway to Muchea; narrow road reserve and totally inappropriate for the existing environment;

·       Muchea to Wubin; old with poor alignment leading to poor visibility and high crash rates, narrow decaying pavements and seals.  A 1960s road trying to satisfy 1990s needs;

·       Wubin to Meekatharra; much of the section upgraded to a reasonable condition, but still has some single lane seals, sections which frequently flood and weak pavement;

·       Meekatharra to Newman; seal width over much of the section below the recommended eight metres, decaying pavement and some sections prone to flooding;

·       Halls Creek to Kununurra turnoff; condition is a cause for major concern in a rapidly growing region; and -

·       Victoria Highway (Kununurra turnoff to the WA/Northern Territory border); condition relatively good, although deficiencies identified in some areas including narrow road widths and low standard floodways.

Mr Charlton said the Federal Government set the standard of the National Highway system, yet did not provide the necessary funding to maintain it.

Media contact: Ian Hasleby 321 7333