3 August 2026
Significant upgrades planned for Central Arnhem Road by Northern Territory and Australian governments.
$21m contract awarded with construction expected to be completed by December 2027.
Program will deliver safer and more reliable journeys by reconstructing and widening narrow sections along the Central Arnhem Road to a dual-lane seal.
The Finocchiaro CLP and Albanese Labor governments are progressing significant upgrades to Central Arnhem Road.
A tender has been awarded to fully upgrade and seal a 14km section, improving access for remote communities and strengthening critical road infrastructure.
The works will upgrade the existing narrow seal to a two-lane seal, extending from the Manyallaluk turnoff to the Barunga power station.
A $21 million contract has been awarded to Allan King and Sons to deliver the works, with construction expected to begin in September 2026 and complete by December 2027.
The program will deliver safer and more reliable journeys by reconstructing and widening narrow sections along the Central Arnhem Road to a dual-lane seal.
This builds on the 25km of works already completed and another 18km currently under construction. Further packages are currently in the design process.
The Central Arnhem Road is a 645km highway connecting the regional centre of Nhulunbuy to the Stuart Highway.
It services many Aboriginal communities and forms a key tourism drive and freight route for the mining and pastoral industries.
The works carried out by Allan King and Sons will include:
• Upgrading, reconstructing and widening the road to a two-lane seal
• Construction of flood immunity improvements to ensure year-round access
• Upgrades to drainage, bridges and culverts
• Realignment of key road sections to improve safety for motorists.
The 14km section forms part of the $350 million Central Arnhem Road Upgrade program, jointly funded by the Australian and Northern Territory governments, with the Australian Government contributing $280 million and the NT Government contributing $70 million.
