Transport Minister Rita Saffioti today visited the site of the Onslow Road Upgrade project, where work on the final stage of upgrades has commenced.
Expected to be completed on February 2020, the package will upgrade the remaining 43 kilometres of Onslow Road, and is estimated to create up to 40 jobs.
Stage 1 of the Onslow Road Upgrade project, which was completed in April 2019, included 33 kilometres of pavement overlay, significant intersection improvements at North West Coastal Highway and associated surfacing works at a cost of $31 million.
Fully funded by Chevron Australia, the $27.5 million Stage 2 of works is being delivered by Main Roads as part of an upgrade program to accommodate Chevron’s industrial development in the Ashburton North Strategic Industrial Area (ANSIA).
Main Roads has also worked with the Shire of Ashburton to provide entry to the new Onslow Waste Management facility including upgrades to signage and road markings as part of the project.
The upgrade will improve overall safety and traffic efficiency as well as reduce maintenance requirements.
Onslow Road south of Twitchin Road carries about 240 vehicles per day, of which 30 per cent are heavy vehicles, while at the intersection with North West Coastal Highway, the traffic count rises to 550 vehicles per day (30 per cent heavy vehicles).
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
“This unique partnership between the State and Chevron is testament to how we can work together to continue to develop industry in the mineral rich Pilbara Region.
“This project will place priority on Aboriginal engagement and participation, requiring more than 10 per cent Aboriginal workforce and 10 per cent Aboriginal business content.
“These upgrades will create local jobs, while providing further opportunities for the mining industry to develop and making our regional roads safer.”
