A key McGowan Government election commitment to upgrade 2.43 kilometres of Great Eastern Highway in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, between Anzac Drive and Gatacre Drive, has been completed.
The upgrades have delivered a new free-flowing dual carriageway, providing improved access to a number of businesses, reducing congestion and the risk of crashes.
The $15.8 million project, delivered by Highway Construction, was completed over nine months and created more than 100 local jobs.
Works included expanding Great Eastern Highway to two lanes in each direction, better drainage and new lighting, while the intersections of Hunter and Atbara streets were also upgraded to include right-turn pockets to reduce congestion and decrease the risk of rear-end crashes.
Significant works to relocate existing services and utilities were also carried out, which included the installation of a new underground pipe system to reduce flooding during heavy rainfall.
The upgrades will make travel safer for the 8,000 motorists who use the road daily, 15 per cent of which are heavy vehicles as long as 53.5 metres.
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
“The Great Eastern Highway widening – Anzac Drive to Gatacre Drive is an important election commitment for Kalgoorlie-Boulder and I am pleased to see it has been completed.
“These upgrades will make a big difference to the 8,000 local motorists who use the road daily, particularly for heavy vehicle drivers.
“I’m pleased to see local Western Australian company Highway Construction carry out these works, creating and supporting local jobs and local businesses.”
As stated by Mining and Pastoral Region MLC Kyle McGinn:
“This road has been not very safe for a number of years now. WA Labor committed to fund this project in the 2017 State election and it has now been delivered as promised.
“We have made it much safer and easier to access businesses along this section of West Kalgoorlie, not only for workers but also members of the community visiting these businesses.
“This project created more than 100 local jobs, and of course thanks to legislation we have passed we can expect a good amount of local jobs from every State-run project.
“I am sure the local businesses along this area will be pleased to have safer access to their workplace.”
