Worksto progressively strengthen and widen the Tablelands Highway are underway whichwill increase its reliability and economic development.
AldebaranConsulting Pty Ltd was awarded the $12 million contract to upgrade thirteenkilometres of the Tablelands Highway to a new seven-metre seal.
Theupgrades are being delivered in stages, with the first stage of 15.5 kilometrescompleted in July 2019.
Afurther 13 kilometres is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2019,weather permitting.
Thisproject is jointly funded by the Australian ($9.7 million) and NorthernTerritory ($2.4 million) Governments, forming part of a combined $25 millionproject which will upgrade 32 kilometres of the Tablelands Highway.
Trafficmanagement is in place, with minimal disruptions to motorists during the works.
Quotesfrom the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport andRegional Development Michael McCormack:
Theseworks are making the Tablelands Highway safer and more reliable, withadditional safe passing opportunities and a widened pavement reducing the riskof vehicle roll over and run off crashes.
Makingthe road a smoother and safer drive will also have immense flow-on benefits forfreight operators, improving the regions freight capacity and efficiency.
Quotesfrom the Northern Territory Minister for Infrastructure, Planning andLogistics, Eva Lawler:
Theseworks are supporting more than 60 local jobs and creating further opportunitiesfor the Barkly beef industry, mining, and tourism in the Territory.
Ourtargeted improvements to the Tablelands Highway to support local pastoralists,mining, tourism, and local communities will create a safer road environment forall reducing road restrictions that would normally apply for months of theyear.
Senatorfor the Northern Territory, Sam McMahon:
Theseworks will improve connectivity for a range of local communities, who rely uponthis road for supplies throughout the wet season, making wet season closuresless common and less imposing on the community.
TheTablelands Highway is a major connector for pastoral properties and the cattleindustry this project is easing pressures on our agricultural industry whilesecuring the long-term commercial interest of the Territory.
Quotesfrom the Northern Territory Member for Barkly, Gerry McCarthy:
Thisproject is one of many happening across the Territory, creating more local jobsand supporting local industries and communities.
Werecently completed a fifteen kilometre stretch of the Tablelands Highway makingit more reliable and safer in the Territory.
