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Laing O’Rourke starts work on $310m road through Australian outback

GCR Staff

Construction work on a major road that will improve freight links and free up congested roads in Western Australia will begin this month.

Great Northern Connect, a joint venture between Laing O’Rourke and BGC Contracting, will deliver the US$310m NorthLink WA central section for Main Roads Western Australia.

Stretching from northern Perth to Muchea, the completed NorthLink WA will shift heavy traffic away from the Swan Valley tourist region, reduce the number of goods vehicles on the Great Northern Highway and improve freight links to the port at Fremantle. 

Completing the 20km stretch of dual-lane freeway between Reid Highway and Ellenbrook involves building 16 road bridges, three footbridges as well as cycle and pedestrian facilities.  

The whole route sits on sandy ground, with 90% of it passing through bush – presenting a logistical challenge. Among the materials to be delivered to are 2.5 million cubic tonnes of foundation ballast, 80,000 sq m of precast concrete noise barriers up to 5.5m high, which will run for 13km, and more than two million shrubs and trees to be planted along the course of the road.

At the peak of construction, 450 operatives and staff will be involved, including a five-strong environmental team and three people to handle community engagement.

The project is due to be completed in September 2019.

Images courtesy of Laing O’Rourke

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Comments

  1. Outback?

    Its the suburbs of perth.

    Tony May 26, 2017 at 06:05

  2. Huge disconnect between regional WA and metro perth… nothing new… Perth gets all the development while regional WA working off their backs to make the state’s income.

    Kalgoorlie Resident May 27, 2017 at 11:05

  3. I think the author should change this article heading. This Freeway is being built in the north eastern suburbs of Perth , not exactlly the outback which is at least 500km away

    ric May 28, 2017 at 07:05

  4. Oh. I thought the outback was between Perth & Midland…

    Phil May 29, 2017 at 04:05

  5. Based on the above comments and being an easterner with a vague idea of the Swan Valley I thought I should have a quick look at google maps. I was surprised to see Muchea was only an hour from Central Perth. In saying that the project looks solid and the photo is of bush. Maybe just the heading…

    Greg May 30, 2017 at 10:05

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