The contract to improve safety for heavy vehicles on Albany Lake Grace Road (Chester Pass Road) in Western Australia’s Southern region has been awarded.
Densford Civil Marine and Civil Joint Venture will complete the works on the Albany Lake Grace – Amelup curves project.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester, said the $11 million upgrade includes works to widen and straighten four kilometres of road, and upgrade two intersections between North Stirling Road and Smith Road.
“Chester Pass Road forms part of a critical route linking Albany to the Southern Wheatbelt, and it provides access from the surrounding farming areas to the regional service centre of Albany,” Mr Chester said.
WA Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti, said two new bridges would also be built over Martaquin Creek and Ongerup Creek to help mitigate the effects of flood events, which currently cause significant disruption to road transport on this important link.
“This road has seen a number of incidents in recent years, including heavy vehicle rollovers, particularly in the vicinity of Amelup, so these upgrades, along with the construction of two new bridges, will greatly improve safety for all road users including heavy vehicle operators,” Ms Saffioti said.
WA Federal Member for O’Connor, Rick Wilson, said the project would improve safety for vehicle operators.
“The feedback I’ve had from truck drivers bringing grain into Albany is that this is a particularly treacherous stretch of the highway and they’re looking forward to seeing these works completed,” Mr Wilson said.
Work is expected to start in December 2017 and be completed by mid-2018.
