ATLAS Iron and the Western Australian state government are upgrading a major Pilbara road to make it safer for heavy vehicles and to unlock more of the region’s economic potential.
The 92 kilometre Marble Bar Road improvements will upgrade the road to a sealed dual-lane road and is expected to reduce the need for closures due to flooding in the wet season.
It will provide better connections to a number of mine sites serviced by the road and will be delivered in seven stages, with the first 15-kilometer section near Roy Hill now underway, and work on a further 23 kilometers of road expected to get under way in the coming weeks.
Access will also be improved to remote Aboriginal communities improving access to medical and other services.
The upgrade is being funded and delivered by Atlas Iron with the state government committing $60 million towards the project.
The road will also take an eight-kilometre deviation around Nullagine to improve road safety and reduce noise through the town.
The upgrades are expected to be completed by late 2025.
Pilbara MLA Kevin Michel said during wet season, the road can be closed for up to three months as floodwaters rise, meaning that communities become isolated, and food and provisions have to be transported in by air at significant cost.
“Marble Bar Road is the only link for a number of remote communities in the East Pilbara for food, supplies and essential services,” Mr Michel said.
