Notorious Bindi Bindi curves to be fixed

• General News
• 4th April 2013

But a lot more needs to be done on the North West Coastal Highway, says TWU State Secretary Rick Burton.

The has been some good news regarding our ongoing campaign for improvements to our North West highways.

Federal and state government have recently agreed to provide funding to straighten and widen the Bindi Bindi curves section of the Highway, with detailed planning already underway.

Federal transport minister Anthony Albanese admitted this 11 kilometre section of highway has a notorious safety record having been the scene of a number of fatal head-on collisions in recent years.

"We're determined to make the Great Northern Highway a better and safer road, which is particularly important considering it's the main link between Perth and Darwin as well as to resources projects in the Pilbara," Mr Albanese said.

"Importantly, the Bindi Bindi Curves Upgrade builds on work we have already completed between Muchea and Wubin.

"This project is part of the record capital works program which the Federal Government is rolling out across the state. Indeed, we have nearly doubled annual Federal infrastructure spending from $154 to $261 per West Australian."

The Bindi Bindi Curves Upgrades will be jointly funded by both the Federal ($32 million) and West Australia ($8 million) governments. Work is expected to begin next year and be completed in the second half of 2014.

As well as straightening, widening and strengthening the Highway, a new rail crossing at the Balidu-Bindi Bindi Road intersection will also be installed.

All up, some 130,000 cubic metres of earth will be removed and once complete, the speed limit on the stretch will be increased from 80 to 110 kilometres an hour and there will be more overtaking opportunities."

The work on the notorious Bindi Bindi curves is a step in the right direction but much more needs to be done.

We are maintaining pressure on Anthony Albanese and Troy Buswell to allocate funding for the widening of the 130 kilometre stretch of North West Coastal Highway running North from Mililya.

I grabbed the opportunity to corner National Party leader Brendon Grylls durning a live ABC broadcast from Karratha's Centro shopping centre just days before the March 9 state election.

Brendon, who went to win the seat of Pilbara was taking questions from the floor.

I asked him whether he would use some of his Royalties for Regions millions to fix up the dangerously narrow horror stretch. Brendon said that he agreed that there is immediate action that can be taken to widen the road to ensure the edges don't have a big drop off.

We agree and will continue to push hard on the issue and will seek a meeting with Brendon Grylls regarding his pre-election promise.

On 31 August 2012 TWU member Ashley Johnson lost his life on this horror stretch in a head-on collision involving two trucks driving in opposite directions.

The 130 kilometre 'death trap' will claim more victims unless urgent action is taken to widen the dangerous section of the highway.