Sealed road now quicker

Stage three of the Karratha-Tom Price Road, now named Manuwarra Red Dog Highway, is open. Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti last Wednesday officially opened and renamed the 48km stretch of road that was decades in the making. The new name pays tribute to the region’s ancient and modern history, with Yindjibarndi word Manuwarra translating to “heaps” or “masses” and Red Dog a nod to the famous four-legged Pilbara wanderer. Manuwarra is also the Yindjibarndi name for Red Dog Gorge inside the Millstream Chichester National Park. Site works started last October by MACA Civil after a 17-month delay in getting the stage off the ground due to asbestos. The road is set to reduce travel times, improve safety, provide better connections and improve access to Millstream Chichester National Park and Karijini National Park, to boost tourism. The State and Federal Government committed a $310 million for completion of stages three and four. More than 100 jobs were created during construction, with almost 6 per cent of all expenditure going to Aboriginal businesses and 7 per cent of the workers being Indigenous. Mr McGowan said the road was 30 years in the making and he was pleased it was nearly complete. “This is an important name that reflects the history of this area in a way that brings together the old and the new,” he said. “We expect this road will be heavily used by tourists, the mining industry, by locals who want to access important health and education and other services.” Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation chief executive Michael Woodley said the opening of stage three was a fantastic win for the local community as in the past it took more than a day to get from Roebourne to Millstream. “It opens up other possibilities that makes our lives a bit more easier I think,” he said. He said the name tied together ancient and modern history. Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price said the benefits of sealing were “enormous”. Shire of Ashburton president Kerry White said she was pleased the project had reached this stage of development as The Shire advocated for the sealing of this vital connecting road. Ms Saffioti said the fourth and final stage was in the development phase. “We expect to have the final design by mid-next year. We are working through all the approvals and all the surveys currently,” she said. Stage four is a 108km section from the Rio Tinto rail crossing to Nanutarra-Munjina Road on a new alignment following the Rio Tinto rail line through rugged terrain.