Program to improve heavy vehicle rest areas now underway

Important upgrades to rest area facilities for heavy vehicle industry operators are now underway across 13 locations in Western Australia, as part of the $50 million Freight Vehicle Productivity Improvement Program.

The $50 million program, jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State Government, includes improvements that will allow for safer turning movements, improvements to parking and breakdown areas for combination vehicles reducing noise and dust, and the construction of ablution blocks at some locations.

Phase One of the program, includes a $20 million investment across 13 locations in the Pilbara, Mid-West, Wheatbelt, Goldfields and South-West regions.

Work recently commenced at the heavy vehicle rest area in Munjina adjacent to the Auski-Munjina Roadhouse and Accommodation and includes the sealing of the rest of the area and improved access for heavy vehicles.

Work will progressively commence on each of the 13 locations below over the next six months, with all improvements due for completion in late 2022:

• Marble Bar Road - Minor rest area improvements, construct ablution block ($170,000) • Great Northern Highway at Karijini

Drive - Upgrade rest area, construct ablution block ($1.2 million) • Great Northern Highway at Bell Street - Minor Road Train Assembly Area improvements, construct ablution block ($280,000) • Great Northern Highway, Newman -

Construct new Road Train Assembly

Area and ablution block ($12.2 million) • Great Northern Highway, Munjina -

Construct new rest area ($3.4 million) • Great Northern Highway, Redmont - Minor rest area improvements, construct ablution block ($170,000)

• Great Northern Highway, Wubin - Minor rest area improvements, construct ablution block ($200,000) • Great Northern Highway 115 kilometres north of Wubin - Minor rest area improvements, construct ablution block

($200,000) • North West Coastal Highway,

Northampton - Minor rest area improvements, construct ablution block ($200,000) • Minilya Exmouth Road - Minor rest area improvements, construct shower and ablution block ($400,000)

• Great Eastern Highway, Northam - Minor Road Train Assembly Area improvements, construct ablution block ($100,000)

• Main Reef Road (Goldfields Highway),

Leonora - Extend Road Train Assembly

Area, construct ablution block ($1.6 million)

• Willinge Drive, Bunbury - Minor Road

Train Assembly Area improvements, construct ablution block ($200,000) These priority projects were identified through extensive consultation with peak