The Western Australia Government has completed the first stage of road upgrades at the Port of Esperance’s sole heavy vehicle access route.
The upgrades to Hughes Road are set to improve safety and longevity for heavy vehicles and road users, paving the way for more trade.
The project forms part of the State Government’s $19.6 million Road Improvement Program for the Port of Esperance.
Upgrades include the installation of 920 tonnes of asphalt and close to one hectare of road pavement, as well as new drainage, kerbing, and new safety barriers.
Additionally, the works have delivered a new truck layover area configured to improve the flow of truck movements along the road.
Future upgrades will involve reconfiguring the port’s access intersection to better accommodate the growth in movements of larger B-triple trucks, as well as further works reconstructing degraded areas of road pavement.
Western Australia Ports Minister, David Michael, said the state government is committed to ensuring infrastructure at ports allows them to facilitate growing trade opportunities which play a vital role in Western Australia’s economy.
“Hughes Road is a crucial link in the Port of Esperance supply chain as the sole heavy access road in and out of the port, facilitating more than five million tonnes of trade over the past year,” Mr Michael said.
“Significant growth has occurred at the port since the road’s construction four decades ago, with new and diverse commodities welcomed to accommodate the rapid expansion of the battery and other critical minerals trade and other markets.
“This critical supply route underpins the agriculture sector, with more than 3.4 million tonnes of grain and 270,000 tonnes of fertiliser delivered to and from the port.
“The road is now significantly safer and better equipped to handle the continued diverse trade opportunities facilitated by Southern Ports.”
Agricultural Region MLC Shelley Payne, said, “Hughes Road is integral to the smooth operation of the Port of Esperance while also minimising the interaction between heavy vehicles and the local community.
“It’s fantastic to see the first stage of upgrades complete and I look forward to future opportunities that the road paves the way for.”
