Work is starting on a $3 million upgrade of 30 kilometres of the Oodnadatta Track and 25 kilometres of Kempe Road in rural South Australia.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Barnaby Joyce said the upgrades would boost driver safety and create fresh economic and social benefits for people who regularly use the roads, including local pastoralists, truckies and tourists.
“As well as being a heritage tourist corridor, the Oodnadatta Track is a vital freight and cattle transport route that makes a significant contribution to the national economy,” said Mr. Joyce.
“The Turnbull-Joyce Government is fully funding this project, and hundreds of others across the nation under our $4.4 billion Roads to Recovery Program.”
Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey said roads were economic lifelines for towns like Oodnadatta and their surrounding regions.
“These works will involve resurfacing the road surface and upgrading drainage, which will reduce the frequency of road closures and improve safety for drivers,” said Mr. Ramsey.
“I’m really pleased to see this $3 million investment in some of our remote roads. The works will also support 10 full-time equivalent jobs during construction,” he said.
Works will be carried out on a 30-kilometre section of the Track between William Creek and Oodnadatta and a 25 kilometre section of Kempe Road between Oodnadatta and Coober Pedy.
The road will remain open to traffic, with speed restrictions in place while workers are on site. Works will be carried out between 7am and 6.30pm on weekdays and weekends over 21 day blocks, with seven-day breaks until completed.
The upgrades are expected to be completed in August 2018, weather permitting.
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