Great Northern Highway

Great Northern Highway Western Australia
Map of Western Australia with Great Northern Highway highlighted in red
General information
Type	Highway
Length	3,194.66 km (1,985 mi)[1]
Gazetted	10 March 1944[2]
Route number(s)	National Highway 95 (Middle Swan – Mundabullangana) National Highway 1 (Mundabullangana – Victoria Highway) National Route 1 (Midland – Muchea)
Tourist routes	Swan Valley Tourist Drive (Tourist Drive 203, Perth) Geikie–Windjana Tourist Way (Tourist Drive 350, Geikie Gorge National Park – Fitzroy Crossing) Chittering Valley Tourist Way (Tourist Drive 359, Bullsbrook) Midlands Tourist Way (Tourist Drive 360, Upper Swan – Walebing)
Major junctions
Southwest end	Morrison Road, (National Routes 1), Midland, Perth
	Reid Highway (State Route 3) Roe Highway (National Highway 95 / State Route 3) Brand Highway (National Route 1) Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road (State Route 123) Goldfields Highway North West Coastal Highway (National Route 1) Victoria Highway (National Highway 1)
Northeast end	Harbour Road, Wyndham
Location(s)
Major settlements	Bullsbrook, New Norcia, Dalwallinu, Mount Magnet, Meekatharra, Newman, Port Hedland, Broome Fitzroy Crossing, Halls Creek
Highway system
Highways in Australia National Highway • Freeways in Australia Highways in Western Australia

Great Northern Highway links Western Australia's capital city Perth with its northernmost port, Wyndham. With a length of almost 3,200 kilometres (2,000 mi), it is the longest highway in Australia, with the majority included as part of the Perth Darwin National Highway. The highway is constructed as a sealed, predominantly two-lane single carriageway, but with some single-lane bridges in the Kimberley. Great Northern Highway travels through remote areas of the state, and is the only sealed road link between the Northern Territory and northern Western Australia. Economically, it provides vital access through the Wheatbelt and Mid West to the resource-rich regions of the Pilbara and Kimberley. In these areas, the key industries of mining, agriculture and pastoral stations, and tourism are all dependent on the highway.

In Perth, the highway begins in Midland near Great Eastern Highway, and further north intersects the Reid and Roe highways, which together form Perth's ring road. There are also three rural highways that spur off Great Northern Highway. Brand Highway and North West Coastal Highway provide an alternative coastal route between Muchea and Port Hedland, while Victoria Highway carries the National Highway route and interstate traffic into the Northern Territory. Various road routes are allocated to sections of Great Northern Highway, including the Highway 1 routes National Route 1 and National Highway 1, as well as National Highway 95.

The highway was created in 1944 from existing roads in the Wheatbelt and a series of tracks through remote pastoral areas. However, it was a hazardous route that could be dusty in the dry season, and boggy or washed away in the wet season. Some sections were effectively impassable sand, while others contained limestone outcrops. Economic growth and development in northern Western Australia prompted initial improvement efforts, and the federal government's Beef Roads Scheme in the 1960s resulted in a noticeably higher-quality road in the Kimberley. Construction of a sealed road from Perth to Wyndham, including numerous bridges to reduce the impact of seasonal flooding, took many years to complete. The last section opened on 16 December 1989, and received national media coverage. However, by then many older sections were either worn out or not up to modern standards. Various upgrades have been carried out in small sections, across the length of the highway, with further works planned. A major realignment of the highway in Perth is scheduled for construction between 2016 and 2019, as part of the NorthLink WA project that will also upgrade Tonkin Highway.

Route description

Great Northern Highway is the main north-south route between Perth and the northern areas of Western Australia. Covering a distance of 3,195 kilometres (1,985 mi),^[1] it is the longest highway in Australia.^[3] From Midland in Perth's north-east, the highway heads generally north-east through the Wheatbelt and Mid West to Newman, north-west to the coastal Pilbara town of Port Hedland, along the coastline to Broome, east to Halls Creek, and finally north to Wyndham, on the state's northern coastline. Sixty kilometres (37 mi) out from Wyndham, the highway intersects the start of Victoria Highway, which carries interstate traffic to the Northern Territory via Kununurra. Various road routes are allocated to sections of Great Northern Highway, which is mostly a National Highway route, and also forms part of Australia's Highway 1. It is signed as National Route 1 from Midland to Middle Swan, National Highway 95 and National Route 1 concurrently from Middle Swan to Muchea, National Highway 95 from Muchea to Mundabullangana, and National Highway 1 from Mundabullangana to Victoria Highway.^[4] The vast majority of the highway is a two-lane single carriageway, although as of 2014 there are thirteen single-lane bridges and four single-lane floodways in the Kimberley.^[4][5] The speed limit is 110 kilometres per hour (70 mph) except in and around built up areas.^[1]

Great Northern Highway travels to remote areas of Western Australia, including the Munjina Roadhouse near the Hamersley Ranges,^[6] and the communities of Eighty Mile Beach, Wallal, Sandfire and Mandora, which are located between Broome and Port Hedland.^[7] It is the only sealed road between the Northern Territory border and major population centres in the north of the state.^[8] Economically, Great Northern Highway is also a vital link in the resource rich regions of the Wheatbelt, Mid West, Pilbara, and Kimberley. The key industries of mining, agriculture, and pastoral stations are all dependent on the highway as a significant and in some cases only method of transport. Tourism accounts for a significant portion of the road's traffic, and is a growing part of or potential growth source for the regional economies. The highway provides access to a variety of tourist attractions, including New Norcia, the Yilgarn area, and various national parks, including Karijini.^{[8][9][10][11]} Parts of the highway itself are included in the tourist routes Swan Valley Tourist Drive (Tourist Drive 203) in Perth, Chittering Valley Tourist Way (Tourist Drive 359) in Bullsbrook, Midlands Tourist Way (Tourist Drive 360) from Upper Swan to Walebing, and Geikie–Windjana Tourist Way (Tourist Drive 350) from Geikie Gorge National Park to Fitzroy Crossing.^[12]

Main Roads Western Australia monitors traffic volume across the state's road network, including various locations along Great Northern Highway.^[13]:3 From 2007/08 to 2008/09, the recorded traffic volumes ranged between 7,830 and 17,710 vehicles per weekday in Perth,^[13]:37 510 to 2,990 in the Wheatbelt,^[13]:105 470 to 590 in the Mid West,^[13]:83 390 to 10,840 in the Pilbara,^[13]:87 and 170 to 4,090 in the Kimberley.^[13]:15 The highest percentage of heavy traffic was 52.5%, north of Newman Drive in the Pilbara.^[13]:87 Overall, Great Northern Highway performs favourably in terms of road safety, compared to other major highways in Western Australia. Whilst making up two thirds of the state's National Highway network, it was the location of only half of all recorded fatalities for 2005–2009. For that period, the sections of the highway from Wubin to the Sandfire Roadhouse, north-east of Port Hedland, were considered by the Australian Automobile Association to be among the lowest risk highway links in the state. However, the section from Perth to Wubin was rated as medium risk, and the northern sections of the highway were rated medium-high and high risk.^[14] In 2013, Great Northern Highway received a similar rating, still higher overall than the other highways. Out of five stars, 21% was rated as one- or two-star, and 79% was rated three- or four-star, with the southern and northern ends of the highway generally less safe than the portion from Wubin to the Sandfire Roadhouse.^[15]

Perth

Within Perth, Bullsbrook is the northernmost urban area along Great Northern Highway.

Great Northern Highway begins at Morrison Road, Midland, in Perth's north-eastern suburbs, signed as National Route 1. Though it originally commenced at Great Eastern Highway,^[16][17] that section is no longer contiguous, and is now named Old Great Northern Highway. The highway heads north through Middle Swan, intersecting the start of Toodyay Road after 1.3 kilometres (0.8 mi), and then the meeting point of Reid and Roe Highways after another 1.4 kilometres (0.9 mi). Those highways come together from Perth's ring road, signed as State Route 3, and north of this intersection Great Northern Highway is concurrently allocated National Highway 95 and National Route 1. It continues north through the Swan Valley for 9.5 kilometres (6 mi), passing many wineries, restaurants, and other tourist attractions. The highway crosses the Swan River and intersects West Swan Road, before turning north-east to travel around the residential part of Upper Swan. Great Northern Highway continues north for thirteen kilometres (8 mi) beyond West Swan Road, past larger agricultural properties, to reach Bullsbrook, the last urban area within the Perth Metropolitan Region. After 11.5 kilometres (7 mi) beyond Bullsbrook, the highway reaches the edge of the Perth metropolitan area at the City of Swan–Shire of Chittering boundary, where it passes into the Wheatbelt.^[18]

Wheatbelt

View south from Bindoon

In the Wheatbelt, Great Northern Highway links small town sites with the surrounding rural farmland, occasionally passing by remnant patches of woodlands.^[19] From the north-eastern edge of Perth, the highway travels north for three kilometres (2 mi) to Muchea, where the Brand Highway and National Route 1 branch off to the north-west.^[18] Great Northern Highway and National Highway 95 continue north-east for 26 kilometres (16 mi). It passes to the west of Lake Chittering, curves east to cross the Brockman River, and then back north to Bindoon. Five kilometres (3 mi) further north, Bindoon–Moora Road branches off to the north-west, while the highway skirts east briefly then continues north, reaching New Norcia after 46 kilometres (29 mi). The starting point of The Midlands Road is located at Walebing, 35 kilometres (22 mi) further north; from there, Great Northern Highway heads north-east for 18 kilometres (11 mi) to Bindi Bindi, north for 17 kilometres (11 mi) to Miling, then east for 33 kilometres (21 mi) to the northern end of Northam–Pithara Road, and shortly thereafter Pithara. From here, another 16 kilometres (10 mi) takes the road to Dalwallinu, and Wubin is 20 kilometres (12 mi) further north.^[19][20]

Mid West

North-east of Wubin, the highway travels into the Outback.

As Great Northern Highway heads north-east from Wubin out of the Wheatbelt, the vegetation changes to arid shrubland. In the Mid West region, the long stretches between settlements show few signs of human activity, other than the highway itself. The first such settlement is Paynes Find, 154 kilometres (96 mi) out from Wubin. At this point the highway heads north again, reaching Mount Magnet after 143 kilometres (89 mi), and then Cue after another 80 kilometres (50 mi). The road travels north-east for 115 kilometres (71 mi) to Meekatharra, and then has a long 412-kilometre (256 mi) stretch up to the northern edge of the Mid West at the Fortescue River, near Newman Airport.^[21][22] Halfway along this stretch the highway passes a roadhouse at Kumarina.^[23]

Pilbara

Great Northern Highway travels past the north-east of Newman.

Four kilometres (2.5 mi) after crossing the Fortescue River, Great Northern Highway intersects Marble Bar Road, the highway's original alignment. It proceeds north to Marble Bar, mostly as an unsealed road, whilst the highway deviates north-west, reaching Newman after three kilometres (2 mi). The flat landscape gives way to gentle ranges, which the highway meanders around as it heads west-north-west for 109 kilometres (68 mi). It then curves around to the north, proceeding over a distance of 48 kilometres (30 mi) to Karijini Road, the entrance road to the Karijini National Park. The highway continues north for another 35 kilometres (22 mi), travelling through the north-eastern corner of the national park to Nanutarra Munjina Road. Great Northern Highway proceeds on its journey north, crossing the Yule River and its tributaries. The highway then runs parallel to the Turner River over a 220-kilometre (140 mi) distance until it reaches North West Coastal Highway. This junction is the northern terminus of the National Highway 95, and Great Northern Highway continues north-east as National Highway 1 – part of Australia's Highway 1, which is signed as National Route 1 along North West Coastal Highway. The turnoff for Port Hedland is 32 kilometres (20 mi) north-east of the intersection, and from there the highway heads east for 40 kilometres (25 mi) to the northern end of Marble Bar Road, and reaching Pardoo after another 72 kilometres (45 mi). It parallels the coastline thereafter, passing into the Kimberley region shortly after the Pardoo Roadhouse.^[24][25]

Kimberley

From Pardoo, Great Northern Highway travels north-east, paralleling the coastline for 455 kilometres (283 mi), and passing Eighty Mile Beach near the Sandfire Roadhouse. The vegetation becomes denser woodlands once more as the highway heads into the Kimberley's tropical monsoon climate. At Roebuck the highway turns east, heading inland, while Broome Roads spurs off to the west, connecting to Broome. After 145 kilometres (90 mi), the highway crosses the Fitzroy River on Willare Bridge and reaches the turnoff for Derby, Derby Highway, in Willare. Great Northern Highway continues east for 217 kilometres (135 mi) to Fitzroy Crossing, where it crosses the Fitzroy River a second time. It continues east, curving around the southern side of the Margaret River, and reaching Tanami Road after 272 kilometres (169 mi). The town of Halls Creek and the Duncan Road turnoff are 17 kilometres (11 mi) north-east of there. From here the highway heads north for 313 kilometres (194 mi), past Warmun to Victoria Highway.^[25][26] The national highway route turns off at Victoria Highway, travelling past Kununurra to cross into the Northern Territory.^[27] Great Northern Highway, however, continues north-west without a route number, passing the eastern end of Gibb River Road after eight kilometres (5 mi), and reaching Wyndham following another 48 kilometres (30 mi). The highway continues on for six kilometres (3.7 mi) to reach the original townsite and the harbour,^[26] where it takes on the local names Odonnell Street, McPhee Street, and Harbour Road.^[1]

History

Highway origins

The name Great Northern Highway was first proposed in October 1940 by the state's Nomenclature Advisory Committee,^{[lower-alpha 1]} to describe the main route from Midland to Geraldton, Western Australia.^[29] This was following the naming of the Great Eastern and Great Southern highways.^[30] The Midland Junction Municipal Council approved the name,^[29] however at the Geraldton Municipal Council meeting, one councillor suggested that Great Midland Highway would be a better name. The reasoning was that Geraldton was in the centre of the state's coastline, not in the north. It was explained that the highway would continue north past Geraldton, and the council voted to approve the name.^[30]

By July 1941, the Nomenclature Advisory Committee's proposal had expanded to three highway names for the roads in the state's northern areas: Great Northern Highway for "the road from Midland Junction Town Hall to Wyndham, via Walebing, Pithara, Wubin, Payne's Find, Mt. Magnet, Cue, Nannine, Meekatharra, Roy Hill, Nullagine, Marble Bar, Mulyee, De Grey, Pardoo, Wallal, Anna Plains, Le Grange, Broome, Derby, Noonkanbah, Fitzroy Crossing, Christmas Creek, Louisa Downs, Hall's Creek and Turkey Creek",^[31] North West Coastal Highway for "the road from Geraldton to De Grey, via Northampton, Galena, Carnarvon, Boolaganoo, Winning Pool, Giralia, Yanrey, Onslow, Peedamullah, Mardie, Karratha, Roebourne, Whim Creek, Mundabullangana and Port Hedland",^[31] and Geraldton Highway for "the road from Walebing to Geraldton via Mingenew".^{[31][lower-alpha 2]} The proposal was well received by the local municipal councils and road boards.^[31][32][33]

A car struggles to cross the flooded Fortescue River (February 1942).

The name Great Northern Highway was gazetted on 10 March 1944, under section 10 of the Land Act, 1933–1939.^[2] However, the highway was mostly a series of tracks through remote pastoral areas, with the sealed road ending just past the Wheatbelt town of Miling in 1950.^{[lower-alpha 3][34]:120} Driving was difficult and hazardous all year round. The road was very dusty in the dry season, and some sections of the road were effectively impassable sand, while other sections contained limestone outcrops that damaged tyres. During the wet season, when rivers flooded, sections of road were essentially bogs, or worse still, were completely washed away.^{[34]:120–121}

Sealing the highway

Initial efforts

Economic growth and development in Western Australia's northern regions in the 1940s prompted the state to quadruple road funding between 1946 and 1952. Five "gangs" of workers were allocated to a 1,600-mile (2,600 km) length of Great Northern Highway between Meekatharra and Wyndham. However, given the vast distance the highway travelled, and destructive cyclones in the Pilbara and Gascoyne that could destroy multiple weeks worth of work, the overall improvement was relatively insignificant. Over time, though, the road was improved.^{[34]:120–121} New alignments were constructed, such as between Derby and Fitzroy Crossing in the late 1940s, which had originally followed the curve of the Fitzroy River, along its floodplain, and could only be used in the dry season. The new alignment was a more direct 180-mile (290 km) section, with the first five miles (8 km) sealed, a total of 68 miles (109 km) of gravel road, and the remainder simply formed earth. Despite this low construction standard, the road remained passable except for short periods during heavy rain.^{[34]:120–121}

Beef Roads Scheme

In 1961, the federal government passed the Western Australian Grants (Beef Cattle Roads) Act 1961, known as the Beef Roads Scheme, that encouraged road building in the Kimberley.^[34]:168 This had followed on from an earlier federal grant scheme in 1949 for the construction of a road from Nicholson to Wyndham.^{[lower-alpha 4]} The road allowed trucks to efficiently transport cattle to port, rather than the slow cattle drives that could lose stock and take weeks to complete.^[34]:122 The 1961 Beef Roads Scheme initially included upgrading the Wyndham to Halls Creek section of Great Northern Highway as one of three projects in the region. One year later the scheme was expanded to include the Broome to Halls Creek section of the highway, and several bridge construction projects.^[34]:168 However, the resources allocated to Great Northern Highway were needed to maintain the highway as an unsealed road in a usable condition, rather than to completely seal the roadway. In 1963, work was completed on stabilising a 42-mile (68 km) sandy section to prevent vehicles from becoming bogged, a 29-mile (47 km) section was realigned to avoid the Fortescue River floodplain, and 25 miles (40 km) between Marble Bar and Port Hedland was also realigned to minimise the effects of wet weather.^[34]:186

Perth to Newman

The projects funded by the Beef Roads Scheme resulted in a noticeably higher quality road in the Kimberley,^[34]:221 but work still progressed on other sections of the highway. In 1970, a single-lane sealed section was completed between Perth and Meekatharra. The project was one of the first in the state to be constructed by contractors rather than by Main Roads directly. It cost $9 million, two-thirds of which was spent after 1959.^[34]:220 The next section to be upgraded and sealed was from Meekatharra to Newman, a 414-kilometre-long (257 mi) project that would take four and a half years to construct. Due to the remoteness of the location, airstrips were built alongside the highway, so that workers could be flown in from Geraldton. The highway was realigned in several spots, to avoid difficult areas, improve river crossings, or give drivers a more scenic view of the surrounding area. New bridges were constructed along the route, including a reinforced concrete bridge at the Fortescue River, and a four-span bridge over the Gascoyne River's Middle Branch. By December 1978, the sealed road reached Newman, with the project completed three months ahead of schedule, and at a cost of $20 million, $1 million under budget. With a 7.4-metre-wide (24 ft) seal and 2.4-metre-wide (8 ft) shoulders, the road could easily accommodate two lanes of traffic. Previously sealed sections, totalling 485 kilometres (301 mi) of the highway, were less than half that width. Premier Charles Court opened the new and improved highway on 12 December 1978.^[34]:297–9

Port Hedland to Wyndham

The two-lane sealed road between Halls Creek and Wyndham was also completed in 1978. It involved the construction of 21 bridges, and extensive earthworks designed to blend the road into the terrain. The section was opened on 23 July 1978 by the Minister for Transport, at a cost of over $20 million.^{[34]:299–300} Meanwhile, work on sealing and upgrading the 476-kilometre-long (296 mi) section from Port Hedland and Broome began in 1976. With up to five contractors and four Main Roads teams working throughout the project, it was completed at an extraordinarily rapid pace. It opened in April 1981 at a cost of $56 million. With the opening of this section, tourist traffic escalated. Cape Keraudren, Eighty Mile Beach, and Broome became increasingly favoured destinations, especially for residents of the Pilbara.^[34]:301

Great Northern Highway south-east of Fitzroy Crossing

Work accelerated in the 1980s as part of the Australian Bicentenary Road Development program. From October 1982, the program provided $2.5 billion to upgrade the country's roads in the lead up to Australia's bicentenary in 1988.^[34]:302 By this time, the only sections of Great Northern Highway yet to be sealed were a 275-kilometre (171 mi) stretch from Fitzroy Crossing to Halls Creek, and another 416 kilometres (258 mi) between Newman and Port Hedland.^[34]:314 Construction of the Fitzroy Crossing to Halls Creek section began in October 1981. The route had been surveyed in 1979; with the collaboration of the Western Australian Museum, Main Roads ensured it would not impact important Aboriginal heritage sites. After five years of work, including the construction of nine bridges, the widened and sealed section was completed on 7 September 1986. At the time, this was the final section of the nationwide Highway 1 to be sealed, and there was national interest. The media captured the completion on camera, while the federal Minister for Transport, Peter Morris, together with the Western Australian Minister for the North West, Ernie Bridge, rode on the bitumen truck for the final spray.^{[34]:318–20} With this section completed, the Newman to Port Hedland section of Great Northern Highway was the only significant section of unsealed highway in Western Australia.^[34]:320

Newman to Port Hedland

A realignment of the highway between Newman and Port Hedland had been proposed since 1976, which would see the road deviate to the west at Newman, and travel via Wittenoom instead of Marble Bar.^[34]:238 In the early 1980s, eleven route corridors were investigated by Main Roads. The potential impacts on the natural environment, regional economy, tourism, and resident population were considered, with particular concern for the crossing of the Hamersley Range.^[34]:362–5

Great Northern Highway curves down through Munjina Gorge.

As the highway would pass through the Hamersley National Park,^{[lower-alpha 5]} the Environmental Protection Authority decided in 1983 that an Environment Review and Management Program report was required for the Newman to White Springs section. Consultants prepared the report for Main Roads, which found that the key risks were erosion, visual impact, and possible damage to flora. A detailed survey was carried out, which included the use of laser and infra-red measuring devices from within a helicopter, and numerous field trips to determine the final alignment and bridge sites. A comprehensive Environmental Impact Statement was then produced, and the project was approved in mid-1984.^[34]:362–5

In early 1986, the contract for this 12-kilometre (7.5 mi) segment through the Munjina and Mungina East gorges was awarded. Construction of this segment involved tight control over earthworks and machinery movements, to protect the National Park ecology. The finished road was a scenic route curving down through the Munjina Gorge and out onto the Fortescue River flood plain, with cuttings and embankments blending it in with the natural environment. It was opened on 12 June 1987 by the federal Minister for Transport, Peter Morris, having cost $28.4 million.^[34]:362–5

Other portions of the Newman – Port Hedland link were completed over the next two years,^{[lower-alpha 6]} with the last part officially opened on 16 December 1989 by Bob Brown and Bob Pearce, the federal and state transport ministers. This last section of Great Northern Highway also completed the sealing of the National Highway,^{[34]:362–5[36]} and the opening ceremony, held on location 212 kilometres (132 mi) south of Port Hedland, received national media coverage.^[34]:362–5

Fitzroy River crossing, Willare

In the late 1960s, Main Roads investigated alternative crossing points over the Fitzroy River, to replace the existing low-level bridge at Yeeda. Flooding in January 1966 had demonstrated that Willare was the best site. The new route would be eight miles (13 km) longer, and required two bridges, but would result in a better quality road. When tenders were called, the river flooded again, washing away 170 feet (52 m) of the old bridge. Rather than reconstruct the low-level crossing, the construction timeframe was shortened from 18 months to 38 weeks. The 1,280-foot-long (390 m) Willare Bridge and 640-foot-long (200 m) Minnie River Bridge opened on 12 June 1968, having cost almost $700,000. While situated seven feet (2.1 m) higher than the worst known flood level, the single-lane bridges were designed to accommodate more extensive flood levels, with the water flowing over them if necessary.^[34]:221

By the early 1980s, it was clear that the Fitzroy River crossing was still inadequate. Seasonal flooding had closed the road several times, and damaged the embankments leading up the bridges. The crossing had been closed for twenty four days in 1982; while in 1983, the most severe flooding since 1914 extensively damaged 2.6 kilometres (1.6 mi) of the highway, closing it for twenty-five days. To alleviate the problem, two new bridges were built in 1985, and the road was widened and raised two to three metres (6 ft 7 in to 9 ft 10 in) above the flood plain. The earthworks for the project included constructing guide banks to direct excess water to flow over floodways, which were protected with rocks. This was designed to minimise the time the road would be closed in such a scenario. The $11 million upgraded crossing was opened on 19 December 1985 by the federal Minister for Transport, Peter Morris. Then, one month later, Cyclone Hector produced 70% more water than the crossing had been designed for. Water overflowed the road all along the flood plain, not just at designated floodways, ravaging the shoulders and then destroying sections of road. Four to five kilometres (2.5 to 3.1 mi) of the highway was washed away, leaving the bridges isolated and disconnected. The road was closed from 27 January to 14 February 1986, with $200,000 spent just to make the crossing passable. It was then redesigned and rebuilt at a cost of $1.9 million to make it more flood resistant.^[34]:315–8

Further improvements

Standard two-lane road with unsealed shoulders near Paynes Find in 2010

Despite the provision of a completely sealed road, there was still much work to be done on the highway, with many older sections either worn out or not up to modern standards. Narrow sections were widened to a full seven metres (23 ft), and repairs made to the road, shoulders, fencing, and line markings as required, with work carried out in sections and progressing along the length of the highway.^[34]:366 Four overtaking lanes were constructed between Mount Magnet and Cue in 1991; and between 1991 and 1993, there were eight contracts awarded to widen, reconstruct, and seal a combined total of more than 190 kilometres (120 mi) of the highway.^[34]:366

A range of projects were carried out across the length of the highway between 1996 and 2006. By 1998, a 157-kilometre (98 mi) section between the Sandfire Roadhouse and Victoria Highway had been improved at a cost of $1.1 million, and another 42 kilometres (26 mi) north of Meekatharra was improved for $12 million in 1999. Two bridges were constructed in the vicinity of Halls Creek in 2000, and another four in 2004/05, replacing floodways so that the highway would remain open during floods. Similarly, 100 kilometres (62 mi) north of Halls Creek, the 240-metre-long (0.15 mi) Jarlalu Bridge over the Ord River was constructed to replace a single-lane floodway, and was opened in January 2003. That same year, the bridges over the Fortescue and Gascoyne Rivers were strengthened to increase the highway's load capacity. Modifications were made to the steep ascent of the Darling Scarp at Bindoon Hill between February 2002 and April 2003, and Great Northern Highway was realigned to bypass the Dalwallinu town centre.^[37]

Work on Great Northern Highway has been continuous. From 2004 to 2010, the Muchea to Wubin section was upgraded, with parts reconstructed and realigned, and traffic lights installed at the intersection with Brand Highway.^[38][39] In the Kimberley, five sections between Halls Creek and Victoria Highway were improved between 2008 and 2009 with regards to pavement strength, alignment, safety, and flood resistance.^[40] From 2005 to 2010, the Perth section, through the Swan Valley, was upgraded, with the road widened, turning and overtaking lanes constructed, and street lighting improved.^[41] Construction of a realignment around Port Hedland's Wedgefield industrial area, including a new parclo interchange at Wilson Street, began towards the end of 2012.^[42][43] It was opened to traffic on 17 June 2014,^[44] and on 23 July 2014, Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss, Federal Member for Durack Melissa Price, and Pilbara MLA Brendon Grylls officially opened the project.^[42][45] It was finalised in August.^[42] In October 2013, construction began on a project to straighten and widen Great Northern Highway's curves around Bindi Bindi.^[46] The project was completed and opened to traffic on 27 February 2015, and allowed the speed limit to be raised from 80 to 110 km/h (50 to 70 mph).^[47] A 21-kilometre-long (13 mi) section between Batty Bog Road (north of New Norcia) and Walebing was reconstructed between September 2014^[48][49] and 2015.^[50]

Future

Further upgrading is planned for Great Northern Highway at its southern end, as well as elsewhere along the highway. Planning has been completed for widening an 11.4-kilometre (7.1 mi) section of Fitzroy Crossing, including replacing two single-lane bridges. As of 2014, the project is awaiting federal approval, and construction is unfunded.^[51]

Perth Darwin National Highway

Perth Darwin National Highway Swan Valley bypass (dashed orange line)

In the early 1990s, a corridor study conducted by Main Roads into the long-term needs of the Perth to Darwin National Highway concluded the existing Great Northern Highway, with bypasses around rural towns and the Swan Valley, was the most suitable route for the National Highway.^[52] Planning the alignment for the southernmost section, from Reid Highway in Perth to Bindoon, was undertaken from 2003^[52] to 2013.^[53][54] It resulted in the planned alignment commencing from Tonkin Highway, bypassing the Swan Valley and Bullsbrook before reconnecting with Great Northern Highway near Brand Highway.^[53][55] Great Northern Highway is then followed until the Brockman River,^[56] where the planned route deviates to the east to bypass Bindoon, reconnecting with the existing Highway near Bindoon–Moora Road.^[57]

The first stage of construction is being undertaken as part of the NorthLink WA project. Tonkin Highway's northern section will be grade separated, and the road extended northwards past Ellenbrook to Great Northern Highway near Brand Highway. The previously planned route of the bypass, prior to 2012, followed Lord Street, east of Whiteman Park.^[58] The project is funded by both the state and federal governments. Construction is expected to begin in 2016, and be completed by 2019.^[53][59]

Muchea to Wubin Stage 2 Upgrade

In late 2015 Main Roads completed a planning review for an upgrade of the highway between Muchea and Wubin.^[50] Known as Muchea to Wubin Stage 2 Upgrade, the project continues work undertaken on this section from 2000 to improve the road to National Highway standards.^[60] Several bypasses, realignments, and other improvements have been planned at or near Muchea, Bindoon, New Norcia, Walebing, Miling, Pithara, Dalwallinu, Nugadong, and Wubin. Sections near Bindi Bindi and Batty Bog, completed in 2015, were included in the review.^[50] The highest priority works are scheduled to be completed between 2016 and 2019. These include the New Norcia Bypass, Milling Straight section, Muchea North section (designed to link to the NorthLink WA project), and Milling Bypass. As of November 2015, designs are being finalised for the Walebing Curve, Dalwallinu Bypass, Nugadong, and Wubin Bypass section, while funding has not been confirmed for the Bindoon upgrades.^[60]

Major intersections

LGA	Location	km[1]	mi	Destinations	Notes
Swan	Midland	0.00	0.00	Morrison Road (National Route 1 west / Tourist Drive 203 west) / Keane Street south – Perth, Midland	Southern highway terminus; traffic light intersection; National Route 1 and Tourist Drive 203 southern concurrency termini
	Middle Swan	1.31	0.81	Toodyay Road (State Route 50 north-east) – Toodyay, Swan District Hospital	Traffic light intersection
		2.72	1.69	Roe Highway (National Highway 95 / State Route 3) east / Reid Highway (State Route 3) west – Perth, Guildford, Morley, Joondalup	Traffic light intersection; National Highway 95 southern concurrency terminus
	Belhus–Upper Swan boundary	12.56	7.80	West Swan Road (State Route 52 / Tourist Drive 203) – Guildford, Ellenbrook	Traffic light controlled intersection; Tourist Drive 203 northern concurrency terminus; Tourist Drive 360 southern terminus
	Bullsbrook	25.51	15.85	Chittering Road (Tourist Drive 359) – Chittering	Tourist Drive 359 southern concurrency terminus
		28.20	17.52	Rutland Road (State Route 85 / Tourist Drive 359) – Wanneroo	Tourist Drive 359 northern concurrency terminus
Chittering	Muchea	36.86	22.90	Brand Highway (National Route 1) west / Muchea East Road eastbound – Gingin, Geraldton, Chittering	Traffic light intersection; National Route 1 northern concurrency terminus
	Chittering	56.37	35.03	Chittering Road (Tourist Drive 359) – Chittering
	Bindoon	67.53	41.96	Bindoon–Moora Road (State Route 116) – Gingin, Moora, Geraldton
		72.34	44.95	Bindoon Dewars Pool Road – Toodyay
	Wannamal	92.84	57.69	Calingiri Road – Calingiri, Wongan Hills
Victoria Plains	Yarawindah	108.19	67.23	Mogumber–Yarawinda Road – Mogumber
	New Norcia	112.70	70.03	Calingiri–New Norcia Rd – Calingiri
	Waddington	130.55	81.12	Waddington–Wongan Hills Road – Piawaning, Wongan Hills
Moora	Walebing	148.9	92.5	The Midlands Road (Tourist Drive 360) – Moora, Geraldton	Tourist Drive 360 northern concurrency terminus
	Bindi Bindi	166.42	103.41	Bindi Bindi–Toodyay Road south – Calcarra, Toodyay	T junction: southbound highway traffic turns west, northbound traffic turns north
	Miling	178.66	111.01	Miling–Moora Road – Moora
Dalwallinu	Marne	217.09	134.89	Northam–Pithara Road (State Route 115) – Wongan Hills, Northam
	Dalwallinu	231.87	144.08	Dalwallinu–Kalannie Road east / Dalwallinu West Road west – Kalannie
	Wubin	253.45	157.49	Mullewa-Wubin Road north – Perenjori, Mullewa	T junction: northbound highway traffic turns east, southbound traffic turns south
Yalgoo	Paynes Find	408.64	253.92	Paynes Find–Sandstone Road – Sandstone
Mount Magnet	Mount Magnet	547.47	340.18	Geraldton–Mount Magnet Road (State Route 123) – Yalgoo, Geraldton
		550.42	342.02	Mount Magnet Sandstone Road east / Richardson Street west – Sandstone, Leinster
Meekatharra	Meekatharra	746.13	463.62	Landor–Meekatharra Road west / Roberts Street east – Gascoyne Junction, Carnarvon
		747.38	464.40	Goldfields Highway – Wiluna, Kalgoorlie
East Pilbara	Newman	1162.63	722.42	Marble Bar Road (State Route 138) – Nullagine, Marble Bar	Former highway alignment
Ashburton	Juna Downs	1322.57	821.81	Karijini Road – Tom Price, Paraburdoo, Karijini National Park
	Karijini	1357.72	843.65	Nanutarra Munjina Road (State Route 136) – Tom Price	Unsealed road
Port Hedland	Mundabullangana	1577.03	979.92	North West Coastal Highway (National Route 1) south-west – Whim Creek, Karratha, Roebounre	T junction: northbound traffic turns north-east, southbound traffic turns south-east; route transition: National Highway 95 northern terminus, National Highway 1 southern terminus
	Port Hedland–Wedgefield boundary	1609.34	1,000.00	Wilson Street north-east / Wallwork Road south-east – Port Hedland, South Hedland	Parclo interchange[43]
	Strelley	1649.21	1,024.77	Marble Bar Road (State Route 138) – Marble Bar, Nullagine, Newman	Former highway alignment
Broome	Roebuck	2160.97	1,342.76	Broome Road west – Broome	T junction: northbound highway traffic turns east, southbound traffic turns south
Derby-West Kimberley	Willare	2306.29	1,433.06	Derby Highway north – Derby	T junction: northbound highway traffic turns east, southbound traffic turns south
	King Leopold Ranges	2479.64	1,540.78	Leopold Downs Road (Tourist Drive 350) – Tunnel Creek National Park, Windjana Gorge National Park	Tourist Drive 350 western concurrency terminus
	Fitzroy Crossing	2523.01	1,567.73	Forrest Road (Tourist Drive 350) – Fitzroy Crossing, Geikie Gorge National Park	Tourist Drive 350 eastern concurrency terminus
Halls Creek	Mueller Ranges	2795.11	1,736.80	Tanami Road – Alice Springs
	Halls Creek	2819.53	1,751.97	Duncan Road – Nicholson, Wave Hill
Wyndham-East Kimberley	Lake Argyle	3133.42	1,947.02	Victoria Highway (National Highway 1) east – Kununurra, Katherine	T junction: northbound traffic turns west, southbound traffic turns south; route transition: National Highway 1 continues south and east, no route number northbound
		3141.46	1,952.01	Gibb River Road – Mount Barnett
	Wyndham	3194.66	1,985.07	Harbour Road	Northern highway terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Concurrency terminus       Route transition

See also

• Highways in Australia
• List of highways in Western Australia
• List of major roads in rural Western Australia
• List of roadhouses in Western Australia

Notes

1. Now the Geographic Names Committee^[28]
2. Modern-day The Midlands Road and Brand Highway^[20][22]
3. Between 1926 and 1928, the newly formed Main Roads Board (predecessor to the Main Roads Department, later renamed Main Roads Western Australia) took over control and maintenance of the road from Midland Junction to Meekatharra, and twenty-one other important roads, which were declared "main roads". To increase the usability of the overall main road network, the work schedule for these roads prioritised sealing the worst individual segments, rather than any one road. For example, in 1928/29, twenty-two separate sections of the Perth–Albany road were improved, but the whole route was not completed until 1939.^{[34]:27–28, 435}
4. Modern-day Duncan Road^[1]
5. Renamed Karijini National Park in 1991^[35]
6. The contractors involved in the construction of the route between Newman and Port Hedland were Leighton Contractors, F.K. Kanny and Sons, Thiess Contractors, John Holland Group and Henry Walker Contracting.^[36]

References

1. Main Roads Western Australia. "Road Information Mapping System". Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
2. "The Land Act, 1933–1937: Naming of Highway (per 1944/11)" (PDF). Western Australia Government Gazette. 10 March 1944. p. 1944:165.
3. Briggs, Jamie; Nalder, Dean (9 April 2014). "Shorter Travel Times on Australia's Longest Highway" (Press release). Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014. line feed character in |publisher= at position 28 (help) Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
4. Google (12 February 2013). "Great Northern Highway" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 12 February 2013.
5. "Kimberley Zone Fights for Double-lane Bridges". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 30 May 2014. Archived from the original on 3 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
6. "Women's Only Gathering". ABC North West WA. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 19 May 2010. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
7. Collins, Ben (22 December 2009). "The Nervous Wait for Information From the Cyclone Laurence Impact Area". ABC Kimberley. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
8. Main Roads Western Australia (2013). "Kimberley Regional Profile" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 10 May 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
9. Main Roads Western Australia (2013). "Wheatbelt North Regional Profile" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
10. Main Roads Western Australia (2013). "Mid West Regional Profile" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 23 January 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
11. Main Roads Western Australia (2013). "Pilbara Regional Profile" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
12. Main Roads Western Australia; Western Australian Tourism Commission; Royal Automobile Club. "Tourist Drives of Western Australia" (PDF). Main Roads Western Australia. pp. 7, 8, 15, 37. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 April 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2013. Additional archives: 11 April 2015.
13. "Statewide Traffic Digest 2003/04 – 2008/09" (PDF). Main Roads Western Australia. 2009. Archived from the original on 7 August 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2014. Additional archives: 18 January 2015.
14. Australian Road Assessment Program (19 January 2012). "How Safe are our Roads? Rating Australia's National Network for Risk, 2011" (PDF). Australian Automobile Association. pp. 28–31. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
15. "AusRAP Star Ratings Report" (PDF). Australian Automobile Association. 2013. pp. 24, 45. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 November 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
16. "Better Road For Midland". The Daily News (Perth, WA). 26 November 1949. p. 22. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
17. "Plan To Control Traffic.". The West Australian (Perth, WA). 22 August 1952. p. 20. Retrieved 5 April 2014.
18. Google (20 June 2014). "Great Northern Highway: Midland to Muchea" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
19. Google (21 June 2014). "Great Northern Highway: Muchea to Wubin" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
20. Main Roads Western Australia (13 August 2013). Wheatbelt North Region Map (PDF) (Map). 1:721,154. Version 1.0. Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 29 August 2013. Retrieved 20 December 2013.
21. Google (21 June 2014). "Great Northern Highway: Wubin to Fortescue River" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
22. Main Roads Western Australia (16 August 2013). Mid West Region Map (PDF) (Map). 1:892,857. Version 1.0. Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 29 August 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
23. "Midwest and Gascoyne Network" (PDF). Integrated Service Arrangement. Main Roads Western Australia. 28 February 2011. Archived from the original on 3 August 2013. Retrieved 12 January 2014.
24. Google (21 June 2014). "Great Northern Highway: Fortescue River to Pardoo" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
25. Main Roads Western Australia (13 August 2013). Upper Regions Map: Kimberley, Pilbara and Gascoyne (PDF) (Map). 1:3,000,000. Version 1.0. Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 29 August 2013. Retrieved 24 January 2014.
26. Google (21 June 2014). "Great Northern Highway: Pardoo to Wyndham" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
27. Distance Book (13th ed.). Main Roads Western Australia. 2013. pp. 4–5. ISBN 0-7309-7657-2. Retrieved 9 May 2014.
28. Western Australian Land Information Authority. "Geographic Names Committee". Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 2 August 2013. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
29. "Midland Junction Affairs". The West Australian (Perth, WA). 23 October 1940. p. 3. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
30. "Local and General". Geraldton Guardian and Express. 24 October 1940. p. 2. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
31. "Northern Highways". The West Australian (Perth, WA). 23 July 1941. p. 6. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
32. "Local and General". Geraldton Guardian and Express. 31 July 1941. p. 2. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
33. "Greenough Road Board". Geraldton Guardian and Express. 14 August 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
34. Edmonds, Leigh (1997). The Vital Link: A History of Main Roads Western Australia 1926–1996. Nedlands, WA: University of Western Australia Press. ISBN 1-875560-87-4.
35. Department of Conservation and Land Management; National Parks and Nature Conservation Authority (1999). "Karijini National Park Management Plan No. 40" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 12 March 2011. Retrieved 25 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
36. "The Dream Becomes Reality". Western Roads: Official Journal of the Main Roads Department, Western Australia (Perth, Western Australia: Main Roads Department) 15 (1): 1. March 1990.
37. Edmonds, Leigh (2008). The Vital Link: The Transition Years 1996–2006. East Perth, WA: Main Roads Western Australia. pp. 24–25, 28–29. ISBN 0-7309-7692-0.
38. Main Roads Western Australia (15 July 2003). "Great Northern Highway: Muchea to Wubin". Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
39. "Great Northern Highway Upgrade: Muchea to Wubin". Access Alliance. Archived from the original on 8 April 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
40. Main Roads Western Australia (24 December 2003). "Great Northern Highway: Kimberley". Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 21 October 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
41. Main Roads Western Australia (23 February 2013). "Great Northern Highway". Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 22 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
42. Main Roads Western Australia (19 November 2014). "Great Northern Highway Realignment and Wallwork Road Bridge, Port Hedland". Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2015. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
43. Main Roads Western Australia (June 2014). "Great Northern Highway Realignment Project Nearing Completion" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 22 June 2014. Retrieved 22 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
44. "Great Northern Highway Realignment Opens in Port Hedland". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). 17 June 2014. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
45. "Highway Upgrade Sees Freight Capacity Soar" (Press release). Warren Truss. 23 July 2014. Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 29 July 2014. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
46. Main Roads Western Australia (9 December 2014). "Great Northern Highway: Bindi Bindi to Lyons". Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 28 June 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2015. Additional archives: 11 September 2015.
47. Main Roads Western Australia (27 February 2015). "Bindi Bindi Upgrade Now Open". Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 12 March 2015. Retrieved 19 March 2015. Additional archives: 19 March 2013.
48. Main Roads Western Australia (November 2014). "Project Newsletter: Great Northern Highway Muchea to Wubin Upgrade Stage 2" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 11 September 2015. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
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External links

Route map: Bing / Google

• Media related to Great Northern Highway at Wikimedia Commons
• Great Northern Highway travel guide from Wikivoyage