End in sight for Onslow Road upgrade project

The final stage of the Onslow Road upgrade project has begun, with works on the remaining 43km section expected to be completed by February 2020.

The project’s $27.5 million second stage, which is funded by Chevron and will be delivered by Main Roads, is part of a program to accommodate development by Chevron in the Ashburton North Strategic Industrial Area, and will also provide entry to the upcoming Onslow Waste Management facility.

It is expected to improve safety and traffic efficiency and make maintenance easier. It will create up to 40 jobs.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti who visited the site last Wednesday, said the project would prioritise indigenous engagement by requiring at least 10 per cent of both its workforce and business content to be Aboriginal.

“These upgrades will create local jobs, while providing further opportunities for the mining industry to develop and making our regional roads safer,” she said.

Chevron Wheatstone plant manager Nigel Comerford said the road was part of the critical infrastructure funding the company had provided for the Wheatstone LNG Project and completion of its final stage would provide the town with a long-lasting safety legacy.

The $31 million first stage of the road upgrade project was completed in April and involved 33km of pavement overlay, surfacing works and improvements to the road’s intersection with North West Coastal Highway.