Pilbara Ports has completed Stage 5 of the Utah Road Pavement Rehabilitation Project, marking a major milestone in strengthening one of the Pilbara’s most important freight corridors.
Delivered in partnership with Ventia and funded by the State Government, the $11.8 million Stage 5 works are part of a $32.2 million multi-stage investment to restore and upgrade the 8.1km Utah Road, ensuring it continues to meet the growing demands of the region’s resource sector.
Utah Road is the critical link between the Great Northern Highway and Pilbara Ports Utah Bulk Handling Facility – a high-capacity export hub that handles a wide range of bulk commodities including mineral sands, salt and iron ore.
Furthermore, Utah Road serves as the primary access route for both FMG's Anderson Point and BHP's Finucane Island facilities.
With more than 500 road trains accessing the facility each day, carrying up to 140 tonnes per super-quad road train, this route is essential to keeping Western Australia’s resources sector moving and our export operations world-class.
The upgrade will not only reduce wear and tear on freight vehicles but also increase efficiency in moving bulk products to global markets through the Utah Bulk Handling Facility.
The works were delivered with minimal disruption to port operations, ensuring trade continued to flow throughout the project.
Comments attributed to Ports Minister Stephen Dawson:
“Investing in critical infrastructure like Utah Road ensures we can continue to support Western Australia’s thriving resources sector.
“The completion of Stage 5 not only strengthens a key freight route but also enhances safety and efficiency for many operators who rely on this corridor every day.
“The Cook Government is investing in infrastructure that boosts resilience for our regional communities.”
Comments attributed to Kevin Michel MLA:
“The project delivers safer, more reliable access to the Utah Bulk Handling facility, which plays a vital role in moving our regions commodities to the world.
“It is great to see government and industry work together to solve problems, while maintaining safety and efficiency of port operations.”