Government reveals final design for $110m Tiger Brennan Dr overpass
Work will start on the new overpass over one of Darwin's most notorious black spots within weeks.
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WORK will begin within months on the new $110m overpass to separate traffic from Berrimah Rd and Tiger Brennan Dr.
The NT government and Sitzler have unveiled the final design for the grade-separated interchange, with the 18-month construction period to begin in early July.
But the estimated 20,000 vehicles who use Tiger Brennan Dr each day will be spared any frustration of lane closures and speed restrictions, with the arterial to be rerouted north of its current course.
Once complete, motorists will also be able to zip along the route without needing to slow down to 80km/h.
Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler said the new overpass would remove the notorious intersection between Berrimah Rd and Tiger Brennan Dr, which has been the scene of several fatal crashes.
“It’s going to be a busier intersection. We will continue to see that work at East Arm when we have the ship lift, when we have the large fuel tanks,” Ms Lawler said.
“There have been a number of terrible deaths at this intersection. We did bring the speed down but (the overpass) is about making sure that when we have … more traffic coming out of East Arm, that we will have free flowing traffic coming through.”
The project cost will be evenly split, with the federal and Territory governments shelling out $55m each.
There will be two sets of traffic lights for traffic leaving or entering Berrimah Rd, while motorists along Tiger Brennan Dr will not need to stop.
Sitzler director Michael Sitzler said the project would create at least 150 local jobs and expressed confidence the entire project could be built using local construction companies.
Mr Sitzler said the intersection would be easy to navigate from day one.
“It’s very important to the road user that it is easily understandable how to get through the intersection and that’s a key feature of the design,” Mr Sitzler said.
Relocating the section of road to the north means the existing Tiger Brennan Dr will continue to be used until the overpass is ready, minimising disruption to commuters and freight.
EARLIER: A $21 MILLION tender has been awarded to a local Territory business to seal the remainder of a Central Australian remote highway.
Established in Alice Springs with offices in Darwin and Adelaide, Exact Contracting was announced on Wednesday as the recipient of the multimillion tender to seal the remaining 60km of the Plenty Hwy.
Exact Contracting safety, training and quality manager Jeff Rotman was delighted the company would continue to work with the NT government, with works expected to be completed by year’s end.
Mr Rotman said the company had been involved in building civil roads for about the last seven years and it was not the first time the company had worked with the government sealing the Plenty Hwy.
“We’re pretty excited when I heard the news last night, especially with the Outback Way (2022 budget announcement), that means there’s more work coming up and that obviously sustains our longevity,” Mr Rotman said.
“So for us, the key is all about sustainable employment for our Territorians, our indigenous (people) and also for apprentices as well.”
The locally-owned business will work on improving the dual lane road’s overall safety, quality and flood immunity, with the package of works predicted to support more than 50 jobs.
A long list of business opportunities for Territory civil infrastructure and construction companies was also announced on Wednesday for the next quarter, across 75 projects.
Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Minister Eva Lawler said it meant businesses could maintain a steady workflow and keep people employed.
“This government has invested heavily in job-creating infrastructure, stimulus programs and turbocharging tourism – backing Territory businesses – making sure that local jobs come first,” Mr Lawler said.
Budget discussed
BOTH sides of Territory politics have welcomed the Federal Government’s $55m budget commitment to build a traffic overpass at the Tiger Brennan Drive-Berrimah Road intersection.
Infrastructure Minister Eva Lawler said the project was “important” for the Territory and Opposition Leader Lia Finocchiaro said the overpass was “critical enabling infrastructure”.
The Commonwealth’s dollar-for-dollar funding means the overpass will cost $110m to construct — almost double a figure contained in an August, 2021 statement announcing Sitzler winning the Early Contractor Involvement tender for $61m.
“Following the contract award, an extensive amount of design work has been undertaken including site investigation work, cost estimating, and development and analysis of a number of interchange design options,” Minister Lawler said.
“The complex nature of the interchange design and changes in the civil construction market, particularly the rising cost of fuel, labour, steel and concrete, have resulted in this increased funding commitment.”
Feds commit $55m to overpass, cost has ‘slight’ blowout
THE federal government will commit $55m to the Tiger Brennan Dr-Berrimah Road intersection overpass in Tuesday’s budget.
The NT News can reveal the cash commitment is part of a record $361m investment in the Territory’s infrastructure pipeline in the federal budget.
As part of the package, the Commonwealth will also commit $132m on Central Australian tourism roads.
In addition, the Commonwealth will commit an extra $50m in the budget to the NT section of the Alice Springs to Halls Creek corridor upgrade, making the overall commitment $197.6m.
The Commonwealth has also confirmed an extra $124m will be spent on the NT section of the Outback Way project, taking the overall federal spend to $174m. The $124m was previously promised by Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce.
The Tiger Brennan overpass is a key transport priority for the Northern Territory government.
In August 2021 the Territory said it would contribute $30m to the overpass, representing almost 50 per cent of the estimated $61.5m project cost. The remainder was to be funded by the Commonwealth.
According to a federal government spokesman the $55m contribution announced in tomorrow’s budget still represents 50 per cent of the project cost.
He said the increased funding represented a “slight project cost blowout and a slight project change of scope”.
Almost 20,000 vehicles use Tiger Brennan Dr each day and a number of serious accidents, including fatalities, have occurred at the intersection.
The Commonwealth has indicated the $132m tourist road spending will be in the MacDonnell Region.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the budget’s infrastructure spend would help boost safety and jobs in the Territory.
“By investing in these projects we are delivering the infrastructure that the Australian economy needs to grow, to get Australians home sooner and safer, and generate thousands of jobs and new opportunities for small businesses right across the Northern Territory,” Mr Morrison said.
“Australia’s future success relies on a strong economy. Our strong economic recovery is being driven by our record funding for major road projects right across the country.
“Our investment in these infrastructure projects will support more than 1000 direct and indirect jobs in the Northern Territory over the construction life of these projects, providing certainty and security for businesses and communities across the Northern Territory.”
Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese last month committed $200m on regional and remote road upgrades in the Territory. Also in February, the Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce committed the Coalition government to significant regional spending in the Territory.
“We are investing in projects that will drive the growth of industries that generate the wealth our nation needs,” Mr Joyce said.
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