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The Federal Government has pledged $20 million for bridge upgrades along the Victoria Highway in the NT.
In particular, money is to be spent on the Victoria River and Lost Creek bridges.
A statement from Federal Member Barry Haase's office gives a lot of hope for the virtual 'flood-proofing' of the highway, but is a little discrete on exactly what will be done with bridges.
This will depend on what the NT Government decides.
Following the Federal Government's funding offer, the NT Government is still proceeding with detailed planning works. DOTARS is yet to receive a formal project proposal from the NT Government.
This is a prerequisite to the federal minister approving the project and satisfying himself that all environmental and heritage issues have been dealt with.
The Federal Government has requested the NT Government to expedite planning so that the money allocated under AusLink can be spent effectively.
The Victoria Highway is the only sealed road linking Darwin and the Kimberley.
Flooding, caused by heavy seasonal rains, regularly closes the highway during the wet season.
Through its AusLink program, the Federal Government will provide $20 million over four years (from 2004-05 to 2007-08), ($1.5 million in 2005-06), to upgrade bridges and strengthen road pavements in order to improve flood immunity.
The flood immunity project evaluated four bridges along the highway: the Victoria River, Lost Creek, Little Horse Creek and Big Horse Creek bridges.
The focus of the project, according to Mr Haase, will be the upgrading of the Victoria River and Lost Creek bridges, which are often submerged for up to several weeks during the wet season.
Hydrological assessments confirm the desirability of upgrading these bridges by deviating the bridge approaches and lifting the pavement in conjunction with the construction of new structures to provide uniform improvements to flood immunity to the route.
The next stage involves survey, geo-technical investigations, preliminary design and environmental clearances for the proposed bridge upgrades and pavement works.
Mr Haase says the project will ensure the route remains open to traffic through most wet seasons, with fewer and more minimal disruptions.
This improved access will meet the needs of those who utilise the highway by maintaining essential links for tourism, freight, northern communities and defence requirements.
The project will also assist in strengthening Katherine's role as a transport hub, complementing the Darwin to Alice Springs railway.
A construction schedule for the project is yet to be finalised, pending the results of further design and other investigations.
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