en.Wedoany.com Reported - A 27-kilometer section of the Plenty Highway in Australia's Northern Territory has been sealed, located in central Australia, providing more reliable access for remote communities and improved flood resilience.

The newly sealed section extends from three kilometers west of the Plenty River to the Lucy Creek Station access road junction, and also includes the entry road to the Jervois Station Roadhouse. This brings the total length of two-lane sealed highway along the Plenty Highway to 155 kilometers.

The Plenty Highway, spanning 499 kilometers, connects the Stuart Highway in the Northern Territory to the Donohue Highway at the Queensland border, and is a key component of the Outback Way. The Outback Way is a 2,720-kilometer inland route running from Laverton in Western Australia through Alice Springs to Winton in Queensland.

This project is part of the Outback Way Corridor Upgrade – Northern Territory project. The scope includes the construction of new concrete causeways at the Plenty River and Marshall River crossings at Bonya Creek, the Lucy Creek Mine realignment, four floodways, and seven culverts, as well as the formal establishment of six intersections, including the installation of livestock fencing at Atula, Batton Hill, Marshall Rest Area, Jervois Homestead, Bonya, and the Lucy Creek Mine access road.

The broader upgrade program will also widen an 80-kilometer single-lane section along the Plenty Highway to a two-lane sealed road. The total investment in this corridor upgrade project is A$217.5 million, with the Australian Government contributing A$174 million and the Northern Territory Government contributing A$43.5 million.

Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King stated that upgrading this critical road infrastructure aims to connect inland regions, ensuring year-round reliable use of the Plenty Highway for remote communities, freight operators, and tourists. Northern Territory Minister for Logistics and Infrastructure Bill Yan noted that as a key transport corridor for the Northern Territory, the upgrade of the Plenty Highway will drive economic growth in mining, agriculture, and tourism, while providing safer and more reliable connections for remote communities. Federal Member for Lingiari Marion Scrymgour stated that modern road infrastructure will boost economic opportunities in central Australia, create local jobs, reduce freight costs, and ensure safe year-round operations for industries in remote areas.