Esperance Port road renewal to accommodate B-triples

Road upgrades to improve safety, access and efficiency for heavy vehicles have been announced for the Port of Esperance.

The Western Australian Government will invest $12.2 million on the project as part of the Port Roads Improvement Program, a three-year staged program of works to renew essential road infrastructure.

Stage 1 works are already underway, comprising a $7.4 million upgrade to Hughes Road, the sole heavy vehicle access road into the Port of Esperance.

Future works will now include the reconstruction of degraded areas of road pavement on existing heavy vehicle roads within the port, as well as changes to the existing port access intersection layout to accommodate the significant growth in B-triples accessing it.

When complete, heavy vehicles will have easier port access and a more streamlined route that avoids unsafe interactions and challenging turning circles.

The Port of Esperance had a trade throughput of 13.6 million tonnes in 2022-23 with almost half (44 per cent) of that trade transported by road.

More than 300,000 truck movements are recorded at the port each year, the majority carrying non-iron ore trade including grain, spodumene, nickel, fertiliser and sulphur.

The Port of Esperance is the only deepwater port in the southern region and one of only two container crane ports in the State.

As the third largest spodumene (lithium) port in the world and the region’s second largest employer, it is a key contributor to Western Australia’s economic prosperity.

“Almost all of the Port of Esperance’s non-iron ore trade is transported by road, so as the port continues to diversify beyond its traditional iron ore base, the delivery of quality road infrastructure is essentials,” said WA Ports Minister David Michael.

“This investment prioritises the safety of our road users and port workers, while also positioning the Port of Esperance to accommodate trade growth.”