Wallwork Road Bridge a long way off

No completion – or commencement – date has been set for the long-awaited Wallwork Road Bridge into South Hedland.

Initially advertised to be finished by late 2011, major construction works on the bridge, which will see a four-lane overpass built across BHP Billiton’s Goldsworthy railway, are yet to begin.

The Town of Port Hedland this week said negotiations with the State Government and Main Roads over the project’s management would soon end, something Mayor Kelly Howlett “anticipated” would bring construction a step closer.

But one council source told the North West Telegraph the project had been delayed due to a lack of funds.

The source said BHP’s initial contribution of $24 million was now insufficient due to soaring steel, personnel and accommodation costs.

“Under the Local Government Act you cannot call for tenders until you have sufficient money for the job to be done,” the source said. “We do not have sufficient money for what we have been quoted.”

It is estimated the bridge will now cost closer to $30 million, with BHP so far refusing to make up the difference.

BHP did not wish to comment when contact by the North West Telegraph.

The item last went before council in July when Mayor Howlett advised that it be withdrawn and brought back at a later date.

A Main Roads spokesman said the council had approached the State Government seeking to have Main Roads take over the management of the delivery of the project on the Town’s behalf.

The council source told the Telegraph that the Town wanted the State Government to provide the extra funding required as Federal money was unlikely due to the $200 million currently being spent on the Great Northern Highway realignment.

The Town itself will contribute $850,000 to the project through loan funds but anything more would stretch the local budget, the source said.

In July last year, Thinc Projects were awarded the tender for the project management of the construction of the bridge.

At the time the construction period was estimated to be 44 weeks.