New Pilbara rail safety upgrades open

BHP joined Western Australian Premier Roger Cook, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and WA Senator Varun Gosh for the opening of the new 32-metre road-over-rail-bridge at the Nelson Point main line level crossing in Port Hedland.  

Delivery of the new bridge marked the completion of the Hedland Road Rail Safety Improvement Program, a $113 million package of work jointly funded by BHP and the Australian and Western Australian Governments to improve road safety in the Pilbara and provide a better experience for roughly 6,000 vehicles per day. BHP was proud to contribute $44.74m over the two stages of the program, supporting local jobs. 

The program also included:  

• the realignment of 4.75 kilometres of Great Northern Highway, north of the Airport, providing a grade-separated crossing over the dual rail lines to BHPs Nelson Point facilities’ 

• construction of two roundabouts either side of the BHP rail line on Powell Road, at Dalton Road and Hamilton Road, and; 

• construction of a 34-metre road-over-rail bridge over BHPs rail line at Buttweld Road and realignment of three-kilometres of Great Northern Highway – completed November 2022. 

BHP Rail Manager Operational Readiness, Sarah Dearman said, "It's fantastic to see the finished works and to know that daily road users are travelling safer as a result." 

"We're pleased that our contribution and collaboration with the State and Commonwealth governments has made a real difference to the project."