north west coastal highway generally north south western australian highway links coastal city town kilometre long road constructed sealed lane single travels remote largely arid landscapes large settlement highway oasis harsh surrounding environment entire highway allocated australia highway parts highway included tourist routes economically north west coastal highway important link regions supporting agricultural pastoral fishing tourism industries mining offshore oil gas production highway begins grade separated interchange brand highway roads providing access port town centre major roads link north west coastal highway inland great northern highway mount road kilometres north roads link provide access coastal towns attractions including shark bay road road road towns highway settlements long stretches ends great northern highway kilometres created existing roads tracks remote pastoral areas hazardous route dusty dry season washed away wet season economic growth development northern western_australia prompted initial improvement efforts late 1940s sealed road constructed impact cyclones seasonal flooding resulted realignment inland section constructed sealed required thirty new bridges upgrades carried sections length highway including project grade separated highway junction brand highway route description coastal route western_australia remote north west city highway heads north kilometres small town kilometres large settlement route continues north east kilometres kilometres ends kilometres east great northern highway kilometres apart serving highway settlements long stretches towns highway provides access tourist destinations including supports economies regions including mining agriculture fishing tourism transitioning primarily mining pastoral stations offshore oil gas production entire highway allocated australia highway parts highway included tourist routes tourist drive tourist drive vast majority highway lane single speed limit kilometres hour mph built areas drops kilometres hour mph monitors traffic volume state road network including locations financial year recorded traffic volumes ranged vehicles day west mount road north highest percentage heavy vehicles west reports commissioned gave highway star safety rating significant proportion rated star level overall highway network generally rated star star receiving star rating diamond interchange northern end brand highway heads east interchange curves round north past traffic light intersection mount road highway continues north outer suburbs kilometres landscape transitions highway passes remote dry semi desert areas apart kilometres settlements kilometres stretch kilometres south road kilometres south located near crossing mouth large town oasis arid region east town landscape near river features banana plantations vegetation surrounding region primarily highway skirts east crosses kilometres north east main road town north highway passes desert flat bridges span rivers creeks strands kilometres adjacent seven kilometres area including reaches kilometres inland highway continues north east kilometres crossing close nearby intersects road access road mining towns ghost town kilometres road crosses near adjacent reaches located nearby town kilometres east gateway ghost town highway continues east kilometres locality crosses kilometres finishes kilometres great northern highway kilometres south west history origins prior mid travelling north necessitated going direct route joining constructed shortening trip little rough bush track partly little water route tanks roofs built locations track tanks named distance miles tanks provided life saving function road later sealed important gradually removed number tank number tank travellers marks point western_australia proposed october highway describe main route midland extending areas north suggested following naming great eastern highways july committee proposal expanded highway names roads state northern areas road highway route road winning pool proposal received local municipal councils road boards april section land act highway series tracks remote pastoral areas sealed road ending past approximately kilometres north driving difficult hazardous year round road dusty dry season sections road effectively impassable sand sections contained limestone damaged tyres wet season rivers flooded sections road essentially worse completely washed away economic growth development western_australia northern regions 1940s prompted state quadruple road funding gangs workers allocated mile length given vast distance highway travelled destructive cyclones destroy multiple weeks worth work overall improvement relatively insignificant time road improved sealing late 1950s significant project undertaken seal highway sealed road progressed northwards preceding years approximately miles year rate work increased rapidly mile stretch extending south sealed middle year sealing reached miles came miles south mile long gap project completed sections mile officially opened september completion sealed road resulted increased tourist traffic longer tourist season large cyclone swept area february causing devastation road network completely washed away immersed flood water miles cut general traffic weeks damage roads region took months repair approval given road inland susceptible flooding 1960s crucial connection development including pastoral industry tourism emergence iron ore mining traffic volume vehicles day road needed constant maintenance cope demand frequent delays flooding state government announced sealed road extended year period substantial portions highway relocated flood plain new alignment higher ground miles shorter rivers easier work started miles completed locally available material great extent construction techniques adjusted based available resources transported vast distances water scarce dry climate conveyed miles aggregate miles miles project required thirty bridges dry year receive millimetres rainfall months case bridges designed withstand year floods severe possibilities anticipated approaches built lower bridge decks excess water flow bridges sealing nearing completion additional resources provided complete work resulted final section finished months official opening ceremony held december road pronounced open premier final cost project approximately million substantially initial estimate million mainly factors increased construction standards inflation rose improvements 1980s highway flood resistance improved construction new higher level bridges replace lower crossing opened december new bridge near opened march late 1980s sections road western_australia road network upgraded reconstructed worst segments august work upgrading half kilometres completed final section brought standard following years segments combined length kilometres kilometres widened metres metre wide sealed shoulder northernmost section highway early year period numerous improvements highway sections widened reconstructed realigned intersections stretches redesigned existing bridges strengthened new bridges replaced older bridges additional work necessary repair damage natural events sections washed away floods january rebuilt opened october year repairs damage march completed november biggest individual project period rural western_australia stage project constructed march december cost million involved relocation railway tracks kilometres worth road works grade separation roads southern terminus brand highway upgraded roundabout interchange built street cross highway dual vicinity interchange stage project constructed december december provided single connection traffic light controlled intersection highway mount road access airport work began project seal highway shoulders turn expected completed work widen highway including replacing bridges expected completed end major intersections coordinates
North West Coastal Highway