The Federal Government has announced it will put up $10 million for the first stage of a heavy vehicle bypass of Katherine in the Northern Territory. 

Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese says a bypass will divert trucks away from local streets and deliver safer and smoother driving conditions for vehicles travelling through Katherine on the Victoria Highway and Stuart Highway. 

Work is set to begin this year and continue for around 12 months.

Anthony Albanese says money will also go to planning for the further stages of the heavy vehicle bypass that takes into account a proposed freight hub.

“Currently, the main street corridor is the only existing transport route through Katherine and during the peak tourism season, it has to accommodate a mix of pedestrian traffic, tourist traffic and heavy vehicles,” the Transport Minister says, “getting heavy vehicles off local streets will make it safer for all road users and make Katherine a better place to live.”

The Federal Government and local representatives of the Katherine region have come together to agree on the scope and nature of works, with concurrence now between regional, state and federal governments meaning the project will roll ahead.