Civil engineering design and management of a haul road upgrade

Great Northern Highway Intersection and Wodgina Access Road

When Pilbara Minerals wanted to improve the efficiency of their iron ore transportation from their mine site to Port Hedland, they set out to upgrade the existing Wodgina access. Part of that project meant upgrading the Great Northern Highway (GNH) and Wodgina intersection to manage the expected increase in traffic numbers.

We were engaged to design the GNH and Wodgina intersection and the nine- kilometre (5.6 mile) Wodgina access road. The access road crossed rail lines owned by Fortescue Metals Group as well as several major water courses. The challenges? Rail crossings needed to be upgraded and the water courses required floodways.

We designed the access road to minimize earthworks haulage distances by increasing floodway lengths and deepening and widening drains to generate cut material to be used for fill areas. To meet the design schedule, we supplied digital models and issued for construction (IFC) drawings.

With this upgraded access road, the iron ore transportation from mine site to Port Hedland, for eventual export, is smoother and more efficient.