Darwin Region - Melville Island - Investigation, Concept Design and Documentation for the Upgrade of Paru Road Creek Crossing and Road Re-alignment

Paru Road serves as the main road to the barge landing and is the key access between Melville and Bathurst Islands.

The project is located on an unsealed section of Paru Road, on Melville Island. This project is associated with the road upgrade strategy for the Tiwi Islands, and is jointly funded by the Northern Territory and Australian Governments to improve motorist safety, reduce travel times, and provide driver amenities. The project with construction planned for the next dry season. 

The existing Paru Creek crossing is located approximately 8.17km south of the Three Ways intersection on Melville Island and comprises of a 12m long single span, single lane bridge that has reached the end of its serviceable life. Additionally, the bridge is located on a sharp bend that limits sight distances. Refer to Figure 1 below.

The Tiwi Islands Regional Council (TIRC) has implemented a temporary measure to ensure that the bridge remains trafficable in the short-term by providing a 20mm thick steel plate placed across the deteriorating deck.