Options have been investigated for upgrading the Tanami Road and a Tanami Road Development Strategy has been prepared. It proposes the sealing of the road as far as the Lajamanu turnoff (approximately 440 km) and upgrading the remaining 79 km section to the WA border to a formed gravelled standard, (at a total estimated cost of $106 million) as the long term service level standard for the road.

Ongoing progressive sealing of the road would reduce the incidence of road closures and weight restrictions which benefiting both the mine and other road users. In the long term, these upgrades will reduce wear and tear on vehicles and eventually reducing freight rates which will encourage further economic development and investment in the region.

From the web at; http://www.aliceahead.nt.gov.au/tanamiroad.shtml