The project to upgrade the Great Eastern Highway commenced in January 2006. Construction was off to a slow start when widespread rain fell in January. Merredin recorded a record 78.6 mm.
Rain eased in February and the construction team made good progress on the section immediately east of Hines Hill. With a plan to seal all sections under construction prior to Easter another 33.6mm fell in March and a further 40.8mm on April Fool’s Day delaying progress.
With just 63 millimetres Merredin experienced its lowest winter rainfall since records commenced 103 years ago and enabled the construction crew to work through winter. To protect the travelling public the seal was retained to mitigate risks in the event of rain. During this period the team completed road widening and culvert installation over ten kilometres between Hines Hill and Merredin.
Spring arrived and with it, warmer weather enabling all works west of the Merredin townsite including realignment of the highway in Nangeenan and Booraan to be completed and sealed by November 2006
Realignment east of the Merredin townsite and at Hines Hill were completed in March 2007.
Remaining works in the period prior to the onset of heavy rain and lower temperatures includes completion of the realignment in Burracoppin and roadworks between Booraan and Walgoolan.
The Goldfields Pipeline is being relocated in Kellerberrin to pave the way for the road construction phase of the highway upgrade within the townsite. ALine East will commence road construction after winter with a likely start in early October. This will permit most works to be completed early in the New Year.