The majority of these roads service the western half of the region, with few located in the various deserts east of the Oakover River.
These activities include mining (despite most products being transported by rail), agriculture and pastoral leases, and tourism, especially to the national parks at Karijini, Millstream-Chichester, and Rudall River.
Great Northern Highway continues north-eastwards near the coast, passing into the Kimberley region at Pardoo.
It travels from the highway to the town centre along the eastern edge of Stove Hill, terminating at Dampier Road.
[2] Manuwarra Red Dog Highway is a major north-west to south-east road in the Pilbara region currently being constructed between Karratha and Tom Price.
Originally known as Karratha-Tom Price Road, it acquired its new name in September 2020 after community consultation.
[10] Manuwarra means "heaps" in the Yindjibarndi language and is the indigenous name for the Red Dog Gorge in the Millstream Chichester National Park.
Although it provides an alternative route to Great Northern Highway, most of the Newman to Marble Bar section is unsealed.
The project for realignment and reconstruction works was completed in mid 2019 at a total cost of $34.5 million.
From North West Coastal Highway at the Nanutarra Roadhouse, it travels east-south-east towards Paraburdoo–Tom Price Road.
Near the Fortescue River, the road again travels east-south-easterly to Great Northern Highway at the Auski Roadhouse, Karijini.
It links Point Samson on the coast via Wickham to North West Coastal Highway at Roebourne.