On a construction site in Western Australia's remote far north, loader driver Kevin Long stands proud as he inspires a group of young Aboriginal jobseekers.

"I wanted more in my life. So I'm chasing my dream and I'm going to keep going for it in the future," he said.

The Jaru man is a local Indigenous contractor on the Tanami Road project which aims to turn a 313-kilometre rough and corrugated dirt stretch from the East Kimberley town of Halls Creek through to the Northern Territory border into a major national highway.

He started a roller driver business after he heard the government was specifically looking for traditional owners to work on the road in a region where the vast majority of residents are Aboriginal.

He also employed his sons to drive heavy machinery.

"I feel good, man. I feel proud of myself and proud of my boys," Mr Long said.

"I feel happy that we're on the Tanami project and to give more opportunities to our Aboriginal people."

Almost two years into the $500 million project a goal to employ 30 per cent Indigenous people has been exceeded, according to WA government authority Main Roads.

The project's more than 100-person-strong workforce is 50 per cent Indigenous, half of which are from the Shire of Halls Creek where five Aboriginal start-up businesses have been created.

Mr Long said the job had changed him and his family members' lives.

Mr Long wants to see young Aboriginal people seize opportunities created by the project in a wider region where leaders have identified poverty and welfare dependency as long-term issues.

"We need to go out and see them and provide training for them in the community," he said.

"And then give them little, small jobs on the Tanami just to give them confidence."

Orientation days target remote jobseekers

Carmen Murdock is Main Roads' community and stakeholder manager for the project and is tasked with ensuring Indigenous participation targets are met.

As the construction site moves away from Halls Creek towards the border, she is looking to employ more people from remote Indigenous communities Balgo, Mulan, and Billiluna along the Tanami Road.

She said orientation days allowed jobseekers to meet and hear advice from local Indigenous people thriving on the site, such as Mr Long.

"They get an understanding of work life, rewards and benefits for themselves, family, and community. See if they get a good feeling," she said.

Project remains on track

Local leaders expect the project will economically transform the desert region by boosting mining, agriculture, and tourism sectors.

The sealing of the dirt road will also provide another crucial link to the East Kimberley, a region that was cut off in recent years during wet season flooding.

Main Roads Kimberley director Gerry Zoetelief said the decade-long project was on track to be completed on time and within budget, despite high inflation significantly blowing out costs on major infrastructure projects throughout the region.

About 20 kilometres of the road has been sealed so far, but Mr Zoetelief expected progress to dramatically speed up once construction moved into easier landscapes.

"The first 40 kilometres through the hills is one of the more expensive sections of road due to large quantities of earthworks and drainage required, which will take two to three years to complete," he said.

"Once we are through the hills, earthworks and drainage requirements will be significantly less and road works will accelerate."

He expected further job opportunities would emerge for newly-created Indigenous contracting businesses after the Tanami project was complete, working with Main Roads, new mining operations, and the Shire of Halls Creek.

The Northern Territory government is also expected to finish sealing its 700km section of the Tanami Road — from the WA border to the Stuart Highway near Alice Springs — in eight years.

It means by 2032 people will be able to drive on a fully-sealed road from Alice Springs to Halls Creek.