WA Perth's eastern road corridors up for upgrades with $1.7bn investment

The Western Australian Government will be investing approximately $1.7 billion through the 2019-20 State Budget to deliver projects that will improve road conditions in Perth’s eastern region as well as on the Tonkin Highway.

This significant investment will fund eight new congestion-busting projects that will create up to 8,000 jobs for the region.

“This package of transformation project is a signature component of the 2019-20 Budget.

“This $1.7 billion roads package will deliver long-lasting improvements for motorists, and it will help support our economy by creating 8,000 jobs for Western Australians,” Premier Mark McGowan said.

The more than one billion dollar investment from the current State Budget includes $1.52 billion for the eight road projects and a further $156 million that has been committed for eastern suburban projects that include the completion of the Reid Highway duplication and the Roe Highway-Kalamunda Road interchange - with both projects to commence construction in 2019, creating up to 1,000 jobs.

Works to transform the Tonkin Highway are expected to commence in 2020 and it will create up to 5,200 jobs. Projects will include:

• Tonkin Highway Gap - widening from Great Eastern Highway to just north of Guildford Road ($58 million State; $232 million Federal)
• Tonkin Highway grade separated interchanges at Kelvin and Welshpool roads and a new flyover at Hale Road ($73 million State; $293 million Federal)
• Tonkin Highway extension from Thomas Road to South Western Highway in Mundijong ($101 million State; $404 million Federal)

Another package of works expected to begin in 2020 is on the Roe Highway, with the projects expected to create up to 1,050 jobs. Works will include:

• Great Eastern Highway Bypass grade separated interchanges at Roe Highway and Abernethy Road ($36 million State; $144 million Federal)
• Abernethy Road Upgrade ($13.25 million State; $13.25 million Federal)

More works are set to go underway in 2020 on the eastern suburbs, with projects to include:

• Lloyd Street Extension from Great Eastern Highway Bypass to Clayton Street in Midland ($20 million State; $20 million Federal; 245 jobs)
• Thomas Road and Nicholson Road intersection upgrade in Oakford ($10 million State; $10 million Federal; 105 jobs)

In addition, works will also begin on a grade separated interchange at Leach Highway and Welshpool Road in 2020, which will create up to 400 jobs. The State and Federal Governments will invest $46.5 million each for this project.

“The Tonkin Highway Gap project, for example, will be built to accommodate the Morley-Ellenbrook Line, fixing a well-known bottleneck and enabling METRONET works to coincide with road construction.

“Meanwhile, our grade separation will fix some of the most congested and dangerous intersections in Perth where motorists often wait several traffic light cycles to get through in peak hours,” Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said.

With funding set for these projects, the State Government can now commence with final detailed designs and seek necessary environmental approvals.

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Source: Government of Western Australia; Mirage News