The McGowan Labor Government has launched another major roads package as part of the 2019-20 State Budget, to transform roads across Perth's eastern suburbs and throughout the Tonkin Highway corridor.
As a signature component of the upcoming Budget, the latest package of works will tackle some of Perth's most congested intersections and roads. It will also address the bottleneck on Tonkin Highway that stretches across the Swan River from Guildford Road to Great Eastern Highway.
The eastern suburbs package adds to the 20 major road projects that are currently underway or about to start construction across the entire Perth metropolitan area.
This year's State Budget will include $1.52 billion for eight new road projects across the eastern suburbs of Perth. A further $156 million is already committed for eastern suburban projects, including completing the Reid Highway duplication and the Roe Highway-Kalamunda Road interchange. These two projects will commence in 2019, creating 1,000 jobs.
The Tonkin Highway Transformation will get underway in 2020, creating 5,200 jobs:
- Tonkin Highway Gap - widening Tonkin Highway 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); and
- Tonkin Highway extension from Thomas Road to South Western Highway in Mundijong ($101 million State, $404 million Federal).
The Roe Highway package of projects will also start in 2020, creating 1,050 jobs:
- Great Eastern Highway Bypass grade separated interchanges at Roe Highway and Abernethy Road ($36 million State, $144 million Federal); and
- Abernethy Road Upgrade ($13.25 million State, $13.25 million Federal).
The seventh most congested intersection at Leach Highway and Welshpool Road will also be fixed with a grade separated interchange, creating 400 jobs ($46.5 million State, $46.5 million Federal), with construction starting in 2020.
Further works to commence in the eastern suburbs in 2020 will include:
- Lloyd Street Extension from Great Eastern Highway Bypass to Clayton Street in Midland ($20 million State, $20 million Federal), creating 245 jobs; and
- Thomas Road and Nicholson Road intersection upgrade in Oakford ($10 million State, $10 million Federal), creating 105 jobs.
Now with Budget certainty, the State Government will proceed with the final detailed design and necessary environmental approvals.
The McGowan Government has successfully made the case for this investment with both the Federal Government and Federal Opposition, laying the groundwork of planning, business case preparation and ongoing advocacy.
This has paid off - securing the Commonwealth contributions for each of the projects in its recent budget and securing a commitment from Federal Labor to at least match the funding in the Federal Budget.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"This package of transformation projects 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 to support our economy by creating 8,000 jobs for Western Australians.
"We're getting things done and delivering record funding for roads due to my Government's responsible financial management and success in securing Commonwealth funding.
"Our record investment in major road projects and METRONET will set up our suburbs for the long-term and deliver benefits to Western Australians, now and into the future."
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"These are exciting projects that are entwined with our election commitments for METRONET and creating better freight links to the future Outer Harbour.
"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 separations 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 hour.
"It's hard to remember a time when WA had this much transport infrastructure either under construction or undergoing planning. This Government is setting the foundation for Perth to grow sustainably with excellent road and rail connections.
"The McGowan Government has projects scheduled or underway to improve 18 out of 20 intersections that were listed as the State's most congested in 2016."
