The McGowan Government is spending $8.56 million to improve safety on various sections of the South Western Highway in the State's South-West.
Premier Mark McGowan joined Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke in Harvey today to inspect the recently upgraded section near Wagerup.
Safety upgrades include the widening and sealing of shoulders; removing vegetation; installing barriers at various locations; and installing a 600 millimetre centre line and audible edge lines.
The $6.5 million road improvements, which span 26 kilometres over two separate sections of the South Western Highway - between Brunswick and Wokalup as well as Waroona and Yarloop, are expected to be completed by mid-2019.
In the lower south-west, an extra $940,000 has been allocated to undertake further widening and improvement works later this year on the highway near North Walpole and Northcliffe.
In addition to these upgrades, $1.12 million has also been allocated to allow for planning and development work to be undertaken for future improvements at various locations along the highway, including:
- $520,000 to plan for further upgrades between Harvey and Wokalup, including widening and sealing shoulders to two metres and installing a central median strip;
- $300,000 towards a future roundabout at the intersection of South Western Highway and Vittoria Road in Bunbury; and
- $300,000 towards plans for future north and southbound passing lanes between Yornup and Palgarup; a northbound passing lane near Cookernup; and a southbound passing lane at Harvey North.
The McGowan Government is spending more than $2 billion between 2018-19 and 2021-22 towards road infrastructure and maintenance initiatives to improve regional roads across Western Australia.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"The upgrades to South Western Highway will make a big difference to road users throughout the South-West and improve road safety in the region.
"My Government is committed to improving road safety across regional WA, with the State Budget including more than $2 billion towards upgrading regional roads."
As stated by Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke:
"I'm pleased we've been able to deliver much-needed funding to fix South Western Highway.
"The highway is a notorious stretch of road and a well-known blackspot. This funding will go a long way to making it safer for drivers.
"These upgrades, including widening the shoulders, installing safety barriers in various locations and installing audible edging, will be welcomed by the community."
