As part of Western Australia's economic recovery, the McGowan Government is investing significantly in job-creating road and rail infrastructure projects across the State, as it bolsters the $6.5 billion unprecedented building program.
Building road and rail infrastructure will deliver a pipeline of work for local businesses and local workers as the State continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than $260 million anticipated to be spent on transport portfolio works monthly, building to $280 million a month the following financial year.
This is compared to transport projects under the previous Liberal National Government, when an average of just $156 million was spent each month at the end of their time in office.
To build on the McGowan Government's unprecedented investment, more than $100 million of additional funding has been invested into a new major roads infrastructure package, as part of the WA Recovery Plan.
These projects will create local jobs and opportunities for local businesses and include:
- $7 million for the Stock Road Bridge replacement;
- $16 million to improve amenity along some of Perth's key arterial routes;
- $3 million for a right turn lane upgrade at the intersection of Main Street and Royal Street, Osborne Park;
- $5 million for upgrades to Kwinana Beach Road (from Patterson Road to CBH Terminal);
- $11.35 million for the Metropolitan Intersection Crash Program which targets high risk intersections with a high crash rate for improvements - annual ongoing program;
- $11.5 million to upgrade and undertake pipe relocation works for intersection improvements of Albany Highway, Kelvin and Olga roads in Maddington;
- $16 million towards a program for Low Cost Crash Treatments on local government roads in the metropolitan area;
- An additional $20 million towards the next phase of the Stephenson Avenue Extension;
- $300,000 to upgrade Old Yanchep Road through the Tourist Road Improvement Program; and
- $7 million for road and rail crossings upgrades on the South West Main Line in Cookernup, Coolup and Waroona.
As part of a push to fast track major infrastructure projects to boost the State's recovery journey, the McGowan Government is bringing forward works on 11 major road projects worth an estimated $2.37 billion and will create approximately 13,000 jobs.
The McGowan Government has undertaken planning for its current pipeline of infrastructure projects to cut red tape and to get funding flowing and approvals in place as quickly as possible.
Procurement for a number of major projects has been streamlined between two to 18 months to get works off the ground and workers onsite as soon as possible. These projects include:
- Roe Highway/Great Eastern Highway/Abernethy Road, expected to create 1,200 jobs, with contract awarding by January 2021 and early works to commence in March - 18 months earlier than anticipated. $180 million budget;
- Stephenson Avenue Extension in Stirling, expected to create 800 jobs with phase one now under construction and phase two expressions of interest from industry brought forward to last month - six months earlier than expected. $125 million budget;
- Leach Highway Welshpool Road Interchange, expected to create 600 jobs and contract award anticipated December 2020, six months earlier than previously planned. $93 million budget;
- Tonkin Highway Gap project, expected to create 1,050 jobs with early works planned for October, three months ahead of schedule. $400 million budget;
- Mitchell Freeway Extension to Romeo Road, expected to create 1,200 jobs with early works planned for January 2021 and contract award due in October, three months early. $215 million budget;
- Mitchell Freeway Hodges Drive to Hepburn Avenue widening, expected to create 530 jobs with early works planned for January 2021 and contract award in October, three months ahead of schedule. $76 million budget;
- Swan River Crossings (Fremantle Traffic Bridge), expected to create 1,400 jobs with early works expected late 2021, and contract due to be awarded in December this year, six months earlier than previously scheduled. $230 million budget;
- Bunbury Outer Ring Road, expected to create 4,500 jobs, construction anticipated in January 2021, three months earlier than expected. $852 million budget;
- Albany Ring Road, expected to create 1,000 jobs with construction to commence in September 2020 - three months ahead of program. $175 million;
- Bussell Highway Duplication Stage 1 and Stage 2, to create 570 jobs with Stage 1 contract award due this month and construction to begin in October, three months ahead of schedule. Total project cost is $85 million;
- Lloyd Street Extension expected to create 280 jobs with contract award anticipated in January 2021 and early works to commence in March, 18 months earlier than previously planned. Budget $40 million (now part of Roe Highway/Great Eastern Highway/Abernethy Road procurement).
Meanwhile the McGowan Government is still waiting on Federal Government environmental approval to start the much anticipated $500 million Tonkin Highway Extension project.
Already the McGowan Government has successfully negotiated a multimillion dollar package with the Commonwealth Government to get a number of key projects off the ground and secure jobs.
These projects, estimated to create 1,300 jobs, include:
- $100 million regional road safety program;
- $8 million for Thomas Road upgrade in Oakford;
- $85 million for the Bussell Highway duplication;
- $7 million towards upgrading Toodyay Road (Jingaling Brook to Toodyay);
- $3 million Great Eastern Highway (Coates Gully Bridge) upgrade; and
- $20 million for upgrades to key roads in Exmouth.
The McGowan Government is also continuing with its ambitious rail infrastructure program with seven major METRONET projects underway this year alone, creating thousands of local jobs.
More information is available at https://inthistogether.wa.gov.au
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"Bolstering our major road and rail program of work is about building infrastructure to benefit the WA community and generations to come, while we create a pipeline of work for Western Australians and opportunities for local businesses.
"Coming out of a pandemic we're doing everything we can to stimulate the economy and that means implementing our $5.5 billion WA Recovery Plan which includes significant investments into initiatives to help get shovels in the ground.
"We have fast tracked 11 major road projects with many starting in the next six months, creating more than 14,000 jobs and this package of works, as part of the WA Recovery Plan, is in addition to the works due to get underway.
"Our METRONET program is continuing with seven projects underway, including track laying on the Forrestfield-Airport Link and the Bellevue Railcar Facility Stage 1, due for completion in months."
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"We are working hard to stimulate the economy with a number of major transport infrastructure projects underway all across the State.
"Across our major road and rail projects we anticipate supporting and creating thousands of local jobs.
"Not only will these projects help stimulate our economy, they will also help improve safety, ease congestion and improve efficiency all across WA.
"No matter where you visit in WA you will see hard hats and infrastructure works underway."
