Bunbury locals and thousands of commuters heading to Western Australia's South West will get an early Christmas present this year with the Australian and Western Australian Governments today announcing the Wilman Wadandi Highway, previously known as Bunbury Outer Ring Road, will officially open to traffic on Monday, December 16.
The new road will slash commute times to and from the South West by around 20 minutes depending on traffic conditions, while also diverting an average of around 15,000 vehicles from local Bunbury roads every day.
Commuters travelling to and from the South West currently have to use a number of local roads in the Bunbury area, which have become significantly constrained in recent years with growing traffic volumes and increased housing development.
The new road will separate freight and tourist traffic from local traffic, improving road safety, reducing congestion, and providing more efficient travel for motorists.
The four-lane highway stretches 27 kilometres, connecting Forrest Highway north of Bunbury to Bussell Highway south of Bunbury. It includes five new bridges and four grade-separated interchanges, while commuters heading to and from the South West will now avoid 13 sets of traffic lights.
The Wilman Wadandi Highway is the biggest road project ever delivered in the South West, becoming a major driver for economic stimulus and job creation in the region.
More than $530 million in funding flowed to around 370 local businesses, while the project created around 4,500 jobs.
Around $50 million has also been allocated to Aboriginal suppliers, and almost 200 local Aboriginal people received on-the-job training through the project's award-winning Yaka Dandjoo program.
While the main alignment will be open, some minor works will still be underway across a range of areas including on some local roads, landscaping, artwork, and minor tie-in works.
In the lead up to the opening, Main Roads will host a number of community drop-in sessions across the South West region, where members of the community will be able to go and learn more about the new alignment and the different access routes that will be available upon opening.
A community event will also be hosted the day before opening, which will provide residents in the region an opportunity to learn more about the new road and how it will change the way locals commute.
Residents in the metro area that travel to and from the South West are encouraged to head to the Wilman Wadandi Highway project page on the Main Roads website to acquaint themselves with the new route before it opens.
The Wilman Wadandi Highway has been jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian Governments, underscoring a commitment to the long-term regional growth of the area.
The Australian Government has committed $1.1 billion, while the WA Government has contributed $356.7 million to the $1.46 billion project.
To find out the latest information on the project and upcoming drop-in sessions, please visit the project page on the Main Roads website.
Quotes attributed to Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:
"We're thrilled that the Wilman Wadandi Highway will soon be open to traffic, marking a significant milestone for this massive $1.46 billion project.
"Our Government is proud to be partnering with the Western Australian Government to deliver a project that not only reduces congestion and travel times but also boosts efficiency and network reliability, benefitting every road user across the region.
"Beyond the road efficiencies, the highway will enhance connectivity for the region, providing economic opportunity and long-term regional growth for generations to come."
Quotes attributed to WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"This project has been a game changer in terms of its economic impact for the region, and it will continue to drive incredible outcomes from December when thousands of vehicles will be diverted from local Bunbury roads.
"Locals and anyone that drives to and from the South West know how congested the roads around Bunbury can get, but that will be a thing of the past when this highway opens.
"This project represents the biggest change we've ever seen for the commute to and from the South West - with drivers looking at time savings of around 20 minutes, while they'll now avoid 13 sets of traffic lights.
"It's a massive win for Bunbury locals, who for many years have had to compete with freight and tourist traffic and will now see thousands of vehicles removed from the local road network."
Quotes attributed to Federal Member for Perth Patrick Gorman:
"The Wilman Wadandi Highway is a welcome investment connecting Perth to the South West. Delivering traffic improvement for motorists and a boost for local businesses, giving both groups a far more efficient transport link around Bunbury.
"Our Government is working closely with the WA Government to deliver meaningful projects like the Wilman Wadandi Highway. Ensuring local values, planning and investment come together to provide the best results for communities well into the future."
Quotes attributed to Senator for Western Australia Louise Pratt:
"The Australian Government is pleased to partner with the Western Australian Government to deliver a highway that takes the pressure off Bunbury's roads and provides a safer and more efficient transport link.
"Apart from bringing the obvious improvements to traffic congestion, the Wilman Wadandi Highway will also smooth the way for economic stimulus and job creation in Western Australia's South West region."
Quotes attributed to Bunbury MLA Don Punch:
"The Wilman Wadandi Highway is a critical piece of infrastructure that is and will continue to deliver enormous benefits to the local community, including more reliable, efficient and safer travel in the South West.
"As our region continues to grow, the Wilman Wadandi Highway is essential to support future development, local jobs and business growth."
Quotes attributed to Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns:
"The Wilman Wadandi Highway will make a real difference to the community in the South West, reducing travel times and improving road safety for everyone who lives and works here.
"It has been great to see such an emphasis on local employment and Aboriginal engagement through the award-winning Yaka Dandjoo program, ensuring that the benefits of this project are widely felt across the community."
Quotes attributed to Murray-Wellington MLA Robyn Clarke:
"The Wilman Wadandi Highway will deliver a safer, more efficient transport route for the entire South West region, reducing the burden on our local roads, helping improve our road networks.
"As someone who lives and travels in the South West, I know how much of a difference the Wilman Wadandi Highway will make in the region, and with road safety being such a critical priority, creating safer travel in the South West is a great outcome for locals."
