Extra Lanes for Kwinana Freeway South of Roe Highway
Key initiatives added to enhance the current Kwinana Freeway Southbound Widening Project to reduce congestion
The Australian and Western Australian Governments are getting on with delivering better infrastructure for less with the Kwinana Freeway Southbound Widening Project set to have extra lanes added to cater for future traffic growth.
Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Jamie Briggs and WA Transport Minister Dean Nalder announced that the additional works will involve the construction of four lanes from Roe Highway to Armadale Road.
“These works will address the congestion and queuing problems that currently occur on both the Roe Highway and the Kwinana Freeway during peak periods and ease congestion on local distributor roads,” Mr Briggs said.
“More than 52,000 vehicles use this section of the Kwinana Freeway each day already exceeding its capacity and this figure expected to rise to 75,000 vehicles by 2021.
“This project along with our other multi-billion dollar infrastructure investments like the Perth Freight Link, Northlink WA and Gateway WA will unlock the economic capacity of Western Australia.”
WA Transport Minister Dean Nalder said by delivering infrastructure more efficiently, significant savings had been achieved and these funds had been reallocated to other vital projects – meaning better roads for motorists and greater value for taxpayer’s dollars.
“Vehicles exiting from Roe Highway will join the freeway in a dedicated lane, without having to merge with freeway traffic,” Mr Nalder said.
“This will significantly heighten safety at a critical merge point on the network.”
Mr Nalder also indicated that the increase in scope was made possible by the intensity of the competition for the contract.
“Due to a comprehensive and competitive tendering process and strong competition for government work, the road user will effectively get double the capacity, when only an increase of 50% had been anticipated,” Mr Nalder said.
The work will be undertaken by Lend Lease Engineering, the company which has been contracted for the Kwinana Freeway Southbound Widening Project. Works commenced in mid-September and will be completed by late 2015.
While the additional works will provide short term disruption to traffic flows, Main Roads will work with Lend Lease Engineering to determine the best way to maintain traffic movements for all road users.
Fact File
- Kwinana Freeway southbound will now have three lanes under the bridge at Roe Highway
- Construction of the fourth southbound lane along the 5 km section of the freeway is similar to the previously completed section between Leach and Roe Highways
- Construction works on the project commenced in mid-September 2014 and will be completed in late 2015
- The freeway services the southern suburbs of Perth, and links the city to the south west region of the state
- By 2025 the Fremantle Outer Harbour is expected to be in operation, increasing freight demand on the freeway. However, the upgrade will cater for the growing population in the southern suburbs of Perth that commute each day
Source: News Release, Hon Dean Nalder, 20 October 2014