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$11.8 billion announced for WA transport infrastructure over four years

Legislation to establish Infrastructure WA (IWA) will be introduced to the Western Australian Parliament this week, with the organisation’s chair-designate now also appointed.

The 10th Annual WA Major Projects Conference will be a unique platform for industry to discuss and share best practice around the infrastructure projects set to change the face of Western Australia.The Western Australian Government has announced the local economy is expected to grow by 1.25 per cent in the next financial year. It has been the only state in Australia to record positive growth in the domestic economy.

This growth has enabled the WA Government to build on its transport infrastructure agenda in 2020-21 to deliver a total of $2.39 billion for road infrastructure and maintenance.

The 2020-21 State Budget allocates $1.43 billion to capital works and $960 million for asset management (maintenance, road safety and minor works), network operations and grants to local government for works on local roads.

Investments for next year are part of a total $11.8 billion spend on transport infrastructure across WA over the next four years.

Major projects to be progressed as part of the State Budget include:

  • $100 million to install Smart Freeway technology on the Mitchell Freeway between Hester Avenue and Vincent Street, including works on 16 on-ramps;
  • $50 million to construct a 6-metre-wide Causeway Cyclist and Pedestrian Bridge with dedicated pedestrian and cyclist lanes to the west of the Causeway;
  • $275 million to construct a 45.6 kilometre, 10-metre-wide sealed bypass two lane highway west of Bindoon, including connections to existing roads and overtaking lanes; and
  • $36 million on the Great Northern Highway Port Hedland Deviation project.

There are also a number of road projects to support local businesses and jobs that have been supported with around a $100 million investment. These include the Stock Road Bridge replacement, upgrades to Kwinana Beach Road, upgrades to Old Yanchep Road and many more maintenance works.

Fast-tracking major road projects also remains a priority as part of the government’s Building for Tomorrow Program and there are a number of projects in planning that will be progressed. Some of these include the Stephenson Avenue Extension in Stirling, the Tonkin Highway Gap project, the Mitchell Freeway Extension to Romeo Road and more.

Significant funding is also allocated for road safety improvements as part of the Safer Roads and Bridges program, the Black Spot Program and the Regional State Road Safety Improvement Program.

Premier Mark McGowan said despite COVID-19 causing the biggest global economic shock in nearly 100 years, our economic and financial position is better than first expected due to our world-leading response and border controls.

“Our responsible budget management and the strength of WA’s economy prior to the pandemic, provided WA with the capacity and flexibility to immediately respond to the impacts of COVID-19 across the State,” he said.

“This means we’ve been able to continue to invest in WA roads, building the infrastructure of tomorrow through strategic and well-planned projects.”

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said we’re spending more than $260 million a month on major transport infrastructure projects across the State, including $100 million in regional Western Australia.

“We have successfully fast-tracked eleven major road projects that have helped create a pipeline of work for local workers and businesses, helping our economy through the COVID-19 pandemic,” she said.

“As well as reducing the time Western Australians spend stuck in traffic, we are creating thousands of local jobs and working hard to increase the level of Aboriginal participation and opportunities for Aboriginal businesses on our projects.”

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