$112.5M Murdoch Drive Connection open to traffic

The $112.5 million Murdoch Drive Connection project is now fully open to traffic in Perth’s southern suburbs.

The project gives southern access to Fiona Stanley Hospital and the Murdoch Activity Centre with an extension to the Kwinana Freeway and Roe Highway.

Three new bridges were constructed as part of the project, with a total of 36 beams installed.

The Roe Highway Bridge has the longest bridge beams on the road network, spanning 50 metres in length and weighing 190 tonnes each. They stretch from one side of the freeway to the other, with no supporting piers in the rail corridor.

The project forms part of the transformation of Perth’s southern suburbs road network, being the second of seven projects to complete construction.

It also included construction of a section of the Kwinana Freeway Northbound Widening project from Bolderwood Reserve to Farrington Road, including widening the Farrington Road on-ramp.

An upgraded Principal Shared Path (PSP) for pedestrians and cyclists between Russell Road and Beeliar Drive and from Cockburn Central through to Farrington Road, is also now open.

Western Australian Minister for Transport and Planning Rita Saffioti said the opening of Murdoch Drive Connection part of a series of changes happening along the Kwinana Freeway in coming weeks and months.

“The benefits of our southern suburbs road transformation will be seen for years to come and will be bolstered by the expansion of our rail system through METRONET,” Ms. Saffioti said.

“A record number of infrastructure contracts have been awarded under the McGowan Government, which has put the state in a strong position to respond to the economic impacts of the current pandemic in the months and years to come.”

The $112.5 million project was jointly-funded by the Australian ($90 million) and State ($22.5 million) governments.