$4.2 billion for WA road infrastructure and maintenance initiatives

Western Australia’s state budget will provide $4.2 billion for road infrastructure and maintenance initiatives, to reduce traffic congestion, improve safety and create jobs.

The budget builds on the 2017 Boosting Jobs, Busting Congestion program, which reallocated Perth Freight Link funds to a series of road and rail projects.

Premier Mark McGowan said the investment will transform Western Australian roads.

“Major roads and intersections are being built across our state that are creating thousands of jobs in the process,” Mr. McGowan said.

“Importantly, our investment in roads means more Western Australians can spend less time on the road, stuck in traffic, and more time with their friends and family.”

$1.52 billion has been allocated for new road projects across the eastern and southern suburbs of Perth, including $1.2 billion for the Tonkin Highway Transformation Project.

The Tonkin Highway Transformation Project will see widening, grade separation and extension works.

A further $156 million was committed to construction on two major eastern suburbs projects – the Reid Highway duplication, between Beechboro Road and West Swan Road, and the Roe Highway-Kalamunda Road interchange.

Further works will begin in 2020 to improve transport around the eastern suburbs, including Great Eastern Highway Bypass grade separated interchanges at Roe Highway and Abernethy Road and the Lloyd Street extension.

$230 million has been allocated to the Fremantle Traffic Bridge replacement project, while $215 million will be spent on the 5.6 kilometre extension of the Mitchell Freeway from Hester Avenue to Romeo Road.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the budget will provide a major economic boost for Western Australia.

“The 2019-20 Budget builds on the work the McGowan Government has initiated in its first two years in office, delivering on election commitments, creating thousands of jobs and improving road safety and reducing congestion,” Ms. Saffioti said.

“As the construction of METRONET continues, we’re also looking at how our roads and cycle paths interact with new station precincts to deliver the best possible outcomes for commuters.”

Major project funding includes:

$175 million for the construction of the Albany Ring Road, diverting heavy haulage around the City of Albany.
$30 million for further improvements to South Coast Highway between Albany and Jerramungup.
$852 million for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road.
$59 million for upgrades to the Ord River-Halls Creek to Warmun section of Great Northern Highway.
$65.7 million for the upgrade and sealing of the remaining 90 kilometres of the Broome-Cape Leveque Road.
$310 million for the upgrade and sealing of the Karratha-Tom Price Road.
$347.2 million for continued improvements to Great Northern Highway (Muchea to Wubin.)
$275 million for the construction of the 46 kilometre Bindoon Bypass.
$14 million for the duplication of Great Eastern Highway between Anzac Drive and Gatacre Drive in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

Road safety related programs receiving funding include:

The Safer Roads and Bridge Improvements Program for road safety priorities across the State ($43 million in 2019-20.)
Continuation of the Regional Road Safety Program with $55 million going towards various regional road safety projects ($20.7 million in 2019-20.)
$46 million in 2019-20 from the Road Trauma Trust Account to counter urban metropolitan intersection and regional run-off crashes as well as continued safety improvements to Indian Ocean Drive, Toodyay Road and Great Eastern Highway.
$20.7 million to continue the State Black Spot Program.

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