Major contractor begins $118M Fremantle intersection upgrade

Construction has begun on the $118 million High Street and Stirling Highway intersection upgrade.

Contractor Georgiou have now turned the first sod on the project in Fremantle.

The joint federal and state government project is hoped to bust congestion and improve safety along a 1.5 kilometre section of High Street.

Georgiou Chief Executive Officer Rob Monaci said the project will bring together Georgiou’s most experienced team to deliver the critical safety and congestion improvements.

“With a track record for success on similarly large and complex projects for Main Roads WA, Georgiou is well-placed to deliver this project as we understand the intricacies of working in live traffic environments,” Mr. Monaci said.

“To assist in the delivery of this project, we will utilise our in-house precast expertise and plant department, providing innovative design and construction solutions through all stages of the project.”

Construction of the project is estimated to create around 700 jobs. The scope of works includes a new roundabout, a widened median lane on High Street, a single-lane one-way service road for residents and two new underpasses at the junctions of Forrest Street and Stirling Highway, and Montreal Street and High Street.

WA Premier Mark McGowan said the upgrade was only one example of a suite of projects to be delivered this year.

“2020 is shaping up to be a huge year for public infrastructure construction across Western Australia,” Mr. McGowan said.

Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the upgrade would be a boost for the local economy with hundreds of new jobs created during construction.

“We also know that this intersection has become notorious for truck rollovers and the upgrade will mean a safer journey for locals and truck drivers,” Mr. Tudge said.

In the five years to 2018 there were 282 crashes along this section of High Street, including some truck rollovers at the intersection.

The new roundabout has been designed to include bypass lanes that will separate local traffic from traffic going to and from Fremantle Port, or locations north of the river.

The project will retain more than 70 per cent of the established trees in the area.

Main Roads WA is also finalising an extensive landscaping and revegetation strategy for the project, which covers revegetation and landscaping of the road reserve to improve local amenity on High Street and Stirling Highway.

The federal government is providing $73.6 million and the state government $44.4 million for the upgrade.

In this area, the federal and state governments have also committed $230 million to build a replacement corridor solution to the Fremantle Traffic Bridge.