New $73.2M Wanneroo Road and Ocean Reef Road interchange opens

Upgrades to the Wanneroo Road and Ocean Reef Road interchange are now complete, saving commuters up to seven minutes on their drive to work.

Works began in March 2019 and have supported 350 jobs across the life of the project.

In 2017, the intersection was named Perth’s 13th most congested and it served more than 75,000 daily motorists.

It is a crucial arterial passenger route and an alternative to the Mitchell Freeway, providing access to the Perth CBD, Joondalup and the North West Corridor.

The upgrade included construction of a new dual-lane traffic bridge over Ocean Reef Road and modified local road connections at Villanova Street, Backshall Place and Woodvale Drive.

Shared path facilities, including an underpass, have been constructed to connect with the local path network, enabling safer access and improved amenity for cyclists and pedestrians in and around the interchange.

The project’s design features artistic elements which provide linkage to the area, drawing inspiration from the historic use of nearby agricultural and horticultural land.

Western Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said this was part of a suite of upgrades the McGowan Government was delivering across the northern suburbs.

“This project will help cut travel times, improve safety and traffic flow in our northern suburbs along with other recently completed projects such as the Mitchell Freeway southbound widening between Vincent to Cedric,” Saffioti said.

Senator for Western Australia Dean Smith said as people have returned back to work and their busy lifestyles after easing of the COVID-19 restrictions, the area is again experiencing very high traffic volumes.

“As patron Senator for Perth’s growing northern suburbs, I’m delighted the Morrison Government has provided 80 per cent of the funding to deliver this transformative upgrade for local families and businesses, easing congestion and improving road safety,” Smith said.

The $73.2 million project is jointly funded by the Australian Government committing $58.6 million and the Western Australian Government providing $14.6 million.

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