Bindoon bypass corridor selected

17 January 2017

WA Government: The Liberal National Government has today given Main Roads Western Australia the go-ahead to pursue plans for a new section of Great Northern Highway to provide a western bypass of Bindoon.

Transport Minister Bill Marmion said following a review of the Bindoon bypass planning study findings, he had endorsed the realignment option known as Western Bypass Corridor A.

"Corridor A achieves the best balance of cost, freight efficiency and social impacts - additionally, it can be built with minimal disruption to the existing highway," Mr Marmion said.

"When construction goes ahead this project is expected to create more than 250 jobs, which is great news for West Australians and the local economy.

"Main Roads identified safety and efficiency issues for road trains on the highway through the Bindoon townsite and on the steep grades of Bindoon Hill.

"An initial option combining the proposed eastern bypass of Bindoon and realignment of the highway over Bindoon Hill could have involved a very large cutting and been very expensive.

"Other options between Muchea and the Calingiri West Road turn-off provided better value for money, including sections of the previously endorsed Perth-Darwin National Highway alignment."

Three bypass options were presented for community and stakeholder feedback and this feedback was assessed against a range of safety, social, economic, heritage, environmental, traffic and transport efficiency criteria to determine the most appropriate solution.

"This bypass will provide the final link in upgrading the Great Northern Highway to the same standard south from Wubin to the planned road train assembly area at Muchea," the Minister said.

"Funding options for future construction will be explored, including using available funds to protect the planned route through land acquisition, providing certainty to landowners and the wider Bindoon community."

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Source:  Western Australia Government - www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au

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