$1.7 billion transformation of Tonkin Highway and eastern corridor
30 April 2019
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Eight new eastern corridor job-creating road projects fully funded in State Budget
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8,000 new jobs to be created over the coming years
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Projects add to record-breaking road investment scheduled across Perth and regions
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Tonkin Highway transformation set for the eastern and southern suburbs
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The State's most congested intersection at Tonkin Highway and Welshpool Road will be fixed as part of this 'boosting jobs, busting congestion' package
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Major road upgrades to facilitate direct connections to the future Outer Harbour
The McGowan Labor Government has launched another
major
roads package as part of the 2019-20 State Budget, to transform
roads across
Perth's eastern suburbs and throughout the
Tonkin Highway
corridor.
As a signature component of the upcoming Budget, the latest package of
works will tackle some of Perth's most congested intersections and
roads. It will also address the bottleneck on Tonkin Highway that
stretches across the Swan River from Guildford Road to Great Eastern
Highway.
The eastern suburbs package adds to the 20 major road projects that are
currently underway or about to start construction across the entire
Perth metropolitan area.
This year's State Budget will include $1.52 billion for eight new road
projects across the eastern suburbs of
Perth. A further $156 million is already committed for eastern
suburban projects, including completing the
Reid Highway duplication and
the Roe Highway-Kalamunda Road interchange. These two projects will
commence in 2019, creating 1,000 jobs.
The Tonkin Highway Transformation will get underway in 2020, creating
5,200
jobs:
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Tonkin Highway Gap - widening Tonkin Highway from Great Eastern Highway to just north of Guildford Road ($58 million State, $232 million Federal);
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Tonkin Highway grade separated interchanges at Kelvin and Welshpool roads and a new flyover at Hale Road ($73 million State, $293 million Federal); and
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Tonkin Highway extension from Thomas Road to South Western Highway in Mundijong ($101 million State, $404 million Federal).
The Roe Highway package of projects will also start in 2020, creating 1,050 jobs:
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Great Eastern Highway Bypass grade separated interchanges at Roe Highway and Abernethy Road ($36 million State, $144 million Federal); and
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Abernethy Road Upgrade ($13.25 million State, $13.25 million Federal).
The seventh most congested
intersection at
Leach Highway and Welshpool Road will also be fixed with
a grade separated interchange, creating 400 jobs ($46.5 million State,
$46.5 million Federal), with construction starting in 2020.
Further works to commence in the eastern suburbs in 2020 will include:
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Lloyd Street Extension from Great Eastern Highway Bypass to Clayton Street in Midland ($20 million State, $20 million Federal), creating 245 jobs; and
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Thomas Road and Nicholson Road intersection upgrade in Oakford ($10 million State, $10 million Federal), creating 105 jobs.
Now with Budget certainty, the
State Government will proceed with the final detailed design and
necessary environmental approvals.
The McGowan Government has successfully made the case for this
investment with both the Federal Government and Federal Opposition,
laying the groundwork of planning, business case preparation and ongoing
advocacy.
This has paid off - securing the Commonwealth contributions for each of
the projects in its recent budget and securing a commitment from Federal
Labor to at least match the funding in the Federal Budget.
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
"This package of transformation projects is a signature component of the
2019-20 Budget.
"This $1.7 billion roads package will deliver long-lasting improvements
for motorists, and it will help to support our economy by creating 8,000
jobs for Western Australians.
"We're getting things done and delivering record funding for roads due
to my Government's responsible financial management and success in
securing Commonwealth funding.
"Our record investment in major road projects and METRONET will set up
our suburbs for the long-term and deliver benefits to Western
Australians, now and into the future."
Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"These are exciting projects that are entwined with our election
commitments for METRONET and creating better freight links to the future
Outer Harbour.
"The Tonkin Highway Gap project, for example, will be built to
accommodate the Morley-Ellenbrook Line, fixing a well-known bottleneck
and enabling METRONET works to coincide with road construction.
"Meanwhile, our grade separations will fix some of the most congested
and dangerous intersections in Perth where motorists often wait several
traffic light cycles to get through in peak hour.
"It's hard to remember a time when WA had this much transport
infrastructure either under construction or undergoing planning. This
Government is setting the foundation for Perth to grow sustainably with
excellent road and rail connections.
"The McGowan Government has projects scheduled or underway to improve 18
out of 20 intersections that were listed as the State's most congested
in 2016."
--ENDS--
Source: Western Australia Government - www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au
Contact: Premier's office - 6552 5000 Transport Minister's office - 6552 5500
External Links: N/A
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