Roads budget delivers congestion busting solutions and WA jobs
20 May 2019
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Budget includes $4.2 billion for road infrastructure and maintenance initiatives
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25 major road projects are included in this Budget
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More than $2 billion in the Budget for regional roads
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28,000 jobs are set to be created in the metropolitan area and regions
The McGowan Government's third State Budget provides
$4.2 billion in total for
road infrastructure and maintenance
initiatives to reduce traffic congestion, improve safety and create
jobs.
The 2019-20 State Budget builds on the 'Boosting Jobs, Busting
Congestion' program launched by the McGowan Government soon after the
2017 State Election, which reallocated
Perth Freight Link funds to a series of road and
rail projects.
Many of the projects in the 'Boosting Jobs, Busting Congestion' program
are now under construction or starting this financial year.
This year's Budget incorporates $1.52 billion for much-needed new road
projects across the eastern and southern suburbs of Perth, including
$1.2 billion for the
Tonkin Highway Transformation Project which will
provide:
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Tonkin Highway Gap upgrade - widening Tonkin Highway from Great Eastern Highway to just north of Guildford Road;
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Tonkin Highway grade separated interchanges at Kelvin and Welshpool roads and a new flyover at Hale Road; and
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Tonkin Highway extension from Thomas Road to South Western Highway in Mundijong.
A further $156 million is
committed to getting construction underway this year for two major
eastern suburbs projects - the
Reid Highway duplication, between
Beechboro Road and West Swan Road, and the Roe Highway-Kalamunda Road
interchange.
Meanwhile, 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.
New major projects also include the $230 million
Fremantle Traffic
Bridge replacement project, and $215 million for the 5.6 kilometre
extension of the Mitchell Freeway from Hester Avenue to Romeo Road in
our northern suburbs.
Record funding will be spent on regional roads, to start or complete
major projects:
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$175 million for the construction of the Albany Ring Road to divert heavy haulage around the City of Albany;
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$30 million for further improvements to South Coast Highway between Albany and Jerramungup;
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$852 million for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road;
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$59 million for upgrades to the Ord River-Halls Creek to Warmun section of Great Northern Highway;
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$65.7 million for the upgrade and sealing of the remaining 90 kilometres of the Broome-Cape Leveque Road;
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$310 million for the upgrade and sealing of the Karratha-Tom Price Road;
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$347.2 million for the continued improvements to Great Northern Highway (Muchea to Wubin);
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$275 million for the construction of the 46 kilometre Bindoon Bypass; and
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$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:
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The Safer Roads and Bridge Improvements Program for road safety priorities across the State ($43 million in 2019-20);
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Continuation of the Regional Road Safety Program with $55 million going towards various regional road safety projects ($20.7 million in 2019-20);
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$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; and
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$20.7 million to continue the State Black Spot Program.
For more 2019-20 State Budget information, visit http://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
Comments attributed to
Premier Mark McGowan:
"Our investment in
WA
roads is seeing our transport network transform over time.
"Major roads and intersections are being built across our State that are
creating thousands of jobs in the process.
"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."
Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"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.
"The Budget provides a major economic boost for Western Australia while
improving general connectivity and the movement of road freight across
the Perth metropolitan area and the State generally.
"There is an ongoing emphasis on social outcomes, with a continued focus
on providing opportunities for Aboriginal businesses and employment and
local industry participation in road contracts.
"There is also a focus on the 'liveable
environment' with sustainability in planning and, where appropriate,
the use of recycled materials in road building.
"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."
--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
Recent news by: WA Government