Mitchell Freeway widening to help reduce northbound congestion

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

23 May 2011

The Liberal-National Government will ease freeway congestion for families and businesses in the northern suburbs by adding a third lane to the northbound carriageway of Mitchell Freeway between Hepburn Avenue and Hodges Drive.
 
Transport Minister Troy Buswell said $6million of the $30million project was provided in the State Budget for 2011-12 to fund planning and pre-construction activity, with construction planned between late 2012 and mid-2013.
 
"Freeway traffic volumes between Hepburn Avenue and Ocean Reef Road have grown rapidly in recent years, with daily volumes already approaching the 2016 forecast of more than 40,000 vehicles per day," Mr Buswell said.
 
“The expansion from two to three lanes on this 7.2km section will increase capacity and help ease the congestion faced as people travel home from work each day. 
 
“This is the first widening of Mitchell Freeway since 2000 and will deliver a six-lane freeway corridor stretching 23km north from Glendalough to Joondalup.”
 
The Minister said traffic congestion on the southbound carriageway required a different management strategy to that on northbound lanes. 
 
“If the southbound lanes were widened, traffic would still slow and congest between Karrinyup Road and Powis Street, which would see city-bound motorists get to this section quicker and potentially cause extended periods of delay,” he said.
 
"Main Roads WA is working on strategies to address southbound congestion through Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), which could include such things as variable speed limits.
 
“The Liberal-National Government intends to deliver a balanced transport plan to cater for the many who travel by car, as well as those who use public transport.”