The rollout of the ambitious, $1 billion Gateway WA project has commenced, with work now underway on the new on-ramp which will give trucks travelling from the Kewdale/Forrestfield industrial estate along Abernethy Road access to the Tonkin Highway for the first time.
Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese today joined Western Australian Transport Minister Troy Buswell to turn the sod on the Abernethy Road-Tonkin Highway on-ramp project.
“Assessed by
Infrastructure Australia and placed on its 2010 National Priority List, the upgrade of the road network around the Airport and nearby industrial estates was one of our key pledges at the last Federal election and it’s great that the work is finally underway,” said Mr Albanese.
“It’s also a great example of how we’re reinvesting a proportion of the wealth created by our natural resources back into building the infrastructure our communities need and rely upon. We want to make this State an even better place to invest in and raise a family.”
Gateway WA is being jointly funded by the Federal Labor ($686 million) and Western Australian Liberal-National Governments, with the entire project expected to be completed in 2017.
Western Australian Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the Gateway WA project is part of a massive infrastructure program, which will transform Perth into a more vibrant, connected city and creating a critical gateway for the effective movement of freight and people in WA.
He said the Abernethy Road project by itself will make a big difference but it is only the first step towards easing congestion around Perth Airport and the surrounding industrial areas.
“Worth more than $15 million, this project alone will cut 3.7 kilometres off the route, which help reduce travel times and freight costs,” said Mr Buswell.
“The project will remove some of the conflict between freight and airport passenger traffic, for example at the intersection of Horrie Miller Drive, the Tonkin Highway and the Kewdale Road intersection.
“The Gateway WA project will improve access to Perth Airport and surrounding areas, catering for future growth in these facilities and actively supporting the Western Australian economy.”
PROJECT FACT FILE
The project includes:
- A freeway-to-freeway interchange at the Tonkin and Leach Highways intersection, with free flowing movements in all directions, and includes a major new access to the international terminal.
- An interchange at the Tonkin Highway, Horrie Miller Drive and Kewdale Road intersection, removing one of Perth’s worst black spots.
- An interchange at the Leach Highway and Abernethy Road intersection.
- Upgrade of the existing interchange at the junction of the Tonkin and Roe Highways to a partial freeway-to-freeway interchange.
- Widening of the Tonkin Highway to six lanes between the Great Eastern and Roe Highways.
- Upgrade of the Leach Highway to ‘expressway standard’ between the Tonkin Highway and Orrong Road, maximising the benefits of the Leach Highway and Abernethy Road interchange.
- An interchange and road extension to Boud Avenue
- Upgrading local access roads in the Kewdale industrial area.
- Noise mitigation measures, cycling and pedestrian facilities and the installation of Intelligent Transport Systems infrastructure.
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