Perth’s largest road project is tipped to finish ahead of schedule, with more than 60 per cent of construction now complete.
Perth’s largest road project is tipped to finish ahead of schedule, with more than 60 per cent of construction now complete.
The final completion date for the Gateway Western Australia project has been revised to mid-2016 instead of early 2017 after works passed the halfway mark six months earlier than originally planned.
The $1 billion project involves the construction and upgrade of five main interchanges, widening Tonkin Highway to six lanes between Great Eastern Highway and Roe Highway and upgrading Leach Highway between Tonkin Highway and Orrong Road to expressway standard.
Once complete, Gateway WA is expected to improve access around the Perth Airport and the surrounding Kewdale and Forrestfield industrial areas.
“This game changing project, which is supporting 1,300 construction jobs, will significantly improve access around the airport and surrounding industrial areas meaning businesses can get their products to market more quickly and efficiently,” federal assistant minister for infrastructure Jaime Briggs says.
WA transport minister Dean Nalder says the project will alleviate traffic congestion and that road users will notice benefits as major upgrades are progressively opened.
“The improvements within the Kewdale industrial precinct are finishing, and four of the five new interchanges will come on stream before the end of the year,” he says.
“The completion of this central zone of the project will greatly improve the connectivity, reliability and safety of the one of the state’s most important transport hubs.”
The Federal Government says important construction milestones were achieved throughout 2014, including the first bridge beam installation for the Tonkin Highway/Leach Highway interchange.
It says the Gateway WA, Perth Freight Link and NorthLink WA projects will form a high standard freight connection from Muchea through the Perth urban area to Fremantle Port.