Construction of the final link in the Albany Ring Road will begin this month, with a new $60 million flyover set to significantly improve freight efficiency and safety on one of the Great Southern region’s most important transport corridors.
The project will deliver a grade-separated interchange at the intersection of Menang Drive and Chester Pass Road, providing heavy vehicles with a non-stop connection between Chester Pass Road and the Port of Albany. Highway Construction Pty Ltd has been awarded the contract to deliver the works.
Once complete, the flyover will remove the need for trucks to queue and turn across oncoming traffic, addressing a long-standing safety and efficiency constraint on the freight route. Southbound vehicles will exit Chester Pass Road via an elevated ramp, cross back over the road and connect directly into Menang Drive westbound.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the Albany Ring Road had already delivered strong results for the region.
“Delivering the Albany Ring Road has been a game-changer for the Great Southern region, streamlining access to the Albany Port and improving safety for local road users,” Saffioti said. “In its first 18 months of operation, the project has taken about 2,000 vehicles per day out of the centre of Albany, including 800 trucks.”
She said completing the final link was critical as the region continued to grow.
“As Albany’s population continues to rise and visitor numbers grow, a safe, streamlined and reliable heavy vehicle corridor is essential to service the region,” Saffioti said.
The initial construction phase will focus on earthworks for the flyover embankments on both sides of Chester Pass Road, with most activity occurring away from live traffic to minimise disruption.
Regional Development and Ports Minister Stephen Dawson said the upgrade would strengthen freight movements to the port.
“Albany is the Great Southern region’s major industrial, commercial and retail centre, and is connected to the surrounding region by heavily utilised freight routes destined for the Albany Port,” Dawson said. “The Cook Government is delivering these important upgrades that will improve heavy vehicle flow to the port, enhance safety for road users and promote further investment in the Great Southern region.”
Road Safety and Great Southern Minister Reece Whitby said the flyover would deliver lasting safety benefits.
“This flyover is a major road safety upgrade for Albany, separating heavy vehicles from local traffic, making travel significantly safer for families, freight operators and all drivers who use the Ring Road,” Whitby said.
“Completing the final link of the Ring Road will transform how traffic moves around the city, providing a non-stop connection to the Port,” he said.
Samantha Rowe MLC said the project would build on the Ring Road’s existing impact.
“The Albany Ring Road is already taking thousands of heavy vehicles out of the centre of Albany each week, reducing congestion and improving safety for local road users,” Rowe said. “Construction of the flyover will further enhance the benefits of this once-in-a-generation project for the Great Southern.”