The WA project will ease congestion along key freight routes
The Western Australian government says its construction of the first grade-separated interchange in the Great Southern region is now complete with road ramps and bridges that opened last week.
The interchange between Menang Drive and Albany Highway opens next week too, as the works are part of the $175 million Albany Ring Road project.
The project is part of the first phase, which will establish an 11-kilometre free-flowing connection between the Albany Highway and Princess Royal Drive once complete.
When finished, the upgrades will improve freight efficiency and reduce congestion on existing routes, assisting industry to grow and support more jobs.
The WA government says the works will benefit all road users and clear up previous traffic problems.
“The completion of phase one of the Albany Ring Road is a positive step, which will see improved traffic flow and safety at the intersection of Menang Drive and Albany Highway,” WA transport minister Rita Saffioti says.
“The Albany Ring Road is going to take heavy vehicles away from the town centre and out of residential areas, providing a greater opportunity for local businesses and improving commute times within the city.”
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The construction of two further interchanges along the Albany Ring Road alignment at the South Coast Highway and Frenchman Bay Road also commenced earlier this year as another section of the upgrades.
As part of these temporary works, traffic signals have been put in place to support the traffic flow during construction will be removed.
In the jointly funded project combining the federal government and the WA government, a landscaping program will also commence around the interchange to ensure the new freight route will also be sustainable.