Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Anthony Albanese announces extra funds to fast-track New Perth Bunbury Highway project
The New Perth Bunbury Highway will be completed by mid-2009 following a multi-million dollar injection from the Federal Government.
Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Anthony Albanese has announced and extra $160 million will be invested in the project, taking the Federal Government’s commitment to $330 million.
The highway will connect the main production centres in Peel and south west regions to domestic and overseas markets, with Albanese saying it will slash commuter times by 30 minutes and take traffic off local roads in Mandurah.
“This $705 million nation-building project extends the Kwinana Freeway to a new bypass of Mandurah and then continues on before rejoining the existing highway between Perth and Bunbury,” Albanese says.
“Altogether we are building 70½ kilometres of new road.”
He says the project will open up a raft of new economic development opportunities across the region, while local communities will also benefit as a result of reduced traffic levels.
The investment is one plank in the Government’s road network strategy for Western Australia.
Along with the State Government, the Rudd Government is committing $65 million to build a new Mandurah Entrance Road which will link directly to the New Perth Bunbury Highway and the city of Mandurah.
The highway is being constructed by Main Roads Western Australia in partnership with the Southern Gateway Consortium which comprises Leighton Contractors, GHD and WA Limestone.