Work is about to begin on two highway projects in WA’s Upper Swan and Wooroloo that aim to ease congestion and better cater to heavy vehicles.
In Upper Swan, works will include a new accessway for heavy vehicles at the Apple Street Road Train Assembly Area. There will also be a new roundabout constructed on Great Northern Highway at the intersection of Apple Street and Coondaree Parade.
The existing intersection will be realigned, along with improvements to drainage and street lighting, and new pedestrian and cycling facilities.
The $14 million project is jointly funded by the federal and state governments, and third-party stakeholders (Satterley Property Group, City of Swan and BGC). It aims to improve travel times and road safety at the intersection, increase connectivity in the area with a cyclist lane, cater for various heavy vehicle movements and improve drainage.
“Under the Urban Congestion Fund, we are delivering 177 individual packages of works nationwide. The Great Northern Highway-Apple Street intersection upgrade and Great Eastern Highway and Old Northam Road projects bring the total number of Urban Congestion Fund projects around Australia that are completed or underway to 65. A further 51 are expected to start construction this year,” said Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher.
WBHO Infrastructure Pty Ltd will undertake the works, which are expected to be completed in the first half of 2022.
Work will also be undertaken to realign two kilometres of Great Eastern Highway in Wooroloo, which is used by over 7000 vehicles a day. The upgrade aims to eliminate three substandard curves, help reduce the risk of crashes and improve safety.
“Thousands of cars use these intersections each day, many of which are heavy vehicles,” said WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.
Work will be completed by Decmil Southern Pty Ltd with the new section of highway to include a painted median to provide better separation between traffic, as well as wider sealed shoulders and safety barriers.
The project also includes a new connection to Old Northam Road, upgrades to Wooroloo Prison Farm access road and the addition of left and right-turn pockets at both intersections.
The $14.4 million project is jointly funded by the state and federal governments and is anticipated to be completed in the first half of 2022.