Upgrades to the last six kilometres of the $175 million Albany Ring Road project are now underway, as the final piece of the puzzle begins to take shape.
The final section is between South Coast Highway and Princess Royal Drive. When complete, the project will establish an 11-kilometre, free-flowing connection between Albany Highway and Princess Royal Drive. It’s touted to help improve freight efficiency and reduce congestion on existing routes.
The Federal Government committed $140 million to the project, with the remaining $35 million coming from the State Government.
WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti says this is the biggest infrastructure project ever undertaken in the Great Southern region.
“When complete, the Albany Ring Road will take heavy vehicles away from the town centre, better support local businesses and improve commute times through the city,” she said.
“It will provide certainty for Albany Port users and open up new economic opportunities to the north and west of the city, while also taking heavy vehicles out of residential areas and away from the centre of town.”
State Member for Albany Rebecca Stephens said it was fantastic to see so much construction underway. “I am so pleased we are close to the opening of Phase 1, and that Phase 2 of the project is now getting off the ground.”
The first stage of the project is expected to be open in April.
A temporary closure of Link Road between Lancaster Road and South Coast Highway was implemented in late February, to allow the new access ramps associated with the Albany Ring Road and South Coast Highway interchange to be constructed.