A contract has now been awarded for the $1 billion Tonkin Highway Extension and Thomas Road Upgrade Project.
The project in Perth’s south will deliver a 14-kilometre extension of the Tonkin Highway as well as major upgrades to Thomas Road.
The extension of Tonkin Highway will include a four-lane dual carriageway from Thomas Road all the way to South Western Highway, including a number of grade-separated interchanges, underpasses and roundabouts.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said, “This project will deliver significant benefits to Western Australia’s freight and logistics network, by creating a high-standard north-south transport link, improving road safety, freight efficiency, and connectivity for residents, businesses, and commuters.”
With high volumes of heavy vehicles on local roads, travelling to and from the South West and Wheatbelt regions, the project is also set to divert that traffic away from the towns of Byford, Armadale, Kelmscott and Gosnells.
Upgrades to Thomas Road will include duplication of 4.5-kilometres between Kargotich Road and South Western Highway, new principal shared path and upgrades to a number of local intersections including Kardan Boulevard, Masters Road and Plaistowe Boulevard.
WA Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti commented, “The extension of Tonkin Highway will be a game-changer for the movement of freight to and from the South West and Wheatbelt, and provide a safer road network for people living in suburbs like Byford, Armadale, Kelmscott and Gosnells who currently contend with large volumes of heavy vehicles on local roads.”
Federal Member for Burt Matt Keogh added, “We have seen incredible growth through the suburb of Byford and that means every day you’re getting more and more interaction between local traffic and trucks.
“Extending Tonkin Highway will get trucks off South Western Highway.”
Construction of the project is scheduled to begin in mid-2025 with completion anticipated by late-2028.
The contract to deliver the project has been awarded to the Tonkin Extension Alliance consortium which includes BMD, Civcon Civil and Project Management, Georgiou Group, BG&E, and GHD.