Construction of highway linking Perth’s CBD to growth areas on outskirts to start next year
Preliminary work starts on a brand new 37 kilometre highway between Malaga and Perth early next year, the Western Australian (WA) Government announced this week.
The Tonkin Highway carries more than 70,000 vehicles a day and WA transport minister Dean Nalder is confident the NorthLink project will significantly ease congestion along this corridor once complete.
“Fewer traffic lights means vehicles keep moving and travel times improve, resulting in less congestion on local roads,” he says.
“There has been a high level of involvement from communities, businesses, local government authorities, environmental organisations and many other stakeholders to get ready for construction.”
Federal Government has committed more than $894 million and the WA Government more than $223 million to the NorthLink project, which will also improve road access to the ever-growing Malaga industrial area.
“NorthLink is a game changing project that will reduce congestion on major freight corridors and support thousands of new jobs,” deputy prime minister and Federal Government minister for infrastructure and regional development Warren Truss says.
New flyovers will be constructed at the intersections of Collier Road, Morley Drive and Benara Road, as well as an upgraded section of the Tonkin Highway north of Guildford Road.
The Tonkin Highway provides a vital link to commercial and industrial areas such as Malaga, Kewdale, Perth Airport and the Perth CBD and through to the port and Kwinana industrial areas
The next stage involves connecting the Brand and Great Northern Highways, forming a major new route to the north-west.
The new NorthLink highway should also help move the majority of heavy vehicle traffic from the existing Great Northern Highway, which can be prone to bottleneck traffic.
John Holland is the preferred tenderer for stage one of the NorthLink project, with the contract to be awarded prior to Christmas.