$26M announced for Thomas Road upgrades in Western Australia

Close to $26 million worth of upgrades will be constructed on Thomas Road in Western Australia over the next two years.

The upgrades will take place between Kwinana Freeway and the South Western Highway and will aim to improve safety and traffic efficiency.

Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti joined Matthew Swinbourn MLC to inspect the intersection of Thomas Road and Nicholson Road in Oakford that will soon receive a much needed upgrade.

Planning and development is progressing on this crucial upgrade with construction set to begin in the latter half of next year.

Construction will include a new two lane roundabout to reduce congestion for the 19,000 vehicles using the intersection daily.

Safety improvements have also recently been completed on a busy 43. kilometre section of Thomas Road, between the Kiwinana Freeway and Cumming Road in Anketell.

These works included shoulder widening and resurfacing and the installation of new line markings and raised road pavement markers.

Upgrades were especially important on this stretch of road as it reported 114 crashes in the five years to December 2019.

In addition, planning is progressing to provide a dual carriageway on the one-kilometre section of Thomas Road immediately east of Kwinana Freeway. This comes in anticipation of a commercial sector development that will create and support local jobs.

Funding for this proposed upgrade is still to be confirmed with the Federal Government. Plans include the construction of a two-lane roundabout to help ease traffic flow heading north and south.

Road planning is also underway to help develop the potential long-term future of the Thomas and Anketell Road freight corridor, from the proposed Kwinana Outer Harbour site to Tonkin Highway.

Premier Mark McGowan said the $26 million worth of upgrades to Thomas Road, undertaken in partnership with the Federal Government, will help stimulate the local economy and improve road safety.

“The work that is now underway will significantly improve safety on this important route in the immediate term, while also helping to carefully plan for the future of the road and surrounding area,” he said.

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