Pedestrians and cyclists will benefit from a newly announced footbridge to provide better access to METRONET’s future Malaga Station and to Whiteman Park.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti this week announced the new footbridge, to be built across Tonkin Highway at Ballajura.
The bridge will be designed and built by the Tonkin Gap Alliance, which comprises Georgiou Group, Main Roads Western Australia, Public Transport Authority, BMD, WA Limestone, BG&E, and GHD.
It comes as part of the $400 million Tonkin Gap project, which involves upgrading Tonkin Highway between Dunreath Drive and Collier Road, and providing rail-enabling works for the new Morley-Ellenbrook Line along Tonkin Highway from Bayswater to Malaga.
“The METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Train Line is a game changer for communities in our northeast, and ensuring we provide a range of access options to the new train stations will be critical,” Saffioti said.
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“This footbridge will add to the ways people can access the new station when it opens, as well as provide improved east-west connectivity to communities on either side of Tonkin Highway.”
A community survey undertaken by METRONET last year prioritised connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists to the train station and throughout the area.
“Feedback from a community survey in 2021 indicated that people wanted to be able to walk and cycle to the station, and that they also desired better connectivity from Ballajura and through to Whiteman Park,” Saffioti said.
“As the bridge will be located close to existing homes, we will look for opportunities for the community to be involved and provide input into some of the design elements.”
Access to the new bridge will be via the principal shared path along Tonkin Highway, close to the Premier Place access point on the west side, giving pedestrians and cyclists easy access to the station and improving connections for bicycle commuters.
The design of the footbridge will include open, well-lit areas with lines of sight and supporting natural surveillance.
Privacy of residents living in nearby properties will be considered and managed.
Further community consultation will take place before construction starts in 2023.
For more information, visit: www.mainroads.wa.gov.au