Concept design released for new Kwinana terminal's freight corridor

Concept design released for new Kwinana terminal’s freight corridor

Planning for the new port has started, including an early road concept design.

The Western Australian Government’s Westport taskforce has released the early concept design for Anketell and Thomas Roads, which will connect the proposed new container terminal in Kwinana’s Outer Harbour with Tonkin Highway and beyond.

The concept includes four traffic lanes and grade-separations at key intersections to provide uninterrupted movement for freight vehicles, and better safety for drivers.

The Government of Western Australia is exploring options to construct a new container port at Kwinana. This would see the eventual transfer of container handling capacity from Fremantle Port to the new Kwinana Port over time.

While the final concept is subject to further planning and consultation, the road corridor has been identified and a Planning Control Area (PCA) will be put in place to ensure proposed developments in the area support the future road freight corridor.

Under a PCA, any proposed developments will be referred to the WA Planning Commission for approval to consider how it interacts with the future freight corridor.

While planning and design of the road corridor is ongoing, Westport is continuing to consider how goods can move as efficiently as possible through a Landside Logistics Opportunity Study.

Working with industry stakeholders, the study will identify and recommend a shortlist of options to consider in the supply chain and integrated design process.

Westport is the WA Government’s long-term program to investigate, plan and build a future port in Kwinana with integrated road and rail transport networks.

The 2021-22 State Budget included $400 million for the Westport program for strategic land acquisition and enabling works required for the development of a new port in the Kwinana industrial area.

The transformation of Tonkin Highway is already underway, with major construction works on the Tonkin Gap Project through Redcliffe.

Funding has already been allocated to upgrade three intersections – Hale Road, Welshpool Road and Kelvin Road – as well as to extend Tonkin Highway from Byford to Mundijong.

A number of interim upgrades are also planned for Thomas Road, over the next three years, to improve traffic safety and efficiency for the current traffic demands, while work continues to plan for the future freight corridor.

WA Transport and Ports Minister Rita Saffioti said details of further investment on Thomas Road, as outlined in the Federal Budget, would also be revealed shortly.

These including duplicating the road from Kwinana Freeway to Bombay Boulevard, installing street lighting from Bombay Boulevard to Kargotich Road, constructing dual lane roundabouts at the Thomas Road intersections with Nicholson Road and Kargotich Road and the already completed shoulder widening between Kwinana Freeway and Cumming Road.

“The transformation of Tonkin Highway is already underway, with the Tonkin Gap project under construction, and funding allocated for upgrades to three key interchanges and the extension from Byford to Mundijong,” she said.

“Now that we have a preliminary road design, the Westport team will be out and about talking to the community, local residents and businesses about the next steps.”

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