Construction underway to improve Perth's most crash-prone interchange

Construction underway to improve Perth’s most crash-prone interchange

Leach Highway and Welshpool Road Interchange.
Image courtesy of Mainroads Western Australia

Major works are underway to improve safety and bust congestion at one of Perth’s most dangerous intersections – the Leach Highway and Welshpool Road interchange.

Used by around 50,000 vehicles per day, Leach Highway and Welshpool Road is currently ranked as the worst intersection across Western Australia for crash frequency.

The interchange upgrade will improve the most dangerous and second most congested intersection in Western Australia, with 224 crashes recorded between 2015 and 2019, of which 204 were rear-end collisions.

Leach Welshpool Alliance, a consortium made up of local contractors Georgiou Group, BG&E and Golder Associates, as been awarded the construction.

The $136 million project is anticipated to create and support up to 600 jobs.

As part of its scope, the project will deliver a new bridge taking Leach Highway over Welshpool Road to create a grade-separated interchange, a new roundabout at the current Leach Highway and Welshpool Road intersection and a shared path along Leach Highway from Welshpool Road to Orrong Road.

The project will deliver a new grade-separated intersection with Leach Highway bridging over Welshpool Road; an at grade roundabout at the intersection of Leach Highway and Welshpool Road; and an upgrade of the Leach Highway Bridge over rail south of the interchange.

The design of the interchange will improve traffic flow and is expected to reduce peak travel times, while easing pressure on the local road network.

The project is jointly funded, with the federal government and Western Australian Government each committing $68 million.

Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher said the project would provide Perth drivers with a safer and more efficient east-west freight connection, particularly between Fremantle and the industrial areas of Kewdale and Welshpool.

“About 50,000 vehicles pass through this intersection every weekday, with the area servicing key commercial activities in local industrial areas, Perth Airport, Kewdale Freight Terminal and surrounding residential areas,” the Minister noted.