Local companies announced for $93M intersection upgrade in WA

An alliance made of WA locals has been named the preferred proponent to upgrade the Leach Highway and Welshpool Road intersection.

The Western Australian government has found the intersection to be the most dangerous and second most congested intersection in the state with 224 crashes recorded between 2015 and 2019.

Final contract award is expected for December after the project was fast tracked. Early works on the $93 million upgrade are expected to start before the end of the year with the project expected to create around 600 jobs.

The interchange will be grade separated to improve vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian safety at the major junction. A new bridge will be built taking the Leach highway over Welshpool Road. The existing Leach Highway bridge over the railway will be duplicated and a shared path will be built along the Leach Highway from Sevenoaks Street to Orrong Road.

The Leach Welshpool Alliance consists of local companies BG&E Pty Ltd, Georgiou Group Pty Ltd, and Golder Associates Pty Ltd.

Georgiou Group Engineering General Manager Simon Welfare said the company was thrilled to be partnering with Main Roads WA, BG&E and Golder Associates on the project.

“Georgiou has successfully delivered a number of large infrastructure projects for Main Roads WA over the past 40 years and a key to the delivery of some of these projects – notably Mandurah Bridge Replacement and Gateway WA – has been in partnership with BG&E,” he explained.

“Additionally, there is strong synergy between Georgiou, BG&E and Golder Associates so we look forward to bringing our experienced team and strong capability together to improve the safety and efficiency of this intersection, while also reducing travel times on the local road network.”

Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the Federal Government had prioritised infrastructure investment and construction across Western Australia to support local jobs through COVID.

“We’re creating hundreds of jobs with this upgrade alone at a time when hard-working West Australians need it most,” Tudge said.

“At the same time this is a targeted infrastructure investment that will bust congestion and improve safety at what is a notorious intersection.”

WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said this was just one of the major infrastructure projects the Western Australian Government had fast tracked as part of the road out of COVID-19.

“It’s fantastic to see an alliance of local companies named as the preferred proponent to deliver this job-creating, congestion busting project,” she said.

“At least 50,000 vehicles pass through this intersection every weekday, with the area servicing key commercial activities in the Welshpool commercial area, Perth Airport, Kewdale Freight Terminal and surrounding residential areas.”

The project has been funded on a 50:50 basis between the Federal and Western Australian Governments.

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