Perth's southern suburb transformations power on

Perth’s southern suburb transformations power on

Construction is underway to improve safety, freight efficiency and traffic flow between Stirling Highway and Carrington Street, in Fremantle.

Perth’s southern suburbs are being transformed with major transport projects underway or planned that will bust congestion, improve safety and provide better connections for local residents.

With two major ongoing projects, the High Street upgrade and the Swan River Crossings Project, as well as upgrades to pedestrian and cycle paths, the area is buzzing with construction activities.

Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti visited the High Street site yesterday to view progress on the jointly funded project.

Upgrades to High Street include addition of a new roundabout at the intersection of High Street and Stirling Highway, creating a wide median on High Street to separate traffic lanes, and building a single lane one-way service road for residents on the northern side of High Street.

Two new underpasses, one at the junction of Forrest Street and Stirling Highway and another at the junction of Montreal Street and High Street are also underway. The project is underway to be completed later this year.

Premier Mark McGowan said the upgrades were part of the WA Government’s plans for the southern suburbs.

“We have a major program of works underway or planned for our southern suburbs that will enhance safety, improve travel times and support local jobs,” he said.

The $230 million Swan River Crossings project, being delivered by an alliance of Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction, Arup Australia and WSP Australia, will see the replacement of the 83-year-old Fremantle Traffic Bridge and construction of a new rail bridge. Community consultation is ongoing to help inform the preferred alignment of the new bridge.

Other major projects underway or planned for Perth’s southern suburbs include the $14.6 million Kwinana Freeway Pedestrian and Cyclist Path from Leach Highway to Mount Henry Bridge. When this project is completed, pedestrians and cyclists can enjoy a 74 kilometre uninterrupted journey from Mandurah to Perth CBD. This work is due for completion in late-2021.

The $5.1 million Fremantle Principal Shared Path – Victoria Street Station to North Fremantle Station, also due for completion this year, will see the construction of 2.1 kilometres of Principal Shared Path between Victoria Street Station and North Fremantle Station.

Funding has been allocated to build a replacement Stock Road pedestrian bridge with early planning works underway.

Upgrades are also being undertaken at the intersection of South Street and Carrington Street in Hilton as part of the Pinch Point Program to extend the right turn pocket into Carrington Street. This work is due to be completed in August.

WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the projects were part of WA Government’s pipeline of road and rail infrastructure projects.

“We have almost $3 billion worth of major road and rail infrastructure projects underway across Western Australia,” she said.

“We are upgrading roads, rail and walking and cycling paths throughout our southern suburbs.”

Earlier this week, Infrastructure Western Australia (IWA) released the inaugural draft State Infrastructure Strategy, which addresses Western Australia’s infrastructure needs and priorities for the next two decades.

IWA has made 88 recommendations addressing key infrastructure sectors and a range of cross-cutting themes. Many of the recommendations are non-build initiatives, focussing on improving fundamental elements of the infrastructure system, such as policy, planning and legislative frameworks.