Preferred proponent announced for $290M Tonkin Gap project in WA

The Tokin Gap Alliance, including local companies, has been selected as the preferred proponent to build the $290 million Tonkin Gap project.

Works will also include associated construction for the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line.

Tonkin Gap Alliance – comprising BMD, Georgiou, WA Limestone, BG&E and GHD – will work with Main Roads WA to deliver the project, which is expected to support around 3,000 jobs.

Construction will fix a major bottleneck on the Tonkin Highway between Morley and Redcliffe, which sees more than 120,000 cars and trucks on an average weekday.

The section between Collier Road and Dunreath Drive will be a focus, it will be upgraded to a three-lane, freeway standard road that will aim to reduce travel times and improve safety.

Intersection upgrade works will be performed at Guildford Road and Great Eastern Highway, with new bridge structure over the Swan River and Guildford road.

A Principal Shared Path for cyclists and pedestrians will also be constructed with a pedestrian bridge.

The Alliance will then undertake rail-enabling works for the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line, as part of four works packages that will deliver the train line.

This will include modifications to the Tonkin Highway between Railway Parade and Hepburn Avenue, including the replacement of the Broun Avenue flyover.

Two dive structures will also be built at Bayswater and Malaga to enable the rail line to enter and exit the middle of Tonkin Highway.

A contract will be awarded in late June with construction on the Morley-Ellenbrook Line enabling works starting in coming months. The whole Tonkin Gap project is expected to be completed in 2023.

Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan said the project was part of a pipeline of major road projects, worth an estimated $2.37 billion which would create more than 13,000 jobs, that the Western Australian Government was accelerating.

“In times like these it’s important we continue to progress the projects that will provide work for local businesses and keep workers in their jobs – this will ultimately support the state’s wider economy.”

Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the project would transform a notorious part of the road network for Perth’s growing outer-northern suburbs.

“In addition it will create thousands of new jobs at a time when what we want is to get Australians back to work,” Mr. Tudge said.

Western Australian Minister for Transport and Planning Rita Saffioti said road and rail projects would play a key part in WA’s economic recovery.

“Road and rail projects will play a key part to WA’s economic recovery going forward. This project will fix one of Perth’s most congested roads while laying the groundwork for the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line,” Ms. Saffioti said.

“Building this project, combined with construction of other nearby major projects like the new Bayswater Station and Morley-Ellenbrook Line, will help support the WA economy through some tough times ahead.”

Tonkin Gap is jointly funded with the Federal Government contributing 80 per cent of the project share.

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