The WA Government is investing significantly in job-creating road and rail infrastructure projects across the state as part of the WA Recovery Plan, with more than $100 million of additional funding to be invested into a new major roads infrastructure package.
These projects will create local jobs and opportunities for local businesses and include:
- $7 million for the Stock Road Bridge replacement
- $16 million to improve amenity along some of Perth’s key arterial routes
- $3 million for a right turn lane upgrade at the intersection of Main Street and Royal Street, Osborne Park
- $5 million for upgrades to Kwinana Beach Road (from Patterson Road to CBH Terminal)
- $11.35 million for the annual ongoing Metropolitan Intersection Crash Program which targets high risk intersections with high crash rates for improvements
- $11.5 million to upgrade and undertake pipe relocation works for intersection improvements of Albany Highway, Kelvin and Olga roads in Maddington
- $16 million towards a program for Low Cost Crash Treatments on local government roads in the metropolitan area
- an additional $20 million towards the next phase of the Stephenson Avenue Extension
- $300,000 to upgrade Old Yanchep Road through the Tourist Road Improvement Program
- $7 million for road and rail crossing upgrades on the South West Main Line in Cookernup, Coolup and Waroona.
More than $260 million is anticipated to be spent on transport portfolio works monthly, building to $280 million a month the following financial year.
Procurement for a number of major projects has been streamlined between 2 to 18 months to get works off the ground and workers onsite as soon as possible. These projects include:
- Roe Highway/Great Eastern Highway/Abernethy Road
Early works will commence 18 months earlier than anticipated in March 2021. The project is expected to create 1,200 jobs and has a $180 million budget.
- Stephenson Avenue Extension in Stirling
Phase one of the extension is now under construction and phase two expressions of interest from industry were brought forward six months to last month. The extension is expected to create 800 jobs and has a $125 million budget.
- Leach Highway Welshpool Road Interchange
The contract is anticipated to be awarded in December 2020, six months earlier than previously planned. The project is expected to create 600 jobs and $93 million has been budgeted.
- Tonkin Highway Gap project
Early works for this $400 million project are planned for October 2020, three months ahead of schedule. 1,050 jobs are expected to be created.
- Mitchell Freeway Extension to Romeo Road
Early works are planned for January 2021 and the contract is due to be awarded in October 2020, three months early. 1,200 jobs are expected to be created and $215 million has been budgeted.
- Mitchell Freeway Hodges Drive to Hepburn Avenue widening
The $76 million widening project is expected to create 530 jobs. Early works are planned for January 2021 and the contract is due to be awarded in October 2020, three months ahead of schedule.
- Swan River Crossings (Fremantle Traffic Bridge)
1,400 jobs are expected to be created from this $230 million project. Early works are expected in late-2021 and the contract is due to be awarded in December 2020, six months earlier than previously scheduled.
- Bunbury Outer Ring Road
Construction for this $852 million project is anticipated in January 2021, three months earlier than expected. 4,500 jobs are expected to be created.
- Albany Ring Road
This project is three months ahead of schedule and construction will commence in September 2020. It’s expected to create 1,000 jobs and $175 million has been budgeted.
- Bussell Highway Duplication Stage 1 and Stage 2
The Stage 1 contract is due to be awarded this month and construction to begin in October, three months ahead of schedule. The total project cost is $85 million and 570 jobs will be created.
- Lloyd Street Extension
The extension is expected to create 280 jobs. The contract is anticipated to be awarded in January 2021 and early works to commence in March 2021, 18 months earlier than previously planned. $40 million has been budgeted, which is now part of the Roe Highway/Great Eastern Highway/Abernethy Road procurement.
The WA Government is waiting on Commonwealth Government environmental approval to start the $500 million Tonkin Highway Extension project, but has already negotiated a multimillion-dollar package to get a number of key projects off the ground.
These projects, estimated to create 1,300 jobs include:
- $100 million regional road safety program
- $8 million for Thomas Road upgrade in Oakford
- $85 million for the Bussell Highway duplication
- $7 million towards upgrading Toodyay Road (Jingaling Brook to Toodyay);
- $3 million Great Eastern Highway (Coates Gully Bridge) upgrade
- $20 million for upgrades to key roads in Exmouth.
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