Joint statement - Roe Highway/Berkshire Road interchange upgrade underway

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss and Western Australian Transport Minister Dean Nalder today announced the official start of construction of the Roe Highway/Berkshire Road interchange upgrade in Forrestfield.

Mr Truss said the works, valued at $46.2 million, would provide much needed relief at this heavily congested intersection and eradicate a major black spot.

"Roe Highway is a primary distributor road and forms part of the outer ring road system linking major industrial centres, the Perth Airport and the Fremantle Port to the strategic transport routes such as Great Eastern Highway, Great Northern Highway and the freeway network," Mr Truss said.

"Upgrades such as this play a vital role in preserving the safety and efficiency of the transport network and support the continued development of economic growth by improving inter-regional connectivity for industry," Mr Truss said.

A small ground-breaking ceremony was conducted at the project site today involving Mr Nalder, the Federal Member for Hasluck, Ken Wyatt, State Member for Forrestfield, Nathan Morton, and Member for the East Metropolitan Region, Alyssa Hayden.

Mr Nalder said the intersection was used by more than 40,000 vehicles each day, with heavy vehicles accounting for up to 17.5 per cent of daily traffic volumes. In the past 10 years, there have been 297 crashes at the intersection, resulting in one fatality and 15 people seriously injured.

Mr Nalder said the State Government was committed to improving safety at key sites across the State and the Roe Highway/Berkshire Road project represented a strong example of this pledge.

"As part of the new design, Roe Highway will pass over the top of Berkshire Road, allowing commuter and freight traffic to be separated from the local network greatly improving safety and amenity for the Forrestfield community," Mr Nalder said.

"Noise and screen walls will be constructed to help reduce traffic noise for residential areas close to the interchange and additional paths will be provided to improve local connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists."

Mr Truss acknowledged Mr Wyatt and Mr Morton for their commitment to securing funding for this much awaited priority upgrade project, which is anticipated to be completed by early 2016.

The project will be delivered by the Gateway WA alliance team.

Transport Minister's office - 6552 6400