New Perth to Bunbury Highway to open September 20

Transport Minister Simon O'Brien today announced the Perth to Bunbury Highway would be opened to traffic from Sunday, September 20, 2009.

Mr O'Brien said the new road would cut travel time on the route by 30 minutes.

"This road will significantly change the way in which many of us travel to the South-West," he said.

"Its very existence will have a positive impact on the lives of daily commuters and holiday makers."

The Minister said the opening of the road would be marked with a community celebration to acknowledge the hard work and efforts of those involved in its design and construction.

"More than 3,000 individuals worked on this important piece of infrastructure. This road belongs as much to them as it does to the communities it connects," he said.

"It is only appropriate that their efforts are acknowledged at the opening festivities."

Funded by the Federal and State governments, construction has included 70.5km of dual carriageway from Kwinana Freeway at Safety Bay Road in Baldivis, around the eastern side of the Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary and joining the existing dual carriageway on Old Coast Road at Lake Clifton.

"The route will link Perth and the South-West, bypassing the heavily populated areas in Mandurah and the Dawesville peninsula," Mr O'Brien said.