Mitchell Freeway extension goes ahead in Perth's north

27/1/06 Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan today gave the green light to the next major extension of the Mitchell Freeway in Perth's northern suburbs.

27/1/06
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan today gave the green light to the next major extension of the Mitchell Freeway in Perth's northern suburbs.
Ms MacTiernan said the State Government had agreed to a number of key changes to the $170million project, after consulting local residents and the business community.
"When people raised concerns about various aspects of the design - particularly the height - our Government established a 26-member community group to work through the issues," she said.
"The proposed changes were reasonable and have been embraced by the Government."
The project will extend the Mitchell Freeway by four kilometres from Hodges Drive to Burns Beach Road.
The proposed changes included the following:

  • lowering the vertical profile of the freeway near Connolly Primary School by about 4.5m;
  • lowering the freeway embankment at Christchurch Terrace in Currambine by about 1.8m and at Huntingdale Crescent in Connolly by about 0.6m;
  • a pedestrian overpass, instead of an underpass, will be built at Portmarnock Circuit with the shared pathway running along the eastern side of the freeway and crossing at Moore Drive via a proposed road bridge; and
  • delivery of the project through a single Design and Construct contract covering work from Hodges Drive right through to Burns Beach Road, reducing traffic impact in the area, minimising costs and speeding up project delivery.
The Government had also agreed to ongoing consultations with a community group during the design and construction phase.
Press advertisements will call for expressions of interest to build the freeway extension, with a contractor due to be appointed by the end of the year.
"Construction is set to begin in early 2007 and be completed by late 2008," Ms MacTiernan said.
Work had already started under a separate contract on a deviation of Hodges Drive in preparation for the main freeway extension.
The Minister said the Carpenter Government was improving the quality of services to all Western Australians, wherever they lived.
Minister's office: 9213 6400