New Mt Barker bypass to benefit town, tourism and truck operators

Mt Barker's new bypass will increase safety for local residents and road users and help ensure the town centre remains an important tourist drawcard.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan today announced the opening of the Mt Barker Northern Bypass, which allows motorists using  Muirs Highway to access Albany Highway without travelling through the town centre.

South-West MLC Matt Benson today officially opened the 4.2km link, which began construction in March 2007 and cost $13.3million.

Ms MacTiernan said the new bypass made the town centre safer and more attractive, and provided a more efficient route for trucks.

"Some 1,200 vehicles currently travel daily through Mt Barker, of which 60 are heavy haulage vehicles," she said.

"Now trucks using Muirs Highway and Albany Highway to access processing facilities near Albany will be able to avoid the Mt Barker CBD.

"Over the next four years, the total amount of blue gum logs and chips to be transported will reach more than 5.8million tonnes on Albany Highway and more than 1.3million tonnes along Muirs Highway.

"That is some 450,000 tonnes of product being moved on the bypass each year, or 1250 additional tonnes each day, increasing daily heavy vehicle movements from 60 to 110 per day."

Mr Benson said Mt Barker, located adjacent to the Porongurup National Park at the top of the region's tourism triangle, was an important gateway to Denmark and Albany on the supporting corners.

"Tourism in the district has jumped 10 per cent in the past four years, with increased activity in the wine industry and growing demand for holiday accommodation," he said.

"Main Roads and the Shire of Plantagenet worked together in a planning study to identify an alignment for the Mt Barker bypass, which involved extensive consultation and won widespread community support."

Ms MacTiernan said the bypass was part of the Labor Government's $30million, three year funding commitment to upgrade major sections of the 161km Muirs Highway between Mt Barker and Manjimup - links the Great Southern and South-West regions

The program includes:

• $3million for shoulder reconstruction and seal widening from the Denmark-Mt Barker Road through to Rocky Gully;
• $5million for the full reconstruction of the Mt Barker-Hay River Valley section in 2008/09;
• nearly $10million  for widening between Nyamup and Strachan by 2008/09; and,
• $13.3million for construction of the Mt Barker Northern Bypass.

"This compares with an allocation of just over $2million from the Liberal government in its last term of office and underlines Labor's commitment to the Great Southern and South West," Ms MacTiernan said.