City Northern Bypass now fully under way

March 5, 1997

The City Northern Bypass is now fully under way, with a $59.4 million contract awarded today for stage two of the $300 million project.

Transport Minister Eric Charlton announced the awarding of the Main Roads contract to a joint venture of Transfield Construction Pty Ltd and Thiess Contractors Pty Ltd for design and construction of works between East Parade and Great Eastern Highway, including a new bridge across the Swan River at Burswood.

"The joint venture will start design work immediately and bridge construction will begin early next year," Mr Charlton said.

"Construction on the Northbridge section of the bypass started last September under a $203.8 million contract awarded to the Baulderstone Clough Joint Venture.

"Both stages of the 6.5km bypass will be completed simultaneously in 2000.

"The six-lane road bridge across the Swan River is the key element of the bypass.

"The new bridge will carry 84,000 vehicles a day, most of which will be using the new road to get around the city rather than go through the central business district."

Mr Charlton said the result would be reduced congestion on the Causeway and along city streets such as Riverside Drive.

"This will allow for improved pedestrian and cyclist facilities and the introduction of bus priority lanes on the Causeway, all of which are planned in association with completion of the bypass," he said.

"The City Northern Bypass is more than just a road project.

"It is a project which forms an integral part of the Coalition's vision for Perth as a people-friendly city and for efficient traffic management in the metropolitan region.

"In Northbridge the tunnel section provides the catalyst for urban renewal of a blighted area of our main entertainment precinct.

"And to the east, at Rivervale, the new road forms part of the eastern gateway concept which will welcome our international and Eastern States visitors arriving by road or by air."

Mr Charlton said the Transfield Thiess contract for stage two of the bypass involved a six-lane bridge structure alongside the existing rail bridge, major road interchanges at East Parade and at Great Eastern Highway/Orrong Road, dual use path facilities, a road bridge across the bypass at Riversdale Road and the relocation of a section of the Perth-Armadale railway line to include a new railway station near Belmont Park.

"The Transfield Thiess Joint Venture was selected after a rigorous evaluation process which began last May with expressions of interest from four consortia," he said.

Media contact: Sally Squires 321 7333; pager: 482 5786