Coalfields Highway project a boon to South-West road users

10/5/00
Transport Minister Murray Criddle today officially opened the important Coalfields Project, describing its completion as a major boost for local users, tourists and commercial operators who travel through the South-West and Wheatbelt regions.
The contract to improve the busy road link incorporated upgrades to three main traffic routes in the region including a stopping lane and an emergency arrester bed on the steepest descent of the Coalfields Highway, and key works on the South Western Highway and Raymond Road.
"The Coalfields Project has delivered a package of important works, which has enhanced safety for all road users, increased traffic efficiency and reduced conflict between passenger and freight vehicles," Mr Criddle said.
"Improvements to Coalfields Highway have included reconstructing the Roelands intersection, installing climbing and descending lanes and realigning a section of the highway.
"Constructing a truck stopping bay and installing a 260m arrester bed for freight and passenger vehicles is a major feature of the project because the Coalfields Highway provides a vital link in the main east-west movement and is used by more than 2,900 vehicles each day to travel between Bunbury and Collie.
"More than 300 heavy transport vehicles currently use Coalfields Highway every day and this number is expected to grow significantly over the next 5-10 years."
Improvements to Coalfields Highway, and the associated works on South Western Highway and Raymond Road, were required to address traffic and safety issues experienced in the area, and to meet the future traffic demands for the region.
An important part of the project was to reconstruct the Roelands intersection to increase the stacking distance for road trains between the railway line and South West Highway on the eastern approach.
The realignment of the intersection also removed the need for road trains to be detoured through the small community of Roelands.
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"The arrester bed on Coalfields Highway is the first such facility to be constructed outside of the metropolitan area and only the third used in Western Australia and is modelled on a similar facility at Greenmount Hill," Mr Criddle said.
The Member for Murray-Wellington, John Bradshaw, praised the project, stating that one of its greatest benefits was that it has improved safety and access for both residents and transport operators who travel through Roelands.
"The total reconstruction of the Roelands intersection will improve the efficiency for road users and help to reduce the number and severity of crashes," Mr Bradshaw said.
"The reconstruction of the Roelands intersection will also enhance the quality of life for Roelands residents by removing the need for road trains to be detoured down Government Road as was previously the case.
"Further benefits that have been delivered by this project are the construction of climbing and descending lanes, and the realignment of a section of the highway to remove the two sub-standard curves at the top of the hill on Coalfields Highway."
The $5 million Coalfields Project to be constructed by Henry Walker Eltin Contracting Pty Ltd will be further enhanced with landscaping throughout the project area to integrate the roadworks with the existing environment.
This work, which has recently commenced, will be carried out under a separate contract by Australind Contracting Pty Ltd.
Media contact: Doug Cunningham 08 9321 7333