Contract awarded for construction of Busselton Bypass Project

2/12/99
Transport Minister Murray Criddle today announced that Henry Walker Eltin Contracting Pty Ltd had won a $14.5 million contract to construct the Busselton Bypass Project, one of the highest priority regional road improvements projects for the South-West.
Making the announcement at a special "sod" turning ceremony on site today, the Minister said work on the project would start immediately and be completed in early 2001.
The project includes constructing a new 10.7km road to bypass Busselton, and upgrading of the adjoining section of Bussell Highway from west of the Sabina River Bridge to Causeway Road.
Mr Criddle said Busselton Bypass would form an important part of the regional road network for the South-West and would also serve as an urban arterial road for local traffic.
"The bypass will be constructed from Causeway Road to Bussell Highway at the Vasse town site and will incorporate two new bridges to carry traffic over the Vasse River and the Vasse River Diversion," Mr Criddle said
"The road is ultimately planned to be a dual carriageway, however, initially it will be constructed as a single carriageway except for two short sections near Queen Elizabeth Avenue and at the western end of the bypass.
"It will be linked to the existing road network via a large roundabout at the Causeway Road intersection and a smaller roundabout at the Bussell Highway intersection at Vasse," he said.
Local access to the bypass will be provided at Causeway Road, Country Road, Chapman Hill Road (south), Cook Street, Queen Elizabeth Avenue, Fairway Drive, Redgum Way and Bussell Highway.
"Increased traffic volumes and development along the existing highway through Busselton has resulted in many traffic conflict points that significantly reduce the level of service, particularly for traffic trying to bypass the town," Mr Criddle said.
"The construction of the bypass will provide a safe, free flowing alternative route for through traffic and tourists travelling to the Dunsborough, Yallingup, Margaret River and Augusta areas, and will reduce traffic conflict on Bussell Highway through the Busselton township.
"The removal of this through traffic, particularly large trucks, will improve the general environment of the Busselton town centre and enhance quality of life for residents along the existing route."
The Busselton Bypass Project also includes the upgrade of the existing Bussell Highway from west of the Sabina River bridge to Causeway Road, known as the Sabina-Busselton section.
This upgrade will see the existing road reconstructed and a second carriageway built on the old railway alignment south of the present road to improve the level of safety, comfort and efficiency on this busy section of the highway.
"Landscaping will be a key element of the Busselton Bypass Project to preserve the conservation value of the area and integrate the roadworks with the existing environment," Mr Criddle said.
"This will include enhanced landscaping of the large Causeway Road roundabout, which has been designed to provide an attractive entry into the town and create memorable first and lasting impressions for visitors to Busselton.
"Other environmental measures that will be carried out to preserve the area include the installation of a fauna underpass, fencing to exclude kangaroos from the road, rehabilitation of wetland areas, and revegetation of the road reserve."
Work on the project will begin immediately and will be carried out over two summers, with the upgrade of the Sabina-Busselton section of Bussell Highway scheduled to be complete in April 2000, and the construction of the bypass expected to be complete early in 2001.
Media contact: Doug Cunningham 08 9321 7333