More than $350M allocated for road maintenance

10/6/94

More than $350 million will be spent on Western Australian road maintenance and construction in 1994-95 under the State Budget.

Transport Minister Eric Charlton said Main Roads' total budget of $350.62 million was $1.18 million more than the 1993-94 allocation.

"Commonwealth funds to the State for roads are down in real terms," Mr Charlton said.

"The State Government has responded by increasing State-sourced funding this year by $15 million and directing all untied Commonwealth funds amounting to $43.4 million to roads.

Total State sourced funding for roads will be $291.7 million.

"We have been able to increase State resources for roads by redirecting money from the public transport system, in line with the Coalition's pre-election policy," Mr Charlton said.

"The Government will continue redirecting these funds - derived from State fuel levy revenue -  back into roads until the full annual amount of about $43 million is rightfully put into road construction and maintenance."

Main Roads has budgeted to spend 48 per cent of its outlays on road preservation and the balance (52 per cent) on upgrading and new construction programs.

Major projects in the Perth metropolitan area in 1994-95 include:

·       $2.9 million for upgrading Brookton Highway;

·       $2.5 million for improved safety measures on Greenmount Hill;

·       $3 million for construction of the Stirling Link road between Pearson Street and Scarborough Beach Road;

·       $1.1 million for expanding Orrong Road from Chamberlain Road to Alexander Road;

·       $2.5 million for the replacement of the existing two-lane bridge crossing over the Southern River on Fremantle Road in Gosnells;

·       $4.1 million for the completion of roadworks associated with the extension of Kwinana Freeway to Thomas Road, Kwinana;

·       $9.3 million to complete the extension of Reid Highway from Wanneroo Road to Beechboro Road;

·       $7.5 million to complete current works on Welshpool Road, associated with the extension of Roe Highway from Welshpool Road to Wimbledon Street in 1996-97;

·       $1.5 million for the design and relocation of services related to the Orrong Road-Great Eastern Highway intersection project in Belmont; and -

·       $1.9 million for the next phase in widening Albany Highway between Oats and William Streets.

Media contact:  Dean Roberts 321 7333 or 222 9595