Section of Reid Hwy to be open to traffic from Nov 29

26/11/96

A 6.7km section of Reid Highway between Beechboro Road and Middle Swan Road will be open to traffic this Friday (November 29).

Transport Minister Eric Charlton today inspected the new $21.5 million single carriageway which will provide access to the new Ellenbrook Estate via Lord Street and Gnangara Road.

"This new section will improve road safety for all road users, while also reducing traffic congestion and improving traffic flow," Mr Charlton said.

He said the project included the construction of a 51m composite steel reinforced concrete bridge over Bennett Brook, following consultation with the Swan Valley Nyungar community.

Until discussions with Aboriginal people, it was originally planned to install a culvert over the brook. The alignment of the highway was also changed because of the location of a well of special significance to Aboriginal people.

This involved widening the median near the well and the construction of a pedestrian underpass beneath the carriageway to provide access to the well.

Mr Charlton said the design of the second carriageway to connect Beechboro Road to Great Northern Highway and Roe Highway at Midland was almost complete and construction would be completed in 10 years.

The completion of this section of Reid Highway followed the recent opening of the highway between Wanneroo Road and Erindale Road at Hamersley.

When Reid Highway was completed, a four-lane dual carriageway would link Marmion Avenue at Carine with Roe and Great Northern Highways at Midland, a distance of 25kms.

Mr Charlton said Reid Highway would provide people living in Perth's northern suburbs with better access to industrial and commercial areas to the east and south-east of Perth and to other major arterial routes, including the State's rural highways.

"The highway will also enable motorists to bypass the central business district," he said.

"Reid Highway has been developed in stages since the need for a major highway through Perth's northern suburbs was recognised as early as 1955 and land set aside in 1963.

"The first seven-kilometre section of the highway, between Mirrabooka Avenue and Beechboro Road, was completed in March 1992. Since then, two further sections have been completed: the 2.7km section between Mirrabooka Avenue and Wanneroo Road in 1994 and the extension to Erindale Road this year."

Media contact: Sally Squires 321 7333