Work begun on major road link between Kwinana & Rockingham

November 9, 1998

Transport Minister Murray Criddle said today work had begun on a major new road link between Kwinana and Rockingham which also formed part of the 34km Fremantle-to-Rockingham Transitway.

The project would allow Transperth to introduce seven of its new-generation, low-floor buses into a new high-frequency service between Rockingham and Fremantle by June-July next year.

Speaking at Rockingham, Mr Criddle said Gilmore Avenue was being extended under a joint State Government-Town of Kwinana initiative.

The dual carriageway project extends Gilmore Avenue a distance of 2.3km from its current termination at Dalrymple Drive in Leda, to Dixon Road in Hillman.

"The construction of two lanes of transitway between Gilmore Avenue in Kwinana and Dixon Road in Rockingham fills in a missing road link which the community has been calling for over many years," Mr Criddle said.

"The project is one of the Coalition Govenment's pimary tasks for the area in the 1998-99 financial year because it plays such a key role in the development of a world-class public transport corridor between Rockingham and Fremantle.

"Earthworks have begun, the design phase will begin soon and a construction contract will be let early in the New Year with all works due for completion by May next year.

"Buses will start immediately after that and Transperth has agreed to place seven of the new-technology buses on this run as part of its innovative System 21 service which offers high-frequency running times."

The Minister said the Gilmore Avenue project would provide a major boost for the area.

"This is a significant project because it will immediately relieve other road arteries between Kwinana and Rockingham by providing a new and direct route between the regional centre and the urban areas of Medina, Parmelia, Calista, Orelia and Leda.

"It will also provide an improved regional road connection which has been missing from the Kwinana-Rockingham transport network for a long time, and an alternative to the more indirect routes of Patterson Road onto the Old Mandurah Road and Thomas Road-Patterson Road."

Mr Criddle said this project would be the first piece of infrastructure for the Fremantle-to-Rockingham public transitway.

The TransformWA package, announced in April this year, provided funding of $25 million to allow key segments of the transitway will be built over the next three years.

Consultation was currently occurring with the communities along the route of the transitway, with recent community forums held in conjunction with the cities of Fremantle and Cockburn.

"The Gilmore Avenue project, which is managed by the Town of Kwinana for Main RoadsWA and Transport, is a fine example of co-operation between State and local government," he said.

Media contact: Doug Cunningham 08 9321 7333