Work starts on the Dawesville Deviation

20/10/00
Transport Minister Murray Criddle today said that work on the long-awaited Dawesville Deviation would start later this month as part of a major Coalition Government initiative to ease congestion on the Old Coast Road, south of Mandurah.
"This $10.3 million project will not only improve the traffic situation for people living along the rapidly expanding residential belt south of Mandurah but it will also be a boon for people motoring to and from Bunbury,"
Mr Criddle said.
At a special 'turning of the sod' ceremony at Dawesville Road, south of Mandurah today, Mr Criddle said the project would be built by Works Infrastructure Pty Ltd and be completed by July next year.
"The project will see a new bypass leave the Old Coast Road just south of Port Bouvard Bridge and rejoin the existing Perth-Bunbury road near Tim's Thicket Road, a distance of 4.5km," he said.
"The new road will be a dual carriageway with double-lanes and be the main arterial route through the Dawesville area. The road will be built along a route closer to the Indian Ocean.
"It will reduce congestion currently experienced on the Old Coast Road and cater for future traffic volumes that are predicted to increase at a rate of around seven per cent over the next 10 years.
"There will also be two pedestrian and cyclist underpasses to provide east-west access for people living in the Dawesville area.
"It will serve as the main arterial route through the area and will support residential and economic development in the Mandurah Peninsula and in areas such as Florida and Melros.
"This new project will form an important part of the regional road network and provide a strategic link to the South-West, which is expanding at an incredible rate.
"Once constructed, the deviation will provide a free flowing alternative route for traffic travelling to Bunbury and the South-West, which will reduce the potential for vehicle conflict and help improve safety for all road users."
The Member for Dawesville, Arthur Marshall, said the Dawesville Deviation would have significant benefits for the local community and would improve the quality of life for many residents.
"There have been 20 reported crashes on this section of Old Coast Road in the last five years, with half of these involving the need for medical treatment or hospitalisation," Mr Marshall said.
"The deviation alignment offers an opportunity to increase the level of service and safety of Old Coast Road by improving the road environment through minimising the number of connecting side roads.
"The deviation also improves safety for local traffic as the design has incorporated suitable storage space within the median at each intersection to safely accommodate vehicles towing boats and caravans, which are a key feature of the local lifestyle.
"Residents who live along Old Coast Road will also benefit from the project as the deviation will reduce traffic volumes and noise on the existing highway, improving their quality of life.
"Cyclists and pedestrians have not been forgotten by the deviation with two underpasses included in the project to maintain east-west access and to service the Florida Primary School, which is scheduled to open early next year."
Media contact: Doug Cunningham 9321 7333