FEDERAL Opposition transport and infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese has committed funding to fix what has been called Perth’s most congested road if Labor wins the next Federal election.
Mr Albanese committed $46.5m to help construct an overpass to separate Leach Highway from Welshpool Road during a visit to Perth last week, targeting a potential start date of June 2019.
“What we are committed to today is to fund half of this upgrade to Leach Highway and Welshpool Road,” he said.
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READ NOW“This is the most congested spot of any road in Western Australia, it has a BCR (benefit-cost ratio) above $7 for every $1 that is invested in it and it will make a huge difference.
“This is good for jobs, good for reducing travel times and it’s good for the sustainability of this growing city.”
State Transport Minister Rita Saffioti welcomed the commitment from the Federal Labor Party.
“The timing of the project will depend on when Infrastructure WA is set up… because we have an established process,” she said.
“For example, the (Public Transport Authority), in all of its Metronet projects, works through a business case process with Infrastructure Australia.
“Every project worth over $100m has a detailed business case, every project under $100m (will) still be submitted to Infrastructure WA.
“Infrastructure WA will help supplement that but because my agencies have been working with Infrastructure Australia in particular over the past year, there is an established process.”