THE team managing a booming airport and commercial precinct in Jandakot has thrown its support behind an upgrade of Karel Avenue.
Under a $15 million proposal, the State Government plans to widen Karel Avenue between Farrington Road and Berrigan Drive.
The work will include modifications to the existing bridge over Roe Highway.
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READ NOWThe State Government initially announced construction was expected to begin in early 2018 but that has been revised to “late 2018 or early 2019”.
With Jandakot Airport expected to grow to support 300 businesses and 8000 jobs, potentially within 10 years, Jandakot Airport Holdings managing director John Fraser said the upgrade could not come soon enough.
“If the Karel Avenue upgrade eliminates the inefficient dog-bone intersection over Roe Highway, it will be very important,” he said.
“What will also be important is to extend the road widening down Berrigan Drive to Jandakot Road.
“The traffic congestion at peak areas around the airport is a result of inefficient infrastructure around the airport and this needs to be upgraded to deal with the rapidly increasing regional traffic.”
Jandakot MLA Yaz Mubarakai said Karel Avenue was a popular issue for residents during the State Election.
“With the Jandakot Airport precinct now a large base for many growing commercial industries, and with development ramping up in surrounding residential estates, demand on the road network has increased significantly,” he said.
“These Karel Avenue upgrades will also complement other major road upgrades in the South Metropolitan Corridor, including the widening of Kwinana Freeway and the Murdoch Drive connection to Kwinana Freeway and Roe Highway.”
Work on the project, now in the development phase, is currently being undertaken by the former Roe 8 Alliance as part of the renegotiated contract for Roe 8.