The City plans to extend Blackburn Street to create a pedestrian-friendly hub with a bus/rail interchange. But it needs the Albany Highway to be widened at the intersection of Olga Road.
The plan, conceived more than nine years ago, has languished because water pipes beneath the highway are too close to the surface and would need replacing.
The Water Corporation will not bring forward the works, even though the 82-year-old pipes are nearing the end of their predicted 100-year life-span.
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READ NOWMain Roads WA, which is responsible for the highway, had plans and funding to widen it in 2005 but will not pay for the pipe replacement, which it says will cost well over $10 million.
Gosnells Mayor Dave Griffiths said the State Government needed to address the matter, which was of increasing urgency.
He said Main Roads WA had predicted that by 2031, when the lifespan of the pipes is expected to end, traffic volumes in the immediate area would have approximately doubled.
‘The road will be under considerable stress and would not be able to cope under the existing road configuration,’ he said.
‘Traffic growth on Albany Highway will make it difficult for the ease of movement of pedestrians throughout the Maddington Town Centre area and if the growth is not catered for in a considered way, traffic and safety issues will be a major concern.
‘The City of Gosnells has been lobbying the State Government to improve Albany Highway for many years, in particular the Maddington stretch.’
A Water Corporation spokeswoman said the pipes were still in good condition.
‘Water Corporation is focused on providing the best value for money services for nearly two million customers,’ she said.
‘Replacing or relocating pipelines that are in good working condition would not be an effective use of the Water Corporation’s budget.’