Highlighted in Jandakot Airport Holdings’ 2014 Preliminary Draft Master Plan, currently out for public comment, are provisions for a fourth runway, internal road access upgrades and development of new mixed business space.
But concerns remain over road access to the precinct.
Congestion, particularly during peak time, has frustrated drivers for some time.
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READ NOWJAH even turned to employing pointsmen to direct peak-hour traffic through the Karel Avenue-Berrigan Drive roundabout in the afternoons.
But despite 1150 employees travelling to the airport and mixed business precinct every day, the plan says congestion is ‘primarily due to traditional metropolitan peak periods unrelated to Jandakot Airport traffic’.
JAH managing director John Fraser said evening congestion on Roe Highway meant people rat-run down Berrigan Drive, although road-widening on Kwinana Freeway should alleviate that in the future.
‘Significant development around the airport has put serious pressure on the City of Cockburn’s local road network and the City has requested that Jandakot Airport fund the required road upgrades around the airport,’ he said.
‘The airport and airport tenants believe that these road works should be funded by the City as the roads are outside of the airport boundaries.’
But with the potential of the airport to grow to support 8050 employees in 20 years, Cockburn’s engineering and works director Michael Littleton disagreed airport employees were not contributing to the congestion.
‘All of the proposed extensions have the potential to significantly increase the volume of activity and traffic to and from the airport,’ he said.
‘The City expects that the master plan will not be able to proceed without a clear agreement being secured which is acceptable to all parties in respect of the funding and delivery of infrastructure upgrades such as supporting road networks.
‘The City has supported a range of initiatives, including access control and a temporary access point to assist Jandakot Airport in the movement of its substantial traffic load until more formal upgrades are provided.
‘The City will object to any further development until these road upgrades are committed to and scheduled.’
The master plan is available on the JAH website.