But the benefits will not be realised until the completion of the $836 million project in 2019.
Work will commence on the bypass in 2016 with the Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development honouring the Coalition’s $615 million pre-election pledge towards the bypass last Wednesday.
Federal Transport Minister Warren Truss said the bypass would boost productivity and create strong connections that would have both economic and social benefits.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOW‘This bypass will improve WA freight efficiency by introducing an alternative north-south freight route, relieving pressure on the Great Northern Highway through the iconic Swan Valley,’ Mr Truss said.
Work on the Swan Valley Bypass will follow the $1 billion Gateway project at Perth Airport, which will create three graded interchanges on Tonkin Highway.
WA Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the bypass, in addition to other road infrastructure projects, would relieve congestion in Perth.
‘The bypass will include new interchanges to the existing road network as well as upgrades to connecting roads, which will mean a better flow of traffic regardless of whether you are on or off the new bypass,’ Mr Buswell said.
‘This project I think will transform the way freight and people use the Perth road network and the full extent of that will only become apparent once the roads are completed.
‘One of the other great benefits of this projects is it opens up a whole range of industrial land to the north of Ellenbrook.
‘That will provide jobs and employment opportunities for the people of Ellenbrook and the north-eastern corridor, so in many ways this is not just a piece of transport infrastructure, it’s a key economic enabler.’
Starting from the intersection of Tonkin and Reid highways, the Swan Valley Bypass will be four lanes before merging into one lane on its way to Muchea.
Mr Truss said it would have the capacity to expand once traffic warranted it.
East Metropolitan Region MLC Alyssa Hayden said the new road funding was great news but she preferred to call it the Perth-Darwin Highway project to better reflect a direct transport route for north-south freight.
‘Visitors still need to be attracted to the iconic Swan Valley as a tourism destination, not bypass it,’ Ms Hayden said.