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State Govt commits $114m for additional lanes on Mitchell Fwy

Laura PondJoondalup Times

PREMIER Colin Barnett has announced the Government will build additional lanes on the Mitchell Freeway from Hodges Drive if re-elected in March.

He said it would spend $114 million creating up to 17km of southbound freeway lanes between Hodges Drive and Vincent Street.

It would result in three continuous lanes between Hodges Drive and Reid Highway and four continuous lanes from Reid Highway to Vincent Street.

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“People travelling towards the city in morning peak hour know that Mitchell Freeway is particularly congested due to bottlenecks created from traffic lanes being forced to merge at three places along the freeway,” he said.

“When finished there will be up to 17km of additional lanes which will greatly reduce congestion during this peak period, meaning improved travel times for road users. “

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Work would start on the project in April and scheduled for completion in late 2019.

It would be funded using savings from joint Commonwealth and State transport projects, including $76.3 million reallocated from NorthLink WA.

Transport Minister Bill Marmion said construction was expected to create up to 455 jobs and believed it would have a big impact on northern suburbs families.

“Mitchell Freeway caters for some of the highest traffic demands in Perth, with up to 190,000 vehicles per day,” he said.

Opposition transport spokeswoman Rita Saffioti said Labor would consider the announcement and noted it had already committed $125 million to upgrade Wanneroo Road to reduce northern suburbs traffic congestion.

That comprises $30 million for a dual carriageway from Joondalup to Flynn drives and $95 million to build overpasses at the Joondalup Drive and Ocean Reef Road intersections.

“We have also committed $60 million to the Stephenson Avenue project to relieve pressure around Cedric Street,” she said.

“Additionally WA Labor will be extending the Joondalup line to Yanchep to get more cars off the road.”