Leo Coci from Main Roads, Transport Minister Bill Marmion, project director Chris Raykos and Wanneroo MLA Paul Miles .
Camera IconLeo Coci from Main Roads, Transport Minister Bill Marmion, project director Chris Raykos and Wanneroo MLA Paul Miles . Credit: Supplied/Supplied

City of Wanneroo relieved at funding for Wanneroo Road

Laura PondWanneroo Times

Transport Minister Bill Marmion announced on December 21 that $30 million would be provided to create dual lanes from Joondalup to Flynn drives.

Mayor Tracey Roberts said the City had advocated for the upgrade for several years because of safety concerns.

“The current single carriage is completely at odds with the high volume of traffic,” she said.

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“The City wrote to the Premier in 2013 and 2015 to express these concerns and has been advocating for the dualling of Wanneroo Road, most recently as part of the current Connect Wanneroo campaign.”

She said the upgrade would improve road connectivity, including to the Neerabup industrial area, and ensure all four approaches to the Wanneroo Road and Joondalup Drive intersection were dual carriageways.

Mr Marmion believed it would address congestion, road safety and transport efficiency in the fast-growing area, as well as generate up to 200 direct and indirect jobs.

“Driver safety will be significantly improved through the extended separation of northbound and southbound carriageways with two lanes in each direction,” he said.

“The extra lanes will also address congestion and transport efficiency demands, and works will include traffic signals at the Carramar Road/Wanneroo Road intersection and noise walls on the east side between Carramar Road and Joondalup Drive.”

Opposition transport spokeswoman Rita Saffioti said Labor welcomed the funding commitment and strengthened its belief that overpasses were needed at the intersections of Wanneroo Road and Joondalup Drive and Wanneroo and Ocean Reef roads.

“WA Labor supports this project as it is one of the missing links in respect to Wanneroo Road and is an integral part of our plan to improve connectivity to the Neerabup industrial estate,” she said.

“While we welcome the funding, the ad hoc approach to transport planning has to stop.

“The overall plan for Wanneroo Road needs to include the two overpasses along Wanneroo Road at Joondalup Drive and Ocean Reef Road.”

Construction is expected to start at the end of 2017.