Roadworks to continue in northern suburbs after Mitchell Fwy extension

ROADWORKS are set to continue across the northern suburbs even after the Mitchell Freeway extension and related roads open in the next couple of months.

State politicians visited Tapping on Monday to outline future road projects following last weekend’s announcement of a $2.3 billion transport infrastructure agreement with the Federal Government.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said widening Wanneroo Road from Joondalup Drive to Flynn Drive would be the first project, starting within the next six months.

Moore MHR Ian Goodenough was pleased the Federal Government would deliver funding for a project he started campaigning for when he was a Wanneroo councillor.

“Rudi Steffens and I moved a motion, which was unanimously supported at the time, for the widening of Wanneroo Road at a City of Wanneroo council meeting more than a decade ago,” he said.

“Since then the City of Wanneroo has campaigned very effectively to secure funding for this and the grade separation projects. I have raised these issues in parliament and it is rewarding to see the Federal Government agreeing to fund these key road projects.”

Burns Beach MLA Mark Folkard said widening the road was an important local issue, and as a police officer, he had attended two fatal crashes on that section of road.

“There have been too many fatalities up there,” he said.

The State Government expects the $31 million project to create about 175 jobs, and Mr Goodenough said it would improve access to the Neerabup industrial area.

Ms Saffioti said the other two projects on Wanneroo Road – building overpasses at Joondalup Drive and Ocean Reef Road – would start in 2018-19, costing $50 million and $65 million respectively.

“We always said this needed a proper interchange; as you can see, the congestion is an issue,” she said.

The minister said addressing congestion on east-west links was important because the population was growing rapidly in eastern suburbs such as Banksia Grove.

Premier Mark McGowan said the aim was to put in the best infrastructure possible over time.

“This intersection here is shocking,” Mr McGowan said.

“What we are going to do is put in an interchange so people can drive through without traffic lights.”

According to the Transport Minister’s office, ongoing Wanneroo Road works at the Joondalup Drive and Flynn Drive/Neerabup Road intersections were tied into the works to extend the Mitchell Freeway to Hester Avenue.

“A formal opening date in either June or July is most likely, but will be influenced by weather during May,” a spokesman said.

“The current work focus is resurfacing, connecting to the existing road network, paving and other finishing works.”

He said Butler MLA John Quigley’s election promise to widen Marmion Avenue from Butler to Yanchep was subject to the 2017-18 budgetary process.

Hillarys MLA Peter Katsambanis called on the State Government to address congestion issues for his electorate by adding a third southbound lane to the Mitchell Freeway.

“Every morning the radio traffic report is exactly the same: that the Mitchell Freeway southbound is blocked from Hodges Drive through to Whitfords (Avenue),” he said.

“The money is there ready and waiting for new lanes to be added, so I am calling on the new government to get on with the job.

“This fully funded project announced by the previous government would add an extra lane from Hodges Drive to Hepburn Avenue as well as additional lanes farther south through to Vincent Street.

“By creating three continuous lanes from Hodges Drive to Reid Highway and then four continuous lanes from Reid Highway to Vincent Street, the project would significantly cut travel times for people in the northern suburbs.”

The State Government had been renegotiating the cancelled Roe 8 contract with the Federal Government, Main Roads WA and the Roe 8 Alliance to bring forward alternative road projects.

NORTHERN SUBURBS PROJECTS

Wanneroo Road/Ocean Reef Road interchange

Cost estimate: $65 million

Jobs created: 350

Wanneroo Road dual carriageway (Joondalup Drive to Flynn Drive)

Cost estimate: $31 million

Jobs created: 175

Wanneroo Road/Joondalup Drive interchange

Cost estimate: $50 million

Jobs created: 280

Roads to Recovery funding

THE Federal Government’s infrastructure funding package includes more than $4 million for local councils to maintain or upgrade roads.

Following the release of the 2017-18 Federal Budget, Moore MHR Ian Goodenough said the Roads to Recovery program included almost $2.35 million for the City of Wanneroo and more than $1.96 million for the City of Joondalup.

“Each year both cities provide me with copies of their five-year forward capital works plans and I work with them towards achieving their roadwork priorities,” Mr Goodenough said.

“I know how critical federal funding is to council budgets.

“Most of these projects are shovel-ready due to be completed by the end of this year.”

Projects already funded through the program include Neerabup Road in Clarkson ($1.8 million) and the Yanchep playing fields access road ($700,000).

It is also funding upgrades to Drakeswood Road in Warwick ($232,167), Cooper Street in Madeley ($220,000), Landsdale Road ($221,400), Automotive Drive in Wangara ($45,000), Chokolich Street in Wangara ($45,000) and Carramar Road in Carramar ($39,578).

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