Wanneroo Council report highlights concerns about Wanneroo Rd-Ocean Reef Rd interchange

THE Wanneroo Road-Ocean Reef Road interchange could had a detrimental impact on local roads, according to the City of Wanneroo.

A report tabled at this week’s council briefing session outlines potential impacts the $65 million flyover will have on the surrounding road network.

Main Roads awarded a contract to the WBHO SRG Joint Venture to build the interchange, which will take Wanneroo Road over Ocean Reef Road. Construction is expected to finish in mid-2020.

At the February 26 briefing, City assets director Harminder Singh said traffic modelling indicated the level of service would improve for the majority of intersections.

However, Mr Singh said there had been community concern about the effect on roads in Regents Estate, particularly Backshall Place and Villanova Street. Main Roads plans to make the latter a left-turn only junction on Wanneroo Road and create a U-turn point about 200m north.

Mr Singh said the City was concerned it would not cater for large vehicles, including trucks, as the proposed U-turn was limited to vehicles up to 8.8m long.

Councillor Dot Newton asked whether traffic modelling looked at how people would get from Villanova Street across two lanes of traffic to do the U-turn and said she “couldn’t see it being safe”.

Mr Singh said modelling by Main Roads suggested cars could merge into the traffic and there would be enough breaks in traffic for them to change lanes.

He said the City had asked Main Roads to look at opening Calabrese Avenue onto Wanneroo Road and installing traffic signals at the intersection with East Road.

The recommendation for the March 5 meeting seeks council support for the mayor to write to the transport and planning minister asking that Main Roads to consider the concerns raised and communicate more often with the local community.

For more information, visit project.mainroads.wa.gov.au .