- Construction of Perth Freight Link to begin in early 2016
Largest road infrastructure project in Western Australia
Project to deliver significant social, economic and environmental benefits
The State Government will deliver on its commitment to remove heavy trucks off Leach Highway with construction of Western Australia's largest road infrastructure project - the Perth Freight Link - scheduled to start in early 2016.
Premier Colin Barnett today confirmed the State Government would invest $650 million towards the $1.575 billion project, which will remove up to 500 trucks a day from Leach Highway and provide a more efficient and direct freight line to Fremantle Port.
The Federal Government has already committed $925 million to the Perth Freight Link. The State Government's $650 million is made up of $59 million already committed to High Street upgrades and $591 million in new money.
A Heavy Vehicle User Charge - a per kilometre charge on heavy vehicles only for the freight route between Muchea and Fremantle - is planned to start once the road is finished and eventually recoup part of the cost of the project to the State.
Mr Barnett said the Perth Freight Link - which will start with the Roe 8 project and extend Roe Highway through to Stock Road - would transform the southern suburbs of Perth.
"The Perth Freight Link will complete the strategic link in Perth's road network by creating an east-west freight connection between Kewdale, Fremantle Port and southern industrial areas," the Premier said.
"This project will result in improved safety for all road users, reduced traffic congestion, fewer trucks on urban roads and significant freight industry productivity improvements.
"All works on the Perth Freight Link should be completed by mid-2019, with some of the infrastructure due to open by mid-2017 - including the first leg of the Roe Highway extension."
Mr Barnett said the link would also provide improved access for people travelling to the Fiona Stanley Hospital, St John of God Hospital, Murdoch University and Challenger Institute of Technology. It will also be of benefit to the projected 35,000 people who will work in the Murdoch precinct.
"For the communities around Leach Highway in Rossmoyne and Booragoon, it will mean fewer trucks on the road, less congestion and less noise - improving community amenity and resulting in safer neighbourhoods for families," the Premier said.
"During the life of this project, we also expect it to create 2,400 direct jobs and many more indirect jobs.
"Financial modelling shows the State's economy will benefit, with a benefit cost ratio of $2.80 return for every $1 invested, representing a $3.9 billion return for the State."
The Perth Freight Link includes:
extending Roe Highway west of the Kwinana Freeway to Stock Road in Coolbellup (Roe 8)
upgrading Stock Road through O'Connor and Willagee with grade separated interchanges at Winterfold Road, South Street and Leach Highway
upgrading Leach Highway and High Street with grade separated interchanges at Carrington Street, High Street and Marmion Street
upgrades to the southern end of Stirling Highway and improvements to High Street in Fremantle.
Transport Minister Dean Nalder said the Perth Freight Link would deliver substantial benefits to transport operators.
"Truck drivers will save an estimated nine and a half minutes per trip between the Kwinana Freeway and Fremantle, and $8.15 in vehicle operating costs. They will also bypass 14 sets of traffic lights, resulting in less delay and frustration for heavy vehicles," Mr Nalder said.
"Environmentally, significant care has been taken to minimise the project footprint. While some 38 hectares will be affected, it is proposed to purchase more than 400 hectares of native vegetation as an environmental offset.
"The project will also enhance access to the wider Beeliar wetlands area for the community by providing a network of shared paths for cyclists and pedestrians. And it will deliver savings of around 449,000 tonnes of CO² equivalent by 2031."
The Minister said the proposed Heavy Vehicle User Charge would only start once the entire link was up and running in 2019.
"The project will link-in with the $1 billion Gateway WA project and the $1.12 billion NorthLink WA (Perth to Darwin Highway) project to deliver significant benefits to the economy, industry, motorists and community," Mr Nalder said.
Construction of the project's components will be covered under two separate contracts. The first contract for the extension of Roe Highway west from Kwinana Freeway is expected to be awarded by October 2015.
The second contract to upgrade the remainder of the Perth Freight Link is expected to be awarded by November 2015. On-the-ground works are expected to begin for both contracts early in 2016.
Fact File
Premier's office - 6552 5000
Transport Minister's office - 6552 6400
