Joint media statement - Expressions of Interest called for Tonkin Highway interchanges

The transformation of Tonkin Highway continues to progress, with an Expression of Interest released today for contractors to tender for upgrades planned south of Roe Highway.

The project will see grade-separated interchanges constructed at Hale Road and Welshpool Road, and the highway widened to a six-lane dual carriageway between Roe Highway and north of Kelvin Road, improving safety and reducing delays along the heavily congested route.

A Principal Shared Path will also be added to the eastern side of Tonkin Highway with shared path connections to adjacent communities.

Tonkin Highway is a key transport corridor connecting the city's industrial centres including international ports, airports, intermodal rail freight terminals and major industrial lands. More than 50,000 vehicles use this section of Tonkin Highway every day, of which 13 per cent are heavy vehicles. 

Due to this travel demand, congestion is high and growing, with Tonkin Highway projected to have the fifth-highest 'delay cost' of all major road corridors across Western Australia by 2031.

A Design and Construct Contract is expected to be awarded in mid-2025, with construction to start in late 2025.

The project is expected to support around 2,500 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase.

The $366 million project is jointly funded by the Australian ($293 million) and State ($73 million) governments.

Development work is also ongoing for an interchange at Kelvin Road to be delivered in the future, following environmental approvals.

Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

"Our Government is busy at work delivering on what WA needs for the future.

"Right across the State we're investing in roads and infrastructure which will improve travel times and safety, and Tonkin Highway will be an important addition to that suite of upgrades.

"It will also create thousands of jobs in the local community and unlock training opportunities for Western Australians wanting to obtain new skills."

Quotes attributed to WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:

"The Tonkin Highway Interchanges project forms part of our broader Tonkin Highway Transformation program, to support long-term transport and infrastructure planning along Perth's eastern road corridor.

"This stretch of Tonkin Highway is a notorious bottleneck, particularly the intersection with Welshpool Road which regularly rates as one of the worst for congestion.

"Tonkin Highway is a major freight route in the Perth metropolitan region, but with significant congestion, our Government is taking action to make this road smoother, safer and more efficient.

"This project will complement the Tonkin Gap Project, which recently reached completion, and is providing commuters with faster travel times and a safer journey.

"This important upgrade project will improve safety and the movement of freight and people by creating free-flowing traffic conditions."

Quotes attributed to Federal Member for Burt Matt Keogh:

"I've been advocating for years on behalf of our community to make Tonkin Highway faster and safer, and I'm glad the Albanese and Cook Labor Governments are working together on this important project for Perth's South Eastern suburbs.

"The congestion on Tonkin Highway has been increasing for years, these upgrades will make a massive difference for our growing community. I can't wait to see works get underway.

"Only Labor is making the infrastructure investments we need to build a better Burt."

Quotes attributed to State Member for Forrestfield Stephen Price:

"People in my community are heavily impacted by the congestion build up along this section of Tonkin Highway, which is why it's critical we take action to make travel on this road smoother and safer for all.

"Whilst these changes will significantly improve this section of Tonkin Highway, they will cause some disruption from mid-2025, so we will be engaging closely with the community to inform them about likely impacts."