Completing Canning Bridge interchange is best transport option

9/1/02
Virtually all of the Canning Bridge bus interchange and Kwinana Freeway bus lane infrastructure will be incorporated in the South-West Metropolitan Railway System due for completion in 2006.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said her office had received some inquiries about the interchange construction.
Ms MacTiernan said the interchange project was considered carefully when the Labor Government decided to build a faster, more direct rail link between Mandurah and Perth, along the Kwinana Freeway.
"We were advised that the interchange itself could be adapted to a rail/bus facility and that the bus lanes would provide ideal formwork for the rail lines," she said.
"It also means we will be able to provide rapid bus services from Canning Bridge to the city, until the rail project is completed in 2006."
Ms MacTiernan said work on the contract for the bus lanes was so advanced that cancelling it would not have brought any significant savings.
"Now we are working to ensure that as much of the bus-related infrastructure as possible is incorporated in the master plan," she said.
The $1.2billion South-West Metropolitan Rail Project will slash 12 minutes off the travel time from Mandurah and Rockingham to the city, compared with the previous plan via Kenwick and the existing Armadale line.
Preliminary studies showed the direct service would be used by at least 2,500 extra passengers a day because of the shorter travel times.
Ms MacTiernan said she expected the master plan would be completed in February.
Minister's office: 9213 6400