Changes to Mitchell Freeway

Motorists using Mitchell Freeway over the weekend can expect to see a number of changes.

The Lake Monger off-ramp for north-bound vehicles and the Lake Monger on-ramp for north bound-vehicles will be closed from about 12 noon on Saturday (June 20) to 7 am Sunday (June 21).

This will enable work to be carried out to open the new northbound lanes on the freeway from Loftus Street to Hutton Street at 7 am on Sunday.

The closure of the ramps means that drivers who want to exit at Lake Monger Drive will have to continue north and exit at Powis Street.

Traffic along Grantham Street, Lake Monger Drive and Vincent Street wanting to go north on to the freeway will have to use Harbourne Street or other alternative routes to access the freeway at Hutton Street.

Transport Minister Pam Beggs today said the weekend also would see the first traffic on the new bridge at Ocean Reef Road which would be partially opened on Sunday morning.

This would enable work to begin on removing a plug of earth in the freeway median to facilitate construction of the railway to Joondalup.

Mrs Beggs said the new northbound carriageway on the Mitchell Freeway between Loftus and Hutton Streets would be open to traffic from 7 am on Sunday.

The new lanes had been installed over the past 18 months as part of the $275 million northern suburbs rapid transit system.

The project had involved installing seven new bridges for road and rail traffic and three pedestrian footbridges.

Mrs Beggs said the opening of the 5 km section would enable the railway to be built in the median strip.

The next phase of roadworks on the freeway would involve an additional lane in each direction north of Hutton Street to Erindale Road.

The existing freeway surface would be modified to upgrade the southbound carriageway.

Mrs Beggs said Main Roads would also install a dual use path down both sides of the freeway from Powis to Vincent Streets and then to Loftus Street.

The path would then run down the eastern side of the freeway to James Street and would give walkers, joggers and cyclists safe access into the city.