Joint media statement - Freeway upgrades to ease traffic pain

Commuters will enjoy a smoother run on both the Mitchell and Kwinana freeways this week with additional lanes opening and speed limits returned to 100kmh.

Construction on the Mitchell Freeway upgrade from Cedric Street to Vincent Street was finished over the long weekend and means speed limits have returned to 100kmh.

Later this week a new third lane on the Kwinana Freeway between Russell Road and Beeliar Drive will also open as well as a third and fourth lane from Berrigan Drive to Farrington Road.

More than 500 local jobs have been created across both the Mitchell and Kwinana freeways widening projects highlighting the Federal and WA Governments' commitment to local jobs.

Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the works were part of a wider transformation of Perth's roads with an unprecedented number of projects underway.

"You can see construction activity everywhere across the city, on the Kwinana Freeway, Scarborough Beach Road and Armadale Road to North Lake Road Bridge and of course the massive METRONET," Mr Tudge said.

"Making sure we are injecting much needed infrastructure funds into the WA economy and creating jobs for hard working West Australians is a top priority as we make our way out of the COVID pandemic."

Western Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the Western Australian Government continued to change Perth's roads for the better.

"Mitchell Freeway carries some of the highest traffic demands in Perth, with up to 180,000 vehicles per day and links Perth's northern suburbs to the CBD and wider metropolitan area," Ms Saffioti said.

"The widening of Kwinana Freeway northbound is the third of our congestion-reducing projects in Perth's southern suburbs to reach completion, with the activation of our Smart Freeway north of Canning Highway not far away.

"Upon completion of our Kwinana Freeway Northbound Widening and Smart Freeway project, over 15,000 current road users will save up to 21 minutes on their morning commute from Rowley Road to Narrows Bridge."

Federal Member for Stirling Vince Connelly said four continuous Mitchell Freeway southbound lanes had operated since December but improvements to median barriers between the railway line and traffic lanes had kept traffic management and reduced speed limits in place. 

"Speed limits have now returned to 100kmh with the project providing relief for morning commuters. Drivers will no longer face bottlenecks at two separate locations where the freeway used to merge from four lanes down to three," Mr Connelly said.

"This project will save 16,500 road users up to 13 minutes on their morning commute from Warwick Road to Vincent Street, which means spending more time with family and more productivity."

The Mitchell Freeway southbound widening project is jointly funded by the Australian ($32 million) and Western Australian ($8 million) governments and has created 280 jobs. 

An additional $19 million has been allocated by the State Government for the Principal Shared Path (PSP) with the new bridge and path across Scarborough Beach Road scheduled to open at the end of June.

The additional lanes opening on the Kwinana Freeway will reduce travel times and improve safety for commuters while also providing better access to key local services such as Fiona Stanley Hospital.

This will be followed in July with the opening of a new third lane for one kilometre adjacent to Cockburn Central station, upon completion of vital METRONET and pier installation works for the Armadale Road to North Lake Road Bridge project.

The Kwinana Freeway northbound widening was also jointly funded by the Australian ($39.2 million) and Western Australian ($9.8 million) governments, generating 340 jobs.

Transport Minister's office - 6552 5500