- McGowan Government gives Mitchell Freeway extension the green light
- Detailed planning work and stakeholder consultation now underway
- 1,200 jobs to be created during the construction phase
- Construction set to start by late 2020 after State Government commits $107.5 million
Work will start on the new Mitchell Freeway extension to Alkimos next year.
The $215 million project will create 1,200 new jobs and see the freeway extended 5.6 kilometres from Hester Avenue to Romeo Road.
The project has been planned for years as the next extension of the Mitchell Freeway, and now the McGowan Government has given it the green light to cater for the population boom in Perth's outer northern coastal suburbs.
The suburbs of Yanchep, Alkimos and Eglinton - which had a population of about 3,000 people in 2006 - are now home to about 30,000 people.
State Government population forecasts indicate the area will be home to about 118,000 people by 2031 - about 1.5 times Mandurah's population of around 80,000.
The freeway extension to Romeo Road is the latest of a series of northern suburbs road and rail projects announced under the McGowan Government, including:
- METRONET's Yanchep Rail Extension (starts late 2019);
- Wanneroo Road widening to Flynn Drive (underway);
- Wanneroo Road-Ocean Reef Road interchange (underway);
- Wanneroo Road-Joondalup Drive interchange (underway);
- Mitchell Freeway southbound widening from Cedric Street to Vincent Street (underway); and
- Marmion Avenue Dual Carriageway from Butler to Yanchep (underway).
Included in the project scope will be a new interchange at Lukin Drive, a new road connecting Romeo Road between Marmion Avenue and Wanneroo Road, and completion of the current interchange at Hester Avenue.
Wanneroo Road will also be upgraded to a dual carriageway for 1.8 kilometres from Romeo Road to Trian Road in Carabooda.
Meanwhile, cyclists and pedestrians will also benefit from a new principal shared path on the western side of the freeway extension.
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
"This project will be a key component of this Government's plan to boost the economy and create jobs - this project alone will create at least 1,200 jobs.
"Just like our METRONET, school, hospital and other road projects, we are creating a pipeline of work to create new jobs for Western Australians.
"I spend around two hours commuting to and from work each day, so I know how important a free run of traffic is.
"This project will mean thousands of mums and dads will be able to get home faster in our growing northern suburbs."
Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"About 8,000 new residents are moving into the City of Wanneroo each year. For too long governments have sat back and waited until a problem reaches breaking point.
"This Government is getting on with the job and building the job-creating infrastructure for the future.
"This project will take pressure off Wanneroo Road and Marmion Avenue and reduce travel times for motorists.
"Transport links in the outer northern suburbs are going to transform over the next few years, with this project and the METRONET extension to Yanchep."
Premier's office - 6552 5000
Transport Minister's office - 6552 5500
