- More than $600 million allocated for eastern suburbs road improvements
- 3,600 jobs to be created from the eastern suburbs road projects
- Thornlie Line to be extended to Cockburn as part of METRONET
The McGowan Government has secured more than $600 million in funding for six congestion-busting road projects for Perth's eastern suburbs.
The six projects will fix congestion hotspots on major roads through the eastern suburbs and will create 3,600 jobs during construction.
Many of the projects were integral election commitments and the McGowan Government is eager to deliver them to the eastern suburbs as efficiently as possible.
Funding for the projects is the result of a new Commonwealth-State $2.3 billion agreement that includes the full relocation of funding from the cancelled Perth Freight Link project.
An initial program of 17 new projects will provide employment to more than 6,000 people
Federal funding for METRONET has also been secured with a combined $1.2 billion allocated to its delivery, including the rail extension between Thornlie and Cockburn.
The upgrade of Armadale Road to a dual carriageway between Tapper Road and Anstey Road is one of three projects resulting in the renegotiation of the Roe 8 contract, with works brought forward to begin this year.
In recent weeks, the McGowan Government has worked with Main Roads Western Australia, the Roe 8 Alliance and the Commonwealth Government to bring forward alternative road projects to safeguard jobs for the local contractors and suppliers.
The newly announced program of works is being delivered on top of existing eastern suburban road projects such as NorthLink WA and New Lord Street, which will further improve traffic flow.
The NorthLink WA project involves the duplication of Reid Highway to Altone Road, while the further upgrades included in the latest roads package will upgrade the remaining single lane section between Altone Road and West Swan Road.
Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:
"We are dedicated to getting on with our election commitment to create jobs and cut congestion in the eastern suburbs - this program of works is testament to that commitment.
"The eastern suburbs network will be further enhanced by the future extension of METRONET from Thornlie to Cockburn, the start of the new Circle Line."
Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"This investment will improve safety and travel times for major road connections servicing Perth's eastern suburbs while creating upwards of 3,000 jobs.
"These upgrades will deliver our key election commitments and are additional to current congestion-busting projects like NorthLink WA and New Lord Street.
"The duplication of Armadale Road between Anstey Road and Tapper Road, a distance of nearly 10 kilometres, will cost $145 million and create up to 850 jobs.
"Aside from safety improvements, the project will increase network capacity and support further urban developments in Byford and Mundijong as well as industrial developments in Forrestdale."
Eastern suburbs projects:
Armadale Road Dual Carriageway - Anstey Road to Tapper Road
Cost estimate: $145 million
Jobs created: 850
Armadale Road to North Lake Road Bridge
Cost estimate: $237 million
Jobs created: 1,400
METRONET - Denny Avenue: Level Crossing Removal
Cost estimate: $62 million
Jobs created: 350
Roe Highway/Kalamunda Road Intersection
Cost estimate: $86 million
Jobs created: 600
Reid Highway Dual Carriageway - Altone Road to West Swan Road
Cost estimate: $70 million
Jobs created: 400
Hale Road/Woolworths Drive Intersection upgrade
Cost estimate: $900,000
Premier's office - 6552 5000
Transport Minister's office - 6552 5500
