The Hon Gary Gray AO
Special Minister of State
Minister for the Public Service and Integrity
Member for Brand
GG 76/12
20 December 2012
People travelling today from the southern suburbs on Kwinana Freeway had an easier and faster trip with the opening of an additional north-bound lane this morning.
The opening marks the completion of the $58 million Kwinana Freeway widening project which has seen the freeway expand from two to three lanes in each direction for 4.5 kilometres between the Leach Highway and the Roe Highway intersections.
Federal Minister Gary Gray was today on site to officially open the new north-bound lane. The south-bound lane opened in June this year.
Mr Gray said the Federal Labor Government had recognised the pressure on the freeway and the need for the upgrade to accommodate increasing traffic.
“As part of our long term planning for WA, the Federal Labor Government is investing massively in transport infrastructure in the State. The Federal Labor Government has invested more money into roads in WA than any Federal Government ever has before,” Mr Gray said.
“The freeway is a major arterial road that not only services the growing southern suburbs of Perth, but it also provides a key link from Perth to Mandurah and the South West.
“We are expecting the traffic volumes on this section of freeway to significantly increase from 53,000 vehicles per day to 61,000 per day by 2016. This includes a large number of heavy vehicles.
“Adding another lane in each direction on the Kwinana Freeway will see the road keep up with growth and it is also aimed at reducing the number of traffic accidents.”
In the five years to the end of 2011, there were 176 crashes on this section of freeway and 126 were rear-end crashes. It is hoped that the new lanes will dramatically decrease the number of rear-end collisions.
“In any case, I would encourage all road users to be extra careful over the Christmas period and to watch your speed, don’t drink and drive and make sure you and your family reach your destination safely,” Mr Gray said.
The $58 million Kwinana Freeway widening project was funded on a 50-50 per cent basis by the Federal and Western Australian governments.
Under the Nation Building Program, the Federal Labor Government is investing more than $3.7 billion in WA’s land transport infrastructure through the Nation Building Program (2008-09 to 2013-14).
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