The Western Australian Government has released a suite of investments under its 2020-21 State Budget which includes an overall $27 billion investment in infrastructure over the next four years.

The State Budget includes $2.39 billion for road infrastructure and maintenance, $1.43 billion to capital works and $960 million for asset management (maintenance, road safety and minor works), network operations and grants to local governments for works on local roads.

Major projects to be progressed as part of the State Budget include:
• $100 million to install Smart Freeway technology on the Mitchell Freeway between Hester Avenue and Vincent Street, including works on 16 on-ramps
• $50 million to construct a 6m-wide Causeway Cyclist and Pedestrian Bridge with dedicated pedestrian and cyclist lanes to the west of the Causeway
• $275 million to construct a 45.6km, 10m-wide sealed bypass two lane highway west of Bindoon, including connections to existing roads and overtaking lanes
• $36 million on the Great Northern Highway Port Hedland Deviation project
• As part of the WA Recovery Plan, more than $100 million has been invested towards major job-creating road projects to support local jobs and local businesses

These include:
• $7 million for the Stock Road Bridge replacement
• $16 million to improve amenity along some of Perth’s key arterial routes
• $3 million for a right turn lane upgrade at the intersection of Main Street and Royal Street, Osborne Park
• $5 million for upgrades to Kwinana Beach Road (from Patterson Road to CBH Terminal)
• $11.35 million for the Metropolitan Intersection Crash Program which targets high risk intersections with a high crash rate for improvements – annual ongoing program
• $11.5 million to upgrade and undertake pipe relocation works for intersection improvements of Albany Highway, Kelvin and Olga roads in Maddington
• $16 million towards a program for Low Cost Crash Treatments on local government roads in the metropolitan area
• An additional $40 million towards the next phase of the Stephenson Avenue Extension in the City of Stirling
• $300,000 to upgrade Old Yanchep Road through the Tourist Road Improvement Program
• $7 million for road and rail crossings upgrades on the South West Main Line in Cookernup, Coolup and Waroona

Work continues to fast track eleven major road projects across WA, as part of its Building for Tomorrow program, which will create up to 13,000 local jobs, including:
• Roe Highway/Great Eastern Highway/Abernethy Road, expected to create 1,200 jobs, with contract awarding by January 2021 and early works to commence in March – 18 months earlier than anticipated
• Stephenson Avenue Extension in Stirling, expected to create 800 jobs with phase one now under construction and phase two expressions of interest from industry brought forward six months early
• Leach Highway and Welshpool Road Interchange, expected to create 600 jobs and contract award anticipated December 2020, six months earlier than previously planned
• Tonkin Highway Gap project, expected to create 1,050 jobs with early works planned for late-October, three months ahead of schedule
• Mitchell Freeway Extension to Romeo Road, expected to create 1,200 jobs with early works planned for January 2021 and contract award due in late-2020
• Mitchell Freeway Hodges Drive to Hepburn Avenue widening, expected to create 530 jobs with early works planned for January 2021 and contract award due later this year
• Swan River Crossings (Fremantle Traffic Bridge), expected to create 1,400 jobs with early works expected late 2021, and contract due to be awarded in December 2020, six months earlier than previously scheduled
• Bunbury Outer Ring Road, expected to create 4,500 jobs, construction anticipated in January 2021, three months earlier than expected
• Albany Ring Road, expected to create 1,000 jobs with construction now underway
• Bussell Highway Duplication Stage 1 and Stage 2, to create 570 jobs with Stage 1 construction to begin in late-October
• Lloyd Street Extension expected to create 280 jobs with contract award anticipated in January 2021 and early works to commence in March, 18 months earlier than previously planned
Funding has also been allocated for the following road improvement programs:
• $49.4 million for a Safer Roads and Bridges Program
• $21.4 million for the State Black Spot Program
• $100 million for Regional State Road Safety Improvement Program, a landmark agreement negotiated with the Commonwealth Government to upgrade 1,400km of road across the state

METRONET
The State Budget includes a record $5.7 billion investment for METRONET projects.
The Budget secures the Government’s commitment to deliver projects such as the Morley-Ellenbrook Line, the Byford Rail Extension and new Midland Station.
Included in this State Budget for 2020-21 is:
• $354.5 million for the Forrestfield-Airport Link project, set to be completed in late 2021
• $275.3 million to procure 246 new locally made railcars and establish a local assembly and manufacturing facility at Bellevue
• $195 million for the Thornlie-Cockburn Link, Perth’s first east-west rail connection
• $184.7 million for the Yanchep Rail Extension, with three new train stations
• $144.6 million for removal of level crossings, including the underway Denny Avenue Level Crossing Removal Project and early works for three other crossings on the Armadale Line, with planning underway on a further three level crossings
• $207.2 million for other projects such as the Morley-Ellenbrook Line, Byford Rail Extension and Midland Station Project
• $92.3 million for the construction of the new Bayswater Station
• $31.5 million to deliver a multi-storey car park at Mandurah Station
• $16.3 million to help plan and build Lakelands Station.
METRONET public transport projects will also be supported by investment in a large number of road projects, and additional projects funded through the Public Transport Authority’s 2020-21 budget, including:
• $8 million to upgrade Cannington, Gosnells and Kelmscott stations to ensure they comply with the Disability Discrimination Act
• $7 million to upgrade level crossings on the South-West Main Line
• $1.8 million to install solar panels on up to 60 bus and train stations
• The McGowan Government has seven METRONET projects under construction this year, creating thousands of local jobs and providing opportunities for local businesses
Final negotiations for the major construction contract for the Morley-Ellenbrook Line are underway and expected to be completed soon. This is the final construction contract associated with the METRONET project.
Other major METRONET projects are in the procurement phase, with works to commence shortly, including the anticipated Byford Rail Extension, New Midland Station and the removal of three level crossings along the Inner Armadale Line.

Smart freeways
The Government has allocated $100 million to roll out smart freeway technology along the Mitchell Freeway.

The project, jointly funded by the State and Commonwealth Governments and will see coordinated ramp signals installed along 16 ramps from Hester Avenue to Vincent Street.
The technology is expected to alleviate pressure on the road network, and improve safety and connectivity for people living and working in the northern suburbs.

The technology has already had great success along the Kwinana Freeway northbound, between Roe Highway and the Narrows Bridge, with motorists saving up to ten minutes during peak hour.

More than 700 direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created over the life of the project.

Source: Link
Published: 12 October 2020