NorthLink WA
NorthLink WA is a road construction project in Perth, Western Australia, that will see both the northern section of Tonkin Highway upgraded, and the road extended northwards as the Swan Valley Bypass, to bypass Great Northern Highway. These two component projects are separately funded, with both the state and federal governments contributing to each project. Construction commenced in June 2016 with completion expected by 2019.[1]
Tonkin Highway Upgrade
The federal government has allocated $140.6 million to grade-separate Tonkin Highway's intersections with Benara Road, Morley Drive and Collier Road. The funding is part of the five-year phase of the Nation Building Program from 2014–15 to 2018–19. The upgrades are intended to improve freight transportation along the highway.[2] The total cost is expected to be $281.2 million.[3] In the lead up to the 2013 Australian federal election, which resulted in a change a government, the Labor candidate for Perth, Alannah MacTiernan, accused the then-opposition's candidate of lying to the electorate over their commitment to the upgrade.[4] The official policy costings did not contain specific funding for the project. However, an opposition spokesperson claimed it was "in the current forward estimates", and not in the costing, as the upgrade was neither a "new and accelerated" project, nor a project that would definitely not be funded.[4]
Swan Valley Bypass
Swan Valley Bypass | |
---|---|
Map of Perth's north with the proposed bypass in dashed orange, and the existing Great Northern Highway in blue | |
General information | |
Type | Highway (Proposed) |
Major junctions | |
South end |
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| |
North end |
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Location(s) | |
Major suburbs | Ballajura, Ellenbrook, Bullsbrook |
Highway system | |
The proposed Perth Darwin National Highway (PDNH) Swan Valley Bypass is a planned new highway to bypass Great Northern Highway within Perth. From the junction of Reid Highway and Tonkin Highway at Malaga, it will head north towards Ellenbrook, and continue on to Great Northern Highway and Brand Highway in Muchea.[5] The previously planned route of the PDNH, prior to 2012, followed Lord Street, east of Whiteman Park.[6] The state and federal governments have allocated funding to the project, with contracts for the central section awarded to the Great Northern Connect Team on 12 January 2017,[7] and contracts for the northern section awarded to CPB contractors on 30 January 2017.[8] Construction started on the central section on 12 June 2017,[9] and construction on the northern section planned to start late 2017,[10] with construction set to be complete mid 2019 for both sections.
Route
Central section
This section starts at the Reid Highway/Tonkin Highway interchange, which will be upgraded to a cloverstack interchange. Following, to the north, is the Marshall Road flyover. Then a 2 level roundabout interchange with Hepburn Avenue and Beechboro Road North. Onwards from there is the Baal Road flyover, then at the planned interchange with the Whiteman/Yanchep Highway, the highway veers northeast, Meeting up with a parclo interchange with Gnangara Road. The highway then follows the edge of Ellenbrook, having a 2 level roundabout interchange with The Promenade.[11]
Northern section
This section was originally planned to be a 2 lane single carriageway with at-grade intersections, but because costs went down, it was changed so it can be constructed as a 4 lane dual carriageway with grade separated interchanges. Continuing on from the roundabout interchange with The Promenade in Ellenbrook, it goes north, passing built up areas in Ellenbrook, then going through rural areas. Along the way are roundabout interchanges with Stock Road and Neaves Road, and a flyover over Muchea South Road and the railway line, and the current Brand Highway, before ending at a roundabout interchange with Great Northern Highway and a new Brand Highway.[12]
See also
- Gateway WA – project to upgrade Tonkin Highway and other roads near Perth Airport
- Perth Freight Link - project to provide a freeway link to the Fremantle port, bypassing Leach Highway
References
- ^ https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Barnett/2016/06/Sod-turned-on-non-stop-northern-transport-route.aspx
- ^ "Building and Planning for Western Australia's Future". Commonwealth of Australia. 14 May 2013. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
- ^ "Tonkin Highway Grade Separation Program". Nation Building Program. Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
- ^ a b Hopkin, Michael (5 September 2013). "Alannah MacTiernan: Libs lied over Tonkin Highway funding". Western Advocate. Bathurst, New South Wales. Archived from the original on 29 September 2013. Retrieved 29 September 2013.
{{cite news}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ "Perth Darwin National Highway Planning Study (Reid Highway to Maralla Road)". Main Road Western Australia. June 2013. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
{{cite web}}
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suggested) (help) - ^ Frank, Caroline (30 May 2012). "New Darwin route". The Advocate. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
{{cite news}}
: Unknown parameter|deadurl=
ignored (|url-status=
suggested) (help) - ^ "Stage 2 Contract awarded for NorthLink WA". Media Statements. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Stage 3 contract awarded for NorthLink WA". Media Statements. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Construction of the central section kicks off". Main Roads Western Australia. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Timeline". Main Roads Western Australia. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- ^ "Northlink WA Ultimate Case" (PDF). Main Roads Western Australia. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
- ^ "Northern Section Concept Plan" (PDF). Main Roads Western Australia. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
Further reading
- "Promise check: $615m to build the Swan Valley Bypass". Fact Check. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 13 August 2014. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- "NorthLink WA Update". Northern Valleys News. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- "New direction in funding fight". Midland Reporter. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- "Land bought for Swan Valley bypass". The West Australian. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- "Still some surveys needed". Echo News. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
- "GST compensation funds roads from Valley to Muchea". The Advocate. Retrieved 4 June 2015.