The state government has launched a $1.52 billion major roads package as part of the 2019-20 state budget, and announced a $415 million funding boost for Metronet.
The state government has launched a $1.52 billion major roads package as part of the 2019-20 state budget, and announced a $415 million funding boost for Metronet.
The major roads package is comprised of eight road projects throughout the Tonkin Highway corridor.
In a statement, the government said the Tonkin Highway Transformation package would address the bottleneck on Tonkin Highway that stretched across the Swan River from Guildford Road to Great Eastern Highway.
It said the package added to the 20 major road projects that were under way or about to start construction across the Perth metropolitan area.
A further $156 million is already committed for eastern suburban projects, including completing the Reid Highway duplication and the Roe Highway-Kalamunda Road interchange.
The government said the Tonkin Highway Transformation package was set to get under way in 2020, and create 5,200 jobs.
The Roe Highway package of projects will also start in 2020, creating 1,050 jobs:
The Tonkin Highway extension from Thomas Road to South Western Highway in Mundijong is the largest project, and is set to receive $101 million from the state government and $404 million from the federal government.
Premier Mark McGowan said the package of transformation projects was a signature component of the 2019-20 budget.
"We're getting things done and delivering record funding for roads due to my government's responsible financial management and success in securing Commonwealth funding,” he said.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the projects were entwined with its election commitments for Metronet.
"The Tonkin Highway Gap project, for example, will be built to accommodate the Morley-Ellenbrook Line, fixing a well-known bottleneck and enabling Metronet works to coincide with road construction,” she said.
Today, opposition spokesperson for infrastructure, Anthony Albanese, said a Labor federal government would partner with the state government to eliminate six level crossings on the Armadale Rail Line.
This work is part of the upgrade and modernisation of the Armadale Line, which will link with the new Thornlie-Cockburn Line as part of the Metronet public transport project.
Mr Albanese said currently the boom gates at these six level crossings closed between 200 and 300 times a day, each time for up to two minutes.
“Eliminating those delays will ease the frustration of motorists and facilitate the faster movement of people and goods around the city,” he said.
The total federal contribution to these projects would be $415 million, with $207.5 million over the next four years.
