Short list for $47m freeway contract

Three engineering alliances have been shortlisted for a $47 million 'smart freeways' project that will use technology to convert the emergency lane on part of Kwinana Freeway into a full-time traffic lane.

Intelligent Transport Alliance, Perth Smart Alliance, and SmartWays Alliance have been invited to tender for the project, which involves the installation of an additional lane by converting the emergency lane from Canning Highway to the Narrows Bridge into a full-time traffic lane.

The upgrade is one component of a broader $140 million project, which also includes the widening of Kwinana Freeway northbound from Russell Road to Roe Highway at a cost of $49 million, and the $40 million widening of the Mitchell Freeway southbound from Cedric Street to Vincent Street.

ITA comprises CPB Contractors, Lendlease Services, SICE and Jacobs Engineering; PSA is an alliance between Georgiou Group and WSP; while SA includes BMD Constructions, Venita and Arup.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the technology in use had proved successful around the world for managing congestion, improving safety and getting the most out of existing infrastructure.

“This is a state first, with the upgrade the first use of smart freeways technology in Perth,” she said.

Federal Member for Swan Steve Irons said the freeway project formed part of the $2.3 billion WA Infrastructure Package.

“The project from Canning Highway to the Narrows Bridge will allow us to create additional freeway capacity along this critical corridor and will be complemented with ramp signals at Farrington Road, South Street, Leach Highway and Cranford Avenue,” he said

“These will balance the flow of traffic onto the freeway and ease stop-start conditions.”

Federal Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said the smart freeway project was expected to cut journey times by up to 10 minutes.