Kwinana Freeway Widening Project, Australia

Kwinana Freeway is a 78km road connecting Perth in Western Australia with the northern suburbs and Fremantle port. The widening of a 4.5km section of the freeway between Leach and Roe motorways began on 25 July 2011.

It is managed by Main Roads Western Australia and sponsored by Federal and Western Australian governments.

The Kwinana Freeway was built during the 1970s and carries about 107,000 vehicles a day.

On completion of the widening, the traffic on the freeway is expected to increase to 110,000 vehicles a day by 2016 and 131,000 by 2031.

Kwinana Freeway Widening project

The widening was undertaken because the existing two lanes on the road are congested during peak traffic times and it is unable to handle its growing traffic.

Expansion of the south-west corridor, construction of the Fiona Stanley Hospital, extension of the freeway to Mandurah and access of freight vehicles from the Port of Fremantle contributed to the need for the freeway widening.

The $58m freeway widening project between Leach Highway and Roe Highway involves adding an extra lane in each direction.

The widened road will not only handle the growing traffic, it will ensure increased levels of road safety, and reduce travel time and fuel consumption.

The project will also help improve the safety and transport efficiency of vessels coming to and from Fremantle port.

It will enable better access for the residents of Cockburn and Melville cities on to the motorway as well as provide better access to Fiona Stanley Hospital and Murdoch Activity Centre.

Contracts for the Kwinana Freeway widening

In June 2011, Highway Construction was awarded the $58m motorway widening construction contract. The project started on 25 July 2011 and is expected to be completed by May 2012.

It involves upgrading 4.5km length of the motorway from Leach Highway to Roe Highway. It requires the existing two-lane road to be widened to three lanes in both directions.

Noise walls, screen walls and a new intersection at South Street and a new road at Fiona Wood will also be constructed.

The project involves resurfacing the ramps, pavement marking, drainage and lighting, landscaping and revegetation. Additional works include realigning the northbound exit ramp, modifying the footpath and shared paths, and building a new pedestrian underpass.

The motorway will be extended to Barry Marshall Parade and the signalised intersection at South Street will be modified.

The works are initially being carried out during the night until 8 August 2011, after which they will be also be carried out during the day.

Preliminary works involve the construction of ramps and the southbound carriageway on Leach Highway, adjusting the line markings on the existing road and providing narrower lanes for ensuring adequate distance between the construction works on the motorway and traffic on the road.

Financing the project

The overall estimated cost of the Kwinana freeway widening project is $58m. It will be funded by federal and Western Australian Governments equally.

The Australian Government released $350m under the Nation Building Programme - National Projects, which covers the Kwinana freeway widening project.

Traffic management systems

During the construction period the speed limit of the Kwinana Freeway is 80km per hour throughout the road.

Tow trucks will be provided in peak traffic times to rescue broken down vehicles and to ensure no disruption to the free flow of traffic and construction works.

Traffic management on the road during the widening process will be managed by Construction Reference Group, which will also identify issues relating to the project and provide inputs to the project design.