Thomas Road upgrade
Funding has also been provided for extending Tonkin Highway from Thomas Road. Credit: Raychan on Unsplash.

The Government of Western Australia (WA) and the Australian Government have agreed to jointly work on the A$100m ($73m) transformation of Thomas Road in Perth’s south-eastern suburbs.

The Thomas Road upgrade is expected to enhance the safety of commuters using this busy road on a daily basis.

Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said: “My government’s number one priority has always been local jobs and this transformation of Thomas Road will provide numerous employment opportunities, as well as benefits to local businesses, supporting our economy through Covid-19.

“The population of Byford is set to boom over the coming decade and it’s important we properly plan for that growth with the infrastructure for tomorrow.”

The governments have also allocated additional funding of A$30m for upgrading the intersection of Thomas Road and Kargotich Road in Oakford.

The government funding will also be used for shoulder widening work on Thomas Road between Cumming Road and Tonkin Highway.

Two new roundabouts will be built at the intersection of Thomas Road and Nicholson Road to enhance safety and improve traffic flow.

The governments have also allocated more than A$500m for extending Tonkin Highway from Thomas Road in Oakford to South Western Highway, south-east of Mundijong.

This extension is expected to provide better connectivity to residential areas, industry, the airport and the freeway.

Construction work is expected to begin for this project in 2021, subject to environmental and statutory approvals.

Work on a new bridge on Thomas Road over the existing rail corridor has also been initiated.

The bridge will feature two lanes in each direction and will support the extension of the Armadale Line by around 8km down to Byford.

Being built with an investment of A$52m, the bridge project is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

In addition, plans for a dual carriageway on the 1km section of Thomas Road immediately east of Kwinana Freeway are also underway.

WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said: “These upgrades will completely transform the area and improve safety and efficiency for the thousands of drivers who use Thomas Road every day.

“The removal of the Thomas Road level crossing is the first step in the Byford Rail Extension, which will give people in Byford better connections to work, school and fun.”