NorthLink WA

NorthLink WA was a road construction project in Perth, Western Australia, that saw 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 were separately funded, with both the state and federal governments contributing to each project. Construction commenced in June 2016 and was completed on 23 April 2020.[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

Western Australia
Map of Perth's north with the proposed bypass in dashed orange, and the existing Great Northern Highway in blue
General information
TypeHighway
Major junctions
South end
 
North end
Location(s)
Major suburbsEllenbrook, Bullsbrook, Muchea
Highway system

The Perth Darwin National Highway (PDNH) Swan Valley Bypass is a highway built to bypass the Great Northern Highway within Perth. From the junction of Reid Highway and Tonkin Highway at Malaga, it heads north towards Ellenbrook, and continues 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 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] Construction was completed on 23 April 2020.[11]

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 two-level roundabout interchange with Hepburn Avenue and Beechboro Road North. Onwards from there is the Baal Street flyover, then at the planned interchange with the Whiteman/Yanchep Highway, the highway veers northeast, meeting up with a partial cloverleaf interchange with Gnangara Road. The highway then follows the edge of Ellenbrook, having a two-level roundabout interchange with The Promenade.[12]

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 Midland railway line, and the current Brand Highway, before ending at a roundabout interchange with Great Northern Highway and a new Brand Highway.[13]

See also

 Australian roads portal

References
  1. https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2019/12/Joint-media-statement-Northlink-WA-northern-section-opening-date.aspx
  2. "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.
  3. "Tonkin Highway Grade Separation Program" (PDF). Nation Building Program. Commonwealth of Australia. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2013.
  4. 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.
  5. "Perth Darwin National Highway Planning Study (Reid Highway to Maralla Road)" (PDF). Main Road Western Australia. June 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  6. Frank, Caroline (30 May 2012). "New Darwin route". The Advocate. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2012.
  7. "Stage 2 Contract awarded for NorthLink WA". Media Statements. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  8. "Stage 3 contract awarded for NorthLink WA". Media Statements. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  9. "Construction of the central section kicks off". Main Roads Western Australia. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  10. "Timeline". Main Roads Western Australia. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
  11. "$1b NorthLink WA road project now open". Business News Australia. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  12. "Northlink WA Ultimate Case" (PDF). Main Roads Western Australia. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  13. "Northern Section Concept Plan" (PDF). Main Roads Western Australia. Retrieved 20 June 2017.

Further reading

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