The NT Government says the Tonkin Highway Extension and Thomas Road Upgrade project will deliver jobs and safer roads. Photo: Western Australian Main Roads Department.
The Western Australian Government is forging ahead with a new road infrastructure project, promising to deliver jobs and reduce motorists’ travel times.
Worth more than $1 billion, the Tonkin Highway Extension and Thomas Road Upgrade project is one of the largest road transport infrastructure investments delivered to Perth’s south-east corridor.
The project will deliver a 14-kilometre extension of the Tonkin Highway from Thomas Road to South Western Highway, in addition to duplicating 4.5 km of Thomas Road.
Improving road safety, reducing congestion and strengthening the freight efficiency of one of the state’s fastest-growing areas are the project’s priorities.
Set for completion in late 2028, the work will:
- Provide safe and efficient travel for more than 60,000 vehicles expected to use the infrastructure daily.
- Deliver new grade-separated interchanges, roundabouts and underpasses to improve flow and reduce accidents.
- Remove thousands of heavy vehicles from local roads, reducing pressure on communities in Byford, Armadale, Kelmscott and Gosnells.
- Create new shared paths for cyclists and pedestrians along the extension, as well as equine crossings, to be designed in consultation with local users.
- Complete the METRONET Byford Rail Extension, opening on 13 October, ensuring greater and more balanced transport options for the area.
The project will also provide a significant source of employment, with 4400 new direct and indirect jobs predicted, while also creating opportunities for suppliers, First Nations businesses and contractors.
Early works such as site establishment and traffic realignments are underway, with bridge structures, interchange building and large-scale earthworks set to ramp up in the coming months.
The project is jointly funded by the State and Federal governments.
“The Albanese Government is proud to be investing $749 million in this transformative project,” Acting Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Julie Collins said.
“It will not only deliver safer, faster and more efficient connections, but also create thousands of jobs and strong opportunities for local businesses.”
