NWCH is now OPEN to all traffic
[30 January 2012]
Road users are advised that North West Coastal Highway has been reopened to all traffic in the Gascoyne Region.
Road users should remain vigilant and reduce speeds as emergency personnel and machinery continues to work in the area.
Police will be monitoring driver behaviour through the area.
Main Roads WA would like to thank road users for their patience during the road closure and apologise for any inconveniences cause and appreciate the cooperation of all road users.
For all road closure related enquiries please call 138 138 or email enquiries@mainroads.wa.gov.au.
For road information around Western Australia please visit our our WA_Roads Twitter page (www.twitter.com/wa_roads).
For bush fire updates, please visit the
website (www.fesa.wa.gov.au/alerts/Pages/default.aspx) or call 1300 657 209.
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Brand Highway and Indian Ocean Drive are now OPEN
[27 January (updated 30 January)]
In the Mid West region, road users are advised that the following roads are now open to all traffic:
Road users should remain vigilant and reduce speeds as emergency personnel and machinery continues to work in the vicinity of Mt Adams on the Brand Highway.
We apologise for any inconvenience and we appreciate your co-operation in this matter.
For further information please call our Customer Information Centre on 138 138 or email enquiries@mainroads.wa.gov.au.
For road information around Western Australia please visit our our WA_Roads Twitter page (www.twitter.com/wa_roads).
For bush fire updates, please visit the
website (www.fesa.wa.gov.au/alerts/Pages/default.aspx) or call 1300 657 209.
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WA_roads - Find Regional Main Roads Information on Twitter now
[13 January 2012]
In the aim to provide a wider customer service to all WA road users, we would like to announce the launch of the WA_Roads Twitter account.
This service will provide all users information about incidents and disruptions on main roads in regional WA.
Follow us now at www.twitter.com/WA_roads. You can also check our updates for free by simply visiting the page.
For information on the Perth metropolitan road network, please follow us on Perth traffic twitter (www.twitter.com/perth_traffic).
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Volunteers Clean-up Freeway Reserve
Late last year, some 40 hard working volunteers scoured nine kilometres of Kwinana Freeway road reserve and picked up more than 100 bags of rubbish.
Keep Australia Beautiful WA Council Chair Mel Hay said the litter drive had been organised by KABC with the help of Main Roads WA and was carried out on both sides of Kwinana Freeway between the Narrows Bridge and Cranford Avenue.
“Unfortunately, roadside litter is still a major problem in Western Australia with Main Roads collecting 260 tonnes each year in the metropolitan area at a cost of $1.5million,” Mr Hay said.
“In the period leading up to CHOGM, Main Roads crews were clearing some 22 tonnes of road-side rubbish in the metropolitan area each month.
“Hopefully, through the actions of KABC and very public litter drives like this one, we can create greater community awareness of the problem and hopefully move to correct it.”
Mr Hay said that while there had been a significant reduction in littering in WA over the last six years, the State was still the second worst nationally for littering.
“According to the National Litter Index, Western Australians were discarding 13 litres of rubbish per 1000 square metres in 2007/08,” he said.
“Last year the volume of littered items had dropped to nine litres per 1000 square metres, but was still high nationally and second only to New South Wales which recorded 10.7 litres.
“By volume, litter in WA is more than double that of Victoria which demonstrates that the litter problem here continues to be greater in magnitude than most other States.”
Mr Hay urged members of the public to report litterers.
“Anyone can call the Litter Report Scheme hotline to make a complaint or even become registered ‘litter reporters’,” Mr Hay said.
“The scheme is backed by the Government’s tough new littering penalties.”
To report littering or to register as a reporter call 1300 766 541 or visit the Keep Australia Beautiful WA Council website (www.kabc.wa.gov.au).
The Department of Environment and Conservation provides administrative, logistical and policy support to the Keep Australia Beautiful Council WA. The program is supported by the Waste Authority through the Waste Avoidance and Resource Recovery Account
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Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2012-2016 (DAIP) is available now
[12 December 2011]
The updated Disability Access and Inclusion Plan 2012-2016 (DAIP) (28 page PDF 508 KB) will ensure people with disabilities have the same opportunities as other people to:
- access the services of, and any events organised by Main Roads;
- access the buildings and other facilities of Main Roads;
- receive information from Main Roads in a format that will enable them to access the information as readily as other people are able to access it;
- receive the same level and quality of service from the staff of Main Roads as other people receive;
- make complaints to Main Roads;
- participate in any public consultation by Main Roads; and
- access employment at Main Roads.
Please visit the Disability Access and Inclusion Plan page for further information.
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$3m Black Spot funding to upgrade Tonkin Highway-Morley Drive intersection
[7 December 2011]
The Honourable Minister for Transport, Troy Buswell has announced the allocated $3m of Black Spot funds for a major upgrade of the busy Tonkin Highway-Morley Drive intersection (www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=146717).
Funded through the State Government’s 2011-2012 Black Spot program, this project will include important modifications to the traffic signals and pedestrian facilities, as well as drainage and street lighting improvements along both Tonkin Highway and Morley Drive.
The project should take about six months to complete and will:
- Reduce the number of rear end crashes at the intersection;
- Improve safety for pedestrians, cyclists and motorists;
- Improve safety for all vehicles making left-turn movements; and
- Improve the turning angles for heavy vehicles and trucks.
Please visit the Tonkin Highway - Morley Drive Intersection Upgrade project page for more information about the project.
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Reid Highway/Mirrabooka Avenue Black Spot Eliminated
[15 November 2011]
On Sunday 13 November the Honourable Minister for Transport, Troy Buswell officially opened the new Reid Highway bridges over Mirrabooka Avenue (www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=146084), one month ahead of schedule.
The intersection of Reid Highway and Mirrabooka Avenue is one of one of West Australia's most notorious black spots in the metropolitan area. With more than 60,000 vehicles using this intersection every day (expected to rise to 85,000 by 2015), its poor safety record is largely due to the high speed environment on Reid Highway, the downhill approaches to the intersection and the high traffic volumes.
The new overpass on Reid Highway at Mirrabooka Avenue will reduce traffic conflicts and delays and significantly improve safety and efficiency.
Please visit Reid Highway/Mirrabooka Avenue Overpass project page for more information about the project.
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Main Roads Achieves International Recognition for Sustainability
[7 November 2011]
Main Roads WA has achieved international recognition for its 2011 Annual Report’s public sustainability reporting and accountability processes.
Main Roads Managing Director Menno Henneveld said today that the State road agency had attained recognition for its reporting processes against the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) - the first Australian Public Sector agency to achieve such an accolade.
The GRI was created in the late 1990’s and is a network-based organisation that produces a comprehensive sustainability reporting framework now widely used around the world. Reports based on the GRI Framework are used to demonstrate organisational commitment to sustainable development, to compare organisational performance over time, to measure organisational performance and to promote a standardised approach to reporting, ranging from ‘A status’ which reflects a high level of disclosure to ‘C status’ for ‘beginners’.
“Main Roads first publically reported its progress against the GRI framework in its 2009 Annual Report as has continued to improve its practices and performance which has culminated in the agency attaining both third party accreditation and GRI checked ‘B status’ for its 2011 Annual Report,” Mr Henneveld said.
“Last year 395 international organisations attained a GRI checked status and of these just 11 were Australian companies.”
“GRI checked organisations represent some of the largest companies in the world and for Main Roads to be able to compare its approaches to sustainability and accountability against these multinational organisations emphasises the value and importance of this achievement.”
The Main Roads Annual Report 2011 is now available to view.
Please visit the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) website (www.globalreporting.org) for further information about a reporting framework.
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Eelup Roundabout Southbound Traffic Slip Lane to Open 27 October
[27 October 2011]
Main Roads WA today opened the new southbound traffic slip lane at Bunbury’s Eelup roundabout – a day ahead of the Queen’s birthday long weekend.
The slip lane is the first step in the $16m – Stage 1 upgrade of Eelup roundabout which will see the site signalised. The future Stage 2 of the upgrade will eventually see a flyover constructed. The slip lane will assist travellers heading south for the long weekend by enabling drivers to avoid the roundabout.
Eelup roundabout carries an average of 40,000 vehicles per day and has the highest crash rate in Western Australia.
Figure 1. The first vehicle to use the Eelup traffic slip lane at Bunbury today.
Please visit the Eelup Roundabout project page for further information about the project.
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Customer Charter Index (CCI) results now available
[20 October 2011]
In July this year, we launched our new Customer Service Charter. This document outlines our commitments to you, our customers.
We have now measured our performance against our commitments for the first quarter of 2011/12. Our final CCI score 93.99%, is made up of measures from across the organisation in core business areas.
Please visit the Customer Service Charter page for further information about how we are performing against our commitments.
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New Short Term Parking Arrangements at Perth Domestic Airport
[12 October 2011]
To improve safety for motorists using the the Brearley Avenue entrance at Perth Domestic Airport, Westralia Airports Corporation (WAC) has created a new ‘Park and Wait’ facility on its land to eliminate illegal verge parking along Brearley Avenue.
Despite ‘No Parking’ signage, there is a growing trend where people are parking along the road shoulder on Brearley Avenue waiting to collect incoming passengers at the terminal, which has become a safety concern.
There have been complaints from motorists and cyclists about near miss crashes due to parked vehicles pulling out into traffic lanes from the road shoulder.
WAC has responded by providing a short term parking area off Dunreath Drive, north off Brearley Avenue, for people wanting to park for up to 90 minutes.
Motorists will donate a gold coin for the privilege and the proceeds will go to children’s charities.
WAC has sought the assistance of Main Roads WA and the City of Belmont in implementing its plan and changing driver behaviour.
Main Roads has replaced ‘No Parking’ signs along Brearley Avenue with ‘No Stopping’ signs.
The public will also be reminded of the new arrangements via trailer mounted variable message signs advertising the new parking arrangements.
Motorists are advised that City of Belmont rangers will enforce the new “No Stopping” arrangements with infringements.
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[1 September 2011]
The Honourable Minister for Transport, Troy Buswell has announced the new Integrated Services Arrangement (ISA) in the Pilbara region (www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=143806).
Macmahon Contractors Pty Ltd have been awarded the $187m Integrated Services Arrangement (ISA) for the maintenance of the State road network in the Pilbara region.
This seventh and final arrangement will not only provision road maintenance services in the region, but also includes integrated operational asset management and network operations.
The service is scheduled to commence in September 2011 for an initial period of five years.
Visit the Integrated Services Arrangements (ISA) page for further information.
For further information about other ISAs, please visit the Integrated Services Arrangements (ISA) Procurement – Outcomes page.
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State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement 2011/12 - 2015/16 released
[12 August 2011]
The Honourable Minister for Transport, Troy Buswell has announced the release of State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement 2011/12 - 2015/16 (www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/WACabinetMinistersSearch.aspx?ItemId=141715).
The new State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement will deliver more than $800m to Local Governments across Western Australia over the next five years. In 2011-12, Local Government in WA will share in $145m in road funds from the State, and the figure is expected to rise to $177m by 2015-16. The agreement commits the State Government to allocate 27 per cent of vehicle registration charges to fund local roads which comprise 72 per cent of all roads in the State.
The State Road Funds to Local Government Agreement 2011/12 - 2015/16 (12 pages PDF 271 KB) is available to download.
Please visit the Local Government page for further information about the local road network.
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New Heavy Vehicles Forms Launched
[3 August 2011]
A new suite of Heavy Vehicles forms have been developed to standardise and simplify the permit application and accreditation registration processes.
These forms are now available electronically, allowing you to complete and save it on your computer and reuse the form again for future applications.
From 8 August 2011, Operators will be required to follow the new application process.
Please visit the HVO Update 39-2011 page for further information.
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Main Roads Alumni Club Annual Event
[1 August 2011]
All Alumni club members are invited to an annual event to catch up with old friends, mingle with staff members that are still present at Main Roads and stay informed of the latest events and projects that are happening within Main Roads.
The event takes place within our head office, the Don Aitken Centre each year and in the past has been themed to incorporate Christmas and a quiz evening.
If you’re interested in attending the next Main Roads Alumni Club event, or becoming an Alumni Club member, please contact the Alumni Coordinator on 9323 4972 or alumniclub@mainroads.wa.gov.au.
Please visit the Main Roads Alumni page for more information about the previous event.
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Roe Highway Extension - Community Open Day
[28 July 2011]
On Saturday 30 July, South Metro Connect will host community information sessions to provide further insight into the Public Environmental Review process.
Information provided will be based around:
- Preferred concept design for the extension between Kwinana Freeway and Stock Road; and
- Proposed management of the environmental impacts of the extension.
Public submissions for the project's Public Environmental Review (PER) document are being invited by the Environmental Protection Authority until 12 September 2011. This information day is an opportunity to seek information and clarification on the preferred concept design and Review to assist with public submissions.
For further information about the Community Open Day or for general project highlights, please visit the South Metro Connect website.
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[27 July 2011]
The structural repairs currently underway at the Big McPhee Bridge, 120 km south of Kununurra on Great Northern Highway, will be completed by October before the start of the wet season.
Torrential rain and the severe flooding of Big McPhee Creek in March this year resulted in pier damage and cracking of the concrete bridge deck, forcing a closure for one week.
The closure isolated communities and mining operations in the east Kimberley.
Emergency repairs were made and the bridge was reopened under heavy vehicle load restrictions for several weeks until a side track was established.
More permanent repairs to the bridge will be completed by October to enable it to reopen under full load capacity in time for the wet season, which will cut off the side track.
In the mean time, Main Roads is investigating funding sources for the replacement of the single lane 41 year old Big McPhee Bridge with a new two lane structure at the earliest opportunity.
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[22 July 2011]
Over the coming months, Main Roads WA will be widening and upgrading the 4.5 km section of the Kwinana Freeway between Leach Highway and Roe Highway.
This work will provide an additional third traffic lane in both directions, increasing capacity and improving travel times on what is a very busy section of the freeway.
To ensure the safety of both road users and construction workers, lower speed limits will be in place through the works area. A minimum of two traffic lanes will remain open during the day with the majority of lanes closures occurring at night.
Main Roads regrets any inconvenience caused, and asks road users to plan your journey ahead of time, allow extra time for possible delays through the works and please obey all signage.
Preliminary works will begin on Monday night, July 25.
Visit our Freeway Works page regularly to stay abreast of the changing road conditions in the area.
For project updates, please visit our Kwinana Freeway Widening page.
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[22 July 2011]
We are pleased to launch our new Customer Service Charter which outlines our commitments to you, our customers.
A review of the Charter was initiated to ensure it continues to reflect community needs and our maturity as a customer centric organisation. It also ensures that we support our operational customer service with strategies that deliver and support customer outcomes.
As part of the review, extensive consultation was carried out to ensure that we did not exclude any areas important to customers, staff or key stakeholders. These areas were then cross matched with existing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) already in place and translated to customer commitments and targets. Where there were gaps, new targets and measures were discussed and developed with the respective business areas.
The new Charter commitments will be measured by the Customer Charter Index (CCI). The index incorporates a range of measures across the organisation which align to deliver our commitments to you. These measures come from our core business services and will evolve as we continue to develop the organisation.
The Charter index results will be published quarterly online on the Main Roads Customer Service Charter page.
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Public Transport for Perth in 2031 released
[14 July 2011]
The newly released Public Transport for Perth in 2031 document is the State Government’s vision for improved and expanded public transport in Perth.
The plan will play a vital role in addressing congestion and accessibility issues as Perth grows to an expected population of 2.5 million by 2031.
This plan identifies the main public transport infrastructure needs and the links required between major activity centres such as universities and Perth Airport.
Key initiatives include the introduction of light rail, the development of rapid transit corridors, expansion of the rail network and more buses and trains.
The comment period for this plan closes on 14 October. Comments will be considered by the Department of Transport before a final plan is released.
Please visit Department of Transport website (www.transport.wa.gov.au/aboutus/23281.asp) for further information about Public Transport for Perth in 2031.
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[16 June 2011]
The Honourable Minister for Transport, Troy Buswell has announced the release of the 2011-12 State Black Spot Program schedules (www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=141151).
Upgrades and safety improvements will be carried out at 154 locations throughout the State, 20 on State-owned roads and 134 on local government roads.
Mr Buswell said State funding for this year’s program provides:
- $567,446 for three projects in the Gascoyne;
- $846,637 for eight projects in the Kimberley;
- $911,231 for 11 projects in the Goldfields-Esperance Region;
- $749,333 for 10 projects in the Great Southern;
- $549,294 for seven projects in the Mid-West;
- $952,700 for six projects in the Pilbara;
- $1,419,044 for 10 projects in Wheatbelt North;
- $851,672 for 11 projects in Wheatbelt South;
- $3,152,643 for 12 projects in the South-West; and
- $10m for 77 projects in the Metropolitan area.
Please visit the Approved State Program page for further information about the State Black Spot Program schedule.
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More than $1billion for WA roads in the State Budget
[23 May 2011]
The widening of Mitchell Freeway in Perth and the continued upgrade of Coalfields Highway in the South West are among key initiatives to be funded under the 2011/12 State Budget for roads.
$6m has been allocated towards the widening of Mitchell Freeway northbound from Hepburn Avenue to Hodges Drive. (Honourable Minister for Transport, Troy Buswell announces State Budget allocation to Mitchell Freeway widening - www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=140443)
The widening project, which will increase the number of traffic lanes from two to three, would cost a total of $30m and will be completed in 2012/13.
At the same time, another $7.4m had been allocated for progressing the Coalfields Highway upgrade, this time between Collie and Wellington Dam turn-off. The total upgrading works along the highway are scheduled for completion in 2012/13 at a cost of $25m. (Honourable Minister for Transport, Troy Buswell announces State Budget allocation to Coalfields Highway upgrade - www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/Results.aspx?ItemID=140439)
Other key initiatives include:
- $1m in a package of $8million to begin planning and project development activities for the future construction of the Swan Valley Bypass. The bypass would relieve congestion on Great Northern Highway through Upper Swan as well as form part of the future new Perth-Darwin National Highway;
- $35m for the Safer Roads and Bridges Program. The funding ensures continuation of the program, which targets road safety priorities and bridge improvements on major freight routes;
- $20m for the State Black Spot Program to fund another 155 improvement projects throughout the State.
- $2.5m for improvements to the South Street/Murdoch Drive intersection in Melville, to cater increased traffic volumes associated with the planned development of the Murdoch Activity Centre and Fiona Stanley Hospital. The improvements are scheduled for completion in 2013/14 at a cost of $15m.
Other highlights of the State Road Budget include:
Perth Metropolitan area:
- Continuation of construction of the $113m interchange on Roe Highway at Great Eastern Highway in Midvale;
- Completion of the $30m interchange on Reid Highway at Mirrabooka Avenue in Mirrabooka;
- Commencement of the $325m upgrade of Great Eastern Highway, Kooyong Road to Tonkin Highway;
- Commencement of the $58m widening of Kwinana Freeway between Leach Highway and Roe Highway;
- Completion of the $14m Intelligent Transport Systems on Roe Highway, Midland/Kewdale to the Fremantle Port; and
- Commencement of construction of the $16m Tonkin Highway on-ramp at Abernethy Road.
Regional WA:
- Commencement of the $120m upgrade of the Coolgardie-Esperance Road and Esperance Port access route;
- Continuation of the $90m extension of the dual carriageway on Dampier Highway from Karratha towards the Burrup Peninsula Road;
- $44m for improvements on various State roads within the Grain Freight Network;
- Commencement of construction of the $189m upgrade of Great Northern Highway at Port Hedland;
- Commencement of construction of the $132m Bunbury Port Access Project comprising Stage 2 of the Bunbury Port Access Road and Stage 1 of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road; and
- Commencement of the $16m upgrade of the Eelup traffic roundabout at Bunbury.
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Release of Statewide Traffic Digest
[28 April 2011]
Main Roads collects traffic data throughout Western Australia on both State roads and significant Local Government roads. Traffic counts can provide information about the number and type of vehicles using our roads and are used to monitor road use and assist in future planning and development of the road network.
The Statewide Traffic Digest provides the average number of vehicles travelling at all available locations from 2003/04 to 2008/09. Where vehicle type has been recorded a percentage of freight is given. Each location has a link to Google Maps where the traffic count information can be viewed in context with surrounding locations.
The Statewide Traffic Digest can be downloaded from the Traffic Data page.
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