Wilman Wadandi Highway (Bunbury Outer Ring Road Project)
Under Construction
A 27-kilometre four-lane, high standard road linking Forrest Highway to Bussell Highway. The project will ease congestion and provide safer, more efficient traffic routes for freight, tourists, and locals.
Banner photo: Paris Road and Clifton Road Interchange
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Ongoing Roadworks
Wilman Wadandi Highway, between South Western Highway (North) and Discovery Road
24 November - 3 December, 7am-7pm, Monday to Saturday
Short term lane closures for pavement maintenance ahead of final coat seal
Lane closures in place 24/7 up to 10 days in each location
Speed reductions to 60km/h in place, further reductions to 40km/h if workers are on foot.
The Wilman Wadandi Highway opened to traffic in December 2024 and is already delivering significant benefits to the South West Region. As the largest transport infrastructure project in the region, the highway is improving travel times, enhancing safety and supporting a more reliable network for locals, tourists and freight operators. The project has unlocked a range of benefits, including:
Improved freight efficiency
Reduced local congestion and create more reliable journey times for all road users
Added sustainable infrastructure to support Greater Bunbury’s position as an industrial hub for the South West Region
Generated long term job opportunities for locals through local employment programs
Reduced travel time between the north and south of Bunbury
Improved access to Bunbury Port as well as existing and proposed industry areas east of Bunbury
Vehicles now travelling between Bussell Highway and Forrest Highway to avoid 13 sets of traffic lights and one rail level crossing
Provide travel savings of between 11 and 18 minutes, depending on the destination and peak traffic conditions along the alignment
Extending the service life of existing arterial roads, currently used by trucks, minimising future local upgrade treatments required
Reducing the need for heavy vehicles to mix with local traffic on local roads by redirecting 10,000 to 15,000 vehicles a day onto the new road
During construction we:
Exceeded procurement targets, with over $690 million spent across 380+ local and Aboriginal businesses
Created training and job opportunities for entry level positions through the Yaka Dandjoo program
We employed the services of KPMG to quantify the project’s direct contribution to the South West region’s economy, find out more by reading their Local Economic Impacts Summary.
Please visit our Past Publications page to see anything previously published by the project team.
Funding
The Wilman Wadandi Highway (previously known as the Bunbury Outer Ring Road (BORR)) will deliver significant benefits to the region, including time saving, road safety, freight efficiency and improved port access.
A significant portion of the funding from the project’s $1.46 billion is being spent within the region, creating further local jobs, business opportunities and supporting local economic growth.
The $1.46 billion project is jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian Governments, with the increased investment aligning with the project’s scale and complexity, reflecting the current market pressures.
Our Commitments
We have made a series of sustainability commitments on the project. Some of these commitments include:
Employment, training, and local business
Giving new opportunities by targeting 10 per cent of the workforce to be previously unemployed.
Creating sustainable workforces for local businesses
Collaborating with TAFE and other local training organisations
Construction
Minimising waste generation and maximising reuse and recycling using sustainable products
Sourcing materials from local businesses to reduce transport distances and emissions
Utilising local recycling facilities
Seeking to use renewable energy options when sourcing construction equipment
Environment
Salvaging valuable vegetation from areas to be cleared such as orchids, grass trees and zamia palms
Constructing fauna underpasses and overpasses in line with environmental regulators’ requirements that cannot be used by vehicles and offer shelter to possums from predators and allow for dense vegetation planting
Aboriginal Heritage and Culture
Working closely with Aboriginal heritage monitors to identify significant areas or items and promote heritage values
Creating urban design outcomes that include significant Aboriginal cultural components, such as integrated artwork, interpretive signage, naming of project aspects, trails, and nodes
Designed by Joanna Brown, the noise walls at the Harris Road shared path crossing of the Wilman Wadandi Highway will feature a unique artwork which ties into the project’s Urban Design Strategy.
The Moore Road Mural is the latest public art commission for the Wilman Wadandi Highway (the Bunbury Outer Ring Road project), capturing the essence of the area, and Bunuru, the driest of the Noongar seasons through a rich yet minimalist narrative.
Designed and painted by Kyle Hughes-Odgers, the screen walls on the northern side of the mega-bridge will feature a unique design which ties into the project’s Urban Design strategy.
The Government of Western Australia acknowledges the traditional custodians throughout Western Australia and their continuing connection to the land, waters and community. We pay our respects to all members of the Aboriginal communities and their cultures; and to Elders both past and present.
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