Welcome to Talkin' Tonkin, where we will record a series of videos during construction to introduce the project team and keep you updated on upcoming traffic changes, construction updates, milestones, plus more.
In our next series, meet Fiona Bell and the team who spoke to students at Redcliffe Primary School about construction jobs.
- Series 1 - Super Stage
- Series 2 - Railway Parade beam install
- Series 3 - Career expo for local students
Stay tuned for more Talkin' Tonkin videos.
Have your say - Under Redcliffe Bridge activation survey
We have identified an area under Redcliffe Bridge, on the City of Bayswater side, that presents an opportunity for enhancement. We are seeking comments on the draft Under Redcliffe Bridge Concept (JPG). Suggestions from stakeholders and the community have so far included elements such as pump track, fishing platform, nature walks and shared path facilities. Your feedback will help to inform the final plan, expected to be released in late 2021.
This is a short 3 min survey which will close 5pm Friday 15 October 2021.
Have your say and complete the survey here
Great Eastern Highway underpass closure
As part of the upgrade to the Pedestrian Shared Path (PSP), we have started works on the upgrade and widening of the Great Eastern Highway underpass.
Works will start with a stop/go arrangement to keep access throughout October. We understand that this is an important connection for the local community and schools and have worked with the team to keep it open for as long as possible.
However, from early November to early 2022, a full closure will be implemented to complete the widening and extension of the underpass.
Through consultation with community and the shared path working group, we pushed back the closure to later in the year to avoid as much of the school year as possible.
During the closure, a detour will be in place. This detour was carefully considered to allow for safe access across Great Eastern Highway.
The shared path upgrade is part of a vision to make WA a place where riding is a safe, connected, convenient and a widely accepted form of transport. We thank you for your patience and understanding while we complete these works.
October construction update
Learn more about the project progress in October in our latest construction update (Word document). Find out more about the traffic changes happening on Great Eastern Highway, Tonkin Highway and its surrounds.
Railway Parade works
A fix to the Tonkin Highway bottleneck is another step closer with the first 18 beams lifted into place on the eastern Railway Parade bridge. The bridge is the first of four new bridges to be built over Guildford Road and Railway Parade.
Made locally in Georgiou Group’s precast facility in Hazelmere, 60 bridge beams will be installed over the next year. The biggest will be 35 metres long and weigh 135 tonnes. Read more in the Media Statement.
Take a look at the time-lapse of the beam lift.
Redcliffe Bridge construction
Work is well underway to upgrade Redcliffe Bridge to accommodate eight lanes of traffic and build a new western bridge with two additional lanes.
The first two bridge segments have been incrementally launched from the south-western side of the Redcliffe Bridge with preparation works for the third launch well underway.
At 310 metres long, the first two segments was moved almost 28 metres to the north, with approximately 282 metres to go.
More than 3,000 m3 of concrete will be needed for all 17 bridge segments, which will be built on site. Similar to how the Mandurah Bridge and Mount Henry Bridge was built, the incremental launching method will minimise impact to the Swan River and surrounds. Read more in the Media Statement.
During construction, the river will always remain open to river users. When we complete the concrete pours, we are required to start at 2:30am. We will notify neighbouring properties of these works when we have specific dates. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Read our Redcliffe Bridge Construction Fact Sheet (Word document) for more information.
Noise Wall Construction
Extensive noise modelling has been undertaken during the project design phase. From the noise modelling, some areas on Tonkin Highway between Dunreath Drive and Guildford Road require noise walls.
Noise walls near residential properties are confirmed at the locations below (map 1). In September, the team prepared the Wyatt Road area ahead of noise wall construction. This involved removing fences, finishing the access track and piling concrete footings.
We will now move onto installing noise wall posts and panels. Once complete, we will start noise wall construction for River Road residents.
We thank Bayswater residents for your patience while we have been working behind properties to prepare for noise wall construction.
For more information on noise walls, please refer to our Noise Wall Frequently Asked Questions (Word document).
Broun Avenue Works
Construction is well underway on both sides of Broun Avenue and in the median of Tonkin Highway to prepare for a new bridge over Tonkin Highway. The bridge will accommodate the new Morley Station – in the Tonkin Highway median and form part of the Morley-Ellenbrook Line.
Maintaining access for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians across Broun Avenue will be priority during construction.
We understand that the skate park and BMX track is important to the community, and that’s why we will maintain access during bridge construction.
To accommodate the works, we have closed a section of the Pedestrian Shared Path (PSP) between Tonkin Highway and Broun Avenue travelling northbound. Path users will be detoured via a temporary access off Tonkin Highway, along the top of the skate park/BMX track, over the side oval and then along the car park, back up to Broun Avenue (map of path below).
The small car park and access road to the skate park and BMX track is now closed. Skate park and BMX track users are required to park at the main car park and access the facilities via the temporary path. Learn more in the Broun Ave Bridge Fact Sheet (PDF).
Throughout October, there will be more lane closures and night works as we prepare to switch traffic further north on Broun Avenue. From mid-October, we aim to switch traffic onto the temporary road. Once switched, Broun Avenue will have reduced lanes between Embleton Avenue and Beechboro Road North. This will enable the team to continue building bridge piers and abutments for the new bus interchange bridge.
Short-term impacts
Broun Avenue between Embleton Avenue and Beechboro Road N
- 12 and 13 November and 15 to 17 November, 8pm to 6am each night
- Full closure in both directions. View detour map (PDF)
- Access to Snap Fitness via Beechboro Road North, through BP
- Access to Cherry Court via Mickleham Road
- Broun Avenue/Embleton Avenue intersection modification and Broun Avenue realignment
- Works are weather dependant and subject to change.
Great Eastern Highway between Epsom Avenue and Tonkin Highway
- 25 to 29 October, 6pm to 6am
- Lane closures in both directions
- Construction of the new U-turn pocket between Moreing Street and Lyall Street
Great Eastern Highway between Morrison Street and Tonkin Highway
- Early November, 8pm to 6am
- Full eastbound closure. View detour map (PDF)
- Access for businesses and residents maintained
- Removal of overhead directional signage
Great Eastern Highway between Moreing Street and Tonkin Highway
- 4 and 5 November, 8pm to 6am
- Lane closures in both directions
- Line marking and barrier installation
Tonkin Highway southbound at Morley Drive on-ramp
- 25 October, 8pm to 6am
- Morley Drive on-ramp closed. View detour map (PDF).
- Ramp realignment works
Guildford Road between Tonkin Highway ramps
- Ongoing in November 2021
- Lane closures in both directions
- Guildford Road bridge works
- 28 and 29 October, 9pm to 5am
- Stop/slow arrangement
- Guildford Road bridge concrete pours
- 17 to 20 December 2021
- Traffic management in place
- Guildford Road bridge beam installation
Tonkin Highway between Redcliffe Bridge and Guildford Road
- 17 to 19 December, 8pm to 7am
- Contra flow - single lane in each direction
- Guildford Road bridge beam installation
Long-term impacts
Great Eastern Highway between Morrison Street and Tonkin Highway
- Ongoing to early 2022, 24 hours
- Lane closures in both directions
- U-turn on Great Eastern Highway after Lyall Street temporarily not permitted
- Right turn into businesses and Ascot Apartments maintained
- Road works and upgrades to the interchange
Broun Avenue between Embleton Avenue and Beechboro Road N
- Ongoing until late 2022, 7am to 3pm (excluding Sundays)
- Lane closures and speed reductions in both directions
- Visit TransPerth to stay up to date on bus route impacts
- Broun Avenue realignment and bridge works
Tonkin Highway between Collier Road and Reid Highway
- From 28 August 2021 to late 2022, 24 hours
- Reduced to two through lanes in both directions
Additional dedicated lanes between interchanges and speed reductions - Rail-enabling works for Morley-Ellenbrook Line.
- Learn more about why these changes are needed in the Super Stage Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).
Dunstone Road
- Closed - from 17 May 2021 to December 2021
- Local resident access and pedestrian and cyclist access will be maintained
- Bridge construction works
- Learn more about why we're closing this road in the Dunstone Road Frequently Asked Questions (PDF).
Great Eastern Highway between Lyall Street and Morrison Street
- Ongoing to late 2021, 24 hours
- Lane closures in both directions
- U-turn on Great Eastern Highway after Lyall Street not permitted
- Right turn into businesses and Ascot Apartments will be maintained
- Services works
Path impacts
Great Eastern Highway underpass closure
- Early October
- Intermittent closures. View detour map (PDF)
- Underpass extension and upgrade works
- Late November to early 2022
- Full closure. View detour map (PDF)
- Underpass extension and upgrade works
Tonkin Highway and Broun Avenue intersection
- From 5 July to late 2023
- Sections of shared path near Broun Avenue closed.
- Follow signed detours
Tonkin Highway between Great Eastern Highway and Dunstone Road
- Ongoing until project completion
- Closed. Follow signed detours
- October Construction Notification (Word doc)
Click image to enlarge
Tonkin Highway between Collier Road and Guildford Road
- From 7 April to late 2022
- Closed. Follow signed detours to the western side of Tonkin Highway
Tonkin Highway between Parkview Parade and Victoria Street Footbridge
- From 19 April to late 2023
- Closed. Follow signed detours via Morrison Street.
Guildford Road near Tonkin Highway
- Ongoing until project completion
- Closed. Follow signed detours to the northern side of Guildford Road
Guildford Road between the Tonkin Highway ramps
- Ongoing to early 2022
- Closed: Path users diverted onto the road
- Follow signed detours
Click image to enlarge
We are collaborating with local government, Department of Transport and WestCycle as part of the design process.
Environment
This is a very constrained site and there is no way we can build the required infrastructure without clearing vegetation. However, we are committed to minimising the extent of clearing and are exploring opportunities for local and regional environmental offsets. Any clearing will also be undertaken with appropriate State and Federal government approvals.
Project approvals from environmental regulators including the Environmental Protection Authority of WA (EPA), Department of Water and Environment Regulation, Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment has been obtained for the project. All relevant works approvals from appropriate agencies including Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attraction, where the Swan River Trust is housed, Department of Water and Environmental Regulation for groundwater and contamination issues and local government authorities for out of hours approvals will be sought.
Flora and Fauna
The assessment included a detailed flora and vegetation assessment, a Black Cockatoo and fauna habitat assessment including inspection of mature trees to record habitat and breeding trees suitable for use by Black Cockatoo species, and a water insect, water and sediment survey of the Swan River. While potential Black Cockatoo nesting trees were identified during surveys, none with suitable hollows were found.
We would prefer not to have any impact on nesting cockatoos. We will be looking for all potential solutions to avoid this. Where we do need to remove such a tree, our Environment Team will inspect the trees prior to check if any cockatoos are nesting and relocate if necessary. We are consulting with community before vegetation within the project area is cleared.
The Tonkin Gap Project was referred to the WA Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) and the Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) in 2019, and both the EPA and DAWE determined that the potential impacts of the project are not significant and does not require further assessment.
Park and foreshore changes
An area of Selby Park has always been reserved for a Tonkin Highway upgrade under the State Government’s Metropolitan Region Scheme (MRS). This will be required to build the new loop ramp from Great Eastern Highway. We are working closely with the City of Belmont to minimise the impact and determine how best to reinstate the park at the conclusion of the works.
We have identified an area under the Redcliffe Bridge, on the City of Bayswater side, that we could enhance. We are already working with the City of Bayswater and other State Government agencies to consider opportunities in this location. Suggestions from stakeholders and the community have included a skate park, fishing platforms and shared path facilities. Further consultation with local government, stakeholders and the community will be undertaken.
Heritage
We aim to avoid, minimise, and reduce our negative impacts to Aboriginal heritage sites wherever practicable, in line with Main Roads’ commitment to recognising Aboriginal Heritage.
For this project, we conducted a heritage survey and two sites of cultural significance were identified within the works area:
- The Derbarl Yerrigan (Swan River)
- Two River Gum trees each with a single cultural scar
The Derbarl Yerrigan is said to have been created by the Wagyl, a spiritual being often described as a serpent or snake, who still resides in the river systems. It represents cultural continuity and is incorporated in many language groups oral histories.
Scar Trees are the result of removing parts of the tree to make objects and artefacts, representing the traditional knowledge of the Whadjuk people. This provides an indication to the ancestral occupation and use of the area’s resources.
The input and contribution of Traditional Owners are valued, and we are seeking advice and opinions from Whadjuk Traditional Owners on this project.
For example, when disturbing any ground near, or in, the Derbarl Yerrigan we have employed Whadjuk Heritage Monitors. Their role on the project is to observe ground disturbance as it is occurring to prevent possible harm to Aboriginal heritage.
We will also be incorporating Aboriginal urban design within areas of the project, including under the Redcliffe Bridge, Great Eastern Highway and Guildford Road underpasses.
Have your say
As a key focus area for the project, we are asking our community to share their thoughts, ideas and suggestions as to how we can better embed sustainability into the project by completing our sustainability survey (PDF). Once completed, please email to enquiries@mainroads.wa.gov.au with the subject line ‘Tonkin Gap Sustainability’.
Download the Sustainability Survey (PDF)
What is Infrastructure Sustainability?
Infrastructure sustainability is infrastructure that is designed, constructed and operated to optimise environmental, social and economic outcomes of the long term.
To support our commitment to driving positive sustainable outcomes, we are applying the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia’s (ISCA) V2.0 Infrastructure Sustainability (IS) rating framework for the design and construction phases of this project to assess the project.
This is an industry-benchmarking tool that has been developed in consultation with the industry to embed sustainable practices in every aspect of infrastructure design, construction and operation. The process is evidence based and we will provide the full assessment to ISCA at the end of each phase to be independent verified by a third party. Following this, the project will be awarded with a certification and rating which can be assessed against other major infrastructure projects across Australia.
Our Sustainability Commitment
Sustainability is a key focus for the project that we have considered during the design and construction phase of the project. We have developed a Tonkin Gap Project & Associated Works Sustainability Policy (PDF) to reflect our commitment to addressing sustainability issues including growth and economic benefit, efficient resource use, sustainable procurement, and community and stakeholder influence.
Project Objectives and Targets
We have used the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) to guide the consideration of key focus areas of sustainability for the project. An internal multi-disciplinary team has developed Sustainability Focus Areas (PDF) from key sustainability issues on the project. These focus areas help guide the identification of key risks and opportunities for the project.
From these objectives we have also identified sustainability targets (Word document) to ensure sustainability is front of mind during design, construction and operation. We will be monitoring our achievement as the project progresses.
Sustainable Development Goals
We measure and track our sustainability performance against the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The SDG are the blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. They address the global challenges we face, including poverty, inequality, climate change, environmental degradation, peace and justice.
This information sheet (PDF) summarises what you need to know about how the project aligns with the global sustainability agenda. The goals are also linked to our project sustainability objectives (PDF).
We will be engaging with local government, stakeholders, residents and businesses as we progress the detailed design, from mid-2020.
Opportunities to participate in consultation activities will be advertised to our project subscribers. Subscribe to project updates here.
Noise and screen walls
A noise wall is a structure built between the road and a residential property. It improves amenity for surrounding residents by reflecting sound waves from the road, forcing sound to travel over and around the edges of the walls, thereby reducing the amount of noise that reaches nearby homes.
Screen walls protect residents’ privacy from passing traffic at the rear of their property only. We will consider screen walls in cases where the construction has reduced the existing level of privacy.
As part of this project, we expect to build noise or screen walls adjacent to most residential areas. The design and location of these will be finalised as part of the detailed design process. We have done noise modelling across the project area and noise mitigation would apply for areas that will be impacted by noise. We will ensure our noise mitigation meets the State Planning Policy 5.4 guidelines for acceptable noise levels.
If we need to construct noise or screen walls on property boundaries, the contractor will engage with individual property owners.
Property Condition Surveys
If your property falls within the area that meets the criteria for a survey, you will receive a letter in the mail. If you believe your property has been damaged and you are not eligible for a property survey, please contact our team.Dust and Vibration
Road trains will continue to use Tonkin Highway. There are no current plans to revise the RAV access network arrangements.
- 2019-20: Planning and development
- 2020-21: Detailed design
- October 2020: Early work activities begin (site preparation and infill works)
- November 2020: Rail-enabling works commence for the Morley-Ellenbrook Line
- January 2021: Construction begins
- Late 2023: Construction complete
Tonkin Highway will be transformed to deliver a high standard, north-south transport link from Muchea to Mundijong.
The Tonkin Gap Project will address the current bottleneck where the highway reduces from three lanes to two lanes in Bayswater and Redcliffe, significantly reducing travel times and improving safety. We will also be making improvements to access and connectivity for road users, pedestrians and cyclists in the project area.
The Associated Works will provide rail-enabling works for the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line along Tonkin Highway, including underpasses and dive structures, to enable trains to enter and travel along the median of Tonkin Highway then exit in Malaga. Road and bus bridges will be built at Broun Avenue to provide access to the future Morley Station.
The upgrades are expected to save road users up to 6 minutes of travel time during morning peak and up to 11 minutes of travel time during afternoon peak.
The preliminary concept includes:
- Widening Tonkin Highway to provide new lanes in each direction from Dunreath Drive to Collier Road, as well as new roads linking Guildford Road and Great Eastern Highway
- New bridges over the Swan River, Dunstone Road, Guildford Road, Railway Parade
- New fully grade-separated Principal Shared Path (PSP) on the western side of Tonkin Highway from north of Guildford Road interchange to approximately Stanton Road with local connections
- Noise walls
- Upgraded lighting and intelligent transport systems (ITS) infrastructure
Project and construction updates
- Project Update - September 2021 - PDF (3.29 MB)
- Construction Update - September 2021 - PDF (606 KB)
- Construction Update - August 2021 - PDF (933 KB)
- Construction Update - July 2021 - PDF (912 KB)
- Construction Update - June 2021 - PDF (1.37 MB)
- Construction Update - May 2021 - PDF (617 KB)
- Construction Update - April 2021 - PDF (806 KB)
- Construction Update - March 2021 - Word document (2.05 MB)
- Construction Update - February 2021 - Word document (2.32 MB)
- Construction Update - January 2021 - PDF (804 KB)
- Construction Update - December 2020 - Word document (6.65 MB)
- Construction Update - November 2020 - Word document (6.43 MB)
- Project Update - July 2020 - PDF (2.8 MB)
- Project Update - October 2019 - PDF (3.9 MB)
Project information
- Super Stage Frequently Asked Questions - Word document (7.2 MB)
- Noise Wall Frequently Asked Questions - Word document (6.88 MB)
- Fact Sheet - Redcliffe Bridge Construction - January 2021 - Word document (2.69 MB)
- Frequently Asked Questions - PDF (2 MB)
- Noise and Screen Walls Fact Sheet - PDF (707 KB)
Media Statements
- Locally made beams installed on first new bridge over Railway Parade - 13 October 2021
- Work well underway on new Redcliffe Bridge - 31 August 2021
- Job-creating congestion-busting road and rail project underway - 2 November 2020
- Tonkin Gap contract fast tracked unlocking thousands of jobs - 21 June 2020
- Preferred proponent announced to build congestion busting Tonkin Gap project - 12 May 2020
- Roads budget delivers congestion busting solution and WA jobs - 9 May 2019
Funding
Jointly funded by the Australian ($232 million) and Western Australian Government ($58 million).
Alleviate pressure on the transport network
Reduce travel times
Improve safety and connectivity
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Companies who wish to provide goods or services to Tonkin Gap will need to align with our commitments and complete a form below to be considered. A pre-qualification process may be requested following evaluation.
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