Planning and development is well underway to upgrade Tonkin Highway south of Roe Highway. The project includes widening Tonkin Highway from four to six lanes and upgrading the intersections at Hale Road, Welshpool Road and Kelvin Road, improving safety and reducing delays along this heavily congested route.
This important project will be delivered under two contracts. The first will include the intersections along Tonkin Highway at Hale Road and Welshpool Road, and the second includes Tonkin Highway and Kelvin Road.
Current progress and next steps
We are currently in the project development phase, which investigates and defines the project’s technical scope. This involves assessing the various options for the three Tonkin Highway intersections with Hale, Welshpool and Kelvin Road.
We have undertaken a number of activities to confirm the project scope, including:
- ongoing stakeholder consultation to identify and resolve various issues/constraints, including nearby landowners, community and environmental groups;
- concept design, geotechnical and site investigations, traffic modelling and environmental assessments to inform environmental processes and approvals.
Intersection improvements
Welshpool Road East / Tonkin Highway and Kelvin Road / Tonkin Highway intersections will be upgraded allowing access to and from Tonkin Highway to the north and south. The upgrades will improve capacity and traffic flow and, in turn, reduce the likelihood of trucks seeking alternative routes (including Crystal Brook Road) to avoid the current congestion and queuing at the signalised intersections.
Initially, our planning determined that a bridge would be built to take Tonkin Highway over Hale Road with no access ramps to and from Hale Road (Hale Road would still be open to allow local traffic to easily travel between Forrestfield and Wattle Grove). However, following community feedback, we re-examined the options and the design was changed in early 2020 to include north facing ramps. This means you will be able to get on and off Tonkin Highway at Hale Road if you are travelling to and from the city (80 per cent of traffic using Hale Road to access Tonkin Highway now is travelling North. View the changes on our video.
Hale Road will continue to travel between Forrestfield and Wattle Grove. North facing ramps have been added to the design following community feedback so people can travel to and from the city or airport.
We investigated south facing ramps, however they are not a viable option. Low traffic demand does not substantiate the provision of ramps and associated impacts including private property, Maamba Reserve and cost. Our traffic studies shows there is significantly lower demand to and from the south compared to demand to and from the north for vehicles coming out of Hale Road (both Wattle Grove and Forrestfield) currently and into the future.
To access Wattle Grove and Forrestfield from the south, drivers will exit at Welshpool Road and likely use Bruce Road or Lewis Roads. We recognise this is currently being used as a rat run to avoid current congestion at Hale Road and Tonkin Highway intersection.
However, combined with the intersection upgrades, the existing Tonkin Highway will be transformed to a freeway standard link with six lanes, creating a free-flowing environment and a safer, more efficient transport route.
Emergency, Trucks and Cyclist/Pedestrian Access
Emergency access
At this stage, we have not been advised of any major issues that will impact timing as emergency vehicles have priority on roads and determine the most appropriate route depending on the time of day.
Cyclists and pedestrians
A new principal shared path will be built to the east of Tonkin Highway from Hale Road to Kelvin Road with links to the local cycle network (in consultation with Local Government). We will be seeking feedback regarding the design from the community.
- 2020-21: Planning and Development for both contracts
- Mid 2022 : Construction starts for Tonkin Highway at Hale Road and Welshpool Road
- Mid 2023 : Construction starts for Tonkin Highway at Kelvin Road
- Note: Construction timelines for both contracts are subject to environmental and statutory approvals, and finalisation of project scope
Environmental assessments
We are required to refer the project for both Federal and State environmental approval, which has involved:- March 2021: Referred the Tonkin Highway Grade Separated Interchanges – Hale Road and Welshpool Road component of the project to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) for assessment under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act (1986).
- September 2019: the same component of the project was referred to the Commonwealth for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
EPBC Referral
- TGSI Hale & Welshpool Road EPBC Referral Form - September 2019 - PDF (175 KB)
- TGSI Hale & Welshpool Road EPBC Referral Att1 - Appendix 1 - Various Lots within DE - PDF (127 KB)
- TGSI Hale & Welshpool Road EPBC Referral Att2 - Figure 1 Site location - PDF (294 KB)
- TGSI Hale & Welshpool Road EPBC Referral Att3 - Figure 2 Threatened and Priority Ecological Communities and Flora - PDF (587 KB)
- TGSI Hale & Welshpool Road EPBC Referral Att4 - Figure 3 Fauna Habitat - PDF (749 KB)
- TGSI Hale & Welshpool Road EPBC Referral Att5 - Figure 4 Black Cockatoo Habitat - PDF (547 KB)
- TGSI Hale & Welshpool Road EPBC Referral Att6 - Figure 5 Wetlands - PDF (210 KB)
- TGSI Hale & Welshpool Road EPBC Referral Att7 - Figure 6 Vegetation Types - PDF (666 KB)
- TGSI Hale & Welshpool Road EPBC Referral Att8 - Figure 7 Vegetation Condition - PDF (697 KB)
- TGSI Hale & Welshpool Road EPBC Referral Att9 - Figure 8 Regional Context - PDF (1.15 MB)
- TGSI Hale & Welshpool Road EPBC Referral Att10 - Tonkin Highway and Hale Road Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (AECOM 2014) - PDF (4.71 MB)
- TGSI Hale & Welshpool Road EPBC Referral Att11 - Tonkin Highway and Welshpool Road Preliminary Environmental Impact Assessment (AECOM 2014) - PDF (5.08 MB)
- TGSI Hale & Welshpool Road EPBC Referral Att12 - Tonkin Highway Interchanges (Hale Rd Welshpool Rd and Kelvin Rd) Biological Report (2015) - PDF (20 MB)
- TGSI Hale & Welshpool Road EPBC Referral Att13 - Vegetation Condition Hale & Welshpool - PDF (6.55 MB)
- TGSI EPBC Preliminary Documentation - Main Document - PDF (19 MB)
- Appendix A Additional Information Request List - PDF (115 KB)
- Appendix B_General Arrangement - PDF (11.2 MB)
- Appendix C_Biological Assessment and Targeted and Black Cockatoo Habitat Assessment_Pt 1 - PDF (17.4 MB)
- Appendix C_Biological Assessment and Targeted and Black Cockatoo Habitat Assessment_Pt 2 - PDF (14.3 MB)
- Appendix D_Hale Road Vegetation Assessment - PDF (3.95 MB)
- Appendix E_Targeted Flora and Black Cockatoo Hollow Assessment - PDF (18.2 MB)
- Appendix F_Dieback Assessment - PDF (3.53 MB)
- Appendix G Risk Assessment - PDF (171 KB)
- Appendix H_Action Management Plan - PDF (17.8 MB)
- Appendix I_Offset Strategy - PDF (13.2 MB)
Environmental surveys
A number of different environmental surveys have been undertaken for the project between 2015 and 2021.
We have met and continue to liaise with the Nature Reserves Preservation Group, Friends of Woodlupine Living Stream and Friends of Woodlupine Brook and plan to meet with the Kalamunda Environmental Advisory Committee. Discussions have included avoiding disturbance of native vegetation and threatened flora and fauna, as well as noise mitigation, minimising lighting pollution and revegetation. These groups provide valuable local environmental knowledge.
Our Baseline Water Quality monitoring (surface and groundwater) is continuing to assess pre and post development flows to help us retain or improve quality.
Project updates
Media Statements
Funding
The Federal ($293 million) and State ($73) Governments have committed funding.Improve safety and reduce crashes
Ease congestion and improve access
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