Updated concept designs for Phase Two of the project

Phase Two of the Albany Ring Road project, between Lancaster Road and Princess Royal Drive, has reached a major milestone, with the release of updated concept designs for the new interchanges on the Ring Road at South Coast Highway and Hanrahan Road / Frenchman Bay Road respectively.

Each design has evolved to reduce the project’s environmental and heritage footprint, while maintaining the free-flowing route and maximising local connectivity. For more information on each of the designs, please view our September Project Update (Word document). 

Albany Highway bridge starts to take shape

In recent weeks, road users on Albany Highway may have noticed the changing landscape as the new Albany Ring Road bridge starts to take shape.

Two Mechanically Stabilised Earth (MSE) walls have erected on either side of Albany Highway. A total of 57 concrete panels will support the span of the bridge, with each MSE wall to be backfilled over the next two months.

View our August Construction Update (Word document) for more information.

• 2007: Construction of Menang Drive to Albany Highway completed
• 2015: Revised plan released due to changes in interchange options  
• November 2019: Expressions of Interest sought 
• September 2020: Award of contract for Design & Construction to Decmil
• September 2020: Construction of Phase 1 – Albany Highway to Lancaster Road underway 
• Late 2021: Construction of Phase 2 – Lancaster Road to Princess Royal Drive underway
• Early 2022: Completion of Phase 1 between Albany Highway and Lancaster Road
• Early 2024: Completion of Phase 2 between Lancaster Road and Princess Royal Drive

Intermittent Albany Highway speed restrictions and temporary lights

From time to time there may be automated traffic lights stationed around the Albany Ring Road work area to the north and south of the Menang Drive intersection. Intermittent speed restrictions may also be enacted to enable specific works activities to take place near the highway or to allow large construction vehicles to traverse the area safely.

Please drive carefully and follow the signage in place.

Construction Reference Group – Expression of Interest

We will shortly be forming a Construction Reference Group (CRG), comprising approximately 15 local residents from suburbs adjacent to the Albany Ring Road alignment. The group will meet with our project delivery team on a quarterly basis for the duration of the detailed design and construction period and provide ongoing feedback into the detailed design and the management of construction.

We will be seeking participants that meet the following criteria:

• Have a residence located close to the project site and be able to represent the interests of others in the same areas 
• Have lived in the area for a significant period of time 
• Understand and have the capacity to voice the issues, concerns and views of community members 
• Be able to represent a ratepayer group, progress group or community group/association 
• Be available for after-hours meetings in Albany on (approximately) a quarterly basis 
• Accept the CRG role and associated tasks, and 
• Have access to email and internet for contact and correspondence.

We are required to obtain State and Federal environmental approval for the Albany Ring Road Stage 2 and 3b portion of the project, which has involved:

• March 2020: Referred the Albany Ring Road Stages 2 and 3b component to the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA)) for assessment under Part IV of the Environmental Protection Act (1986). The EPA determined that the proposal not to be assessed under Part IV of the EP Act. No advice given. January 2021 Application for a Clearing Permit was submitted to the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) under Part V of the Environmental Protection Act (1986).
• September 2020: The same component of the project was referred to the Commonwealth for assessment under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

The proposed action has been determined to be a controlled action under the EPBC Act and will be assessed through Preliminary Documentation. The controlling provision under Part 3 of the EPBC Act is listed threatened species and communities (section 18 and 18A).

In accordance with Section 95A(3) of the EPBC Act, Preliminary Documentation related to the proposed action is available for viewing and comment for a minimum of 10 business days from date of advertisement (28 September 2021).

The Preliminary Documentation is available at the following locations or can be viewed below.

• State Library of Western Australia 25 Francis Street, Perth WA 6000
• Albany Public Library 221 York Street, Albany, WA 6330

Preliminary Documentation

• Albany Ring Road Stage 2 and 3b Preliminary Documentation (PDF)
• Appendix A ARR Stage 2 and 3b EMP (PDF)
• Appendix B ARR Stage 2 and 3b Offset Strategy (PDF)
• Appendix C Dieback (PDF)
• Appendix D Southern Ecology - Defining habitat categories for Western Ringtial Possums (PDF)
• Appendix E Biological Survey (PDF)
• Appendix F Albany Ring Road Stage 2 and Stage 3 - Black Cockatoo Assessment (PDF)
• Appendix G Albany Ring Road WRP Assessment (PDF)

Referral

• Albany Ring Road Stage 2 and 3b EPBC Referral (PDF)
• Attachment 1 Albany Ring Road EPBC supporting document - Part 1 (PDF)
• Attachment 1 Albany Ring Road EPBC supporting document - Part 2 (PDF)
• Attachment 1 Albany Ring Road EPBC supporting document - Part 3 (PDF)
• Attachment 2 Albany Ring Road Biological Survey - Part 1 (PDF)
• Attachment 2 Albany Ring Road Biological Survey - Part 2 (PDF)
• Attachment 3 Albany Ring Road WRP Assessment (PDF)
• Attachment 4 Albany Ring Road Stage 2 and Stage 3 - Black Cockatoo Assessment (PDF)
• Attachment 5 Aboriginal Heritage Survey Albany Ring Road Stages 2 & 3 (PDF)
• Attachment 6 Aboriginal Heritage Report Albany Ring Road Stages 2-4 (PDF)

Hard copies of the document may be purchased for $10 (including postage and packaging) or an electronic version is available free of charge from:

• Company Name : Main Roads Western Australia
• Address: Don Aitken Centre, Waterloo Crescent, East Perth WA 6004
• Telephone: 138 138

Comments are to be received by Tuesday 12 October 2021 and addressed to:

• Name: Elizabeth Johnston
• Position: Senior Environment Officer, Main Roads Western Australia
• Email: elizabeth.johnston@mainroads.wa.gov.au
• Phone:  +61 8 9323 4945

Persons with special needs (i.e. for whom English is a second language or who has a vision impairment) may contact Elizabeth Johnston via the details above for assistance in accessing the documentation.

• Improve travel times and traffic flow 
• Reduce safety risks by removing conflict points on routes to the port 
• Meet the needs of future population and employment growth 
• Improve heavy vehicle access to and from the port and industrial areas 

Updates and project information 

• Project Update - September 2021 - Word document (1.72 MB)
• Construction Update - August 2021 - Word document (802 KB)
• Construction Update - June 2021 - Word document (3.40 MB)
• Construction Update - May 2021 - Word document (4.10 MB)
• Construction Update - March 2021 - Word document (3.09 MB)
• Construction Update - January 2021 - Word document (10.6 MB)
• Construction Update - December 2020 - PDF (6.45 MB)
• Construction Update - November 2020 - PDF (625 KB)
• Project Update - October 2020 - PDF (2.05 MB)
• Project Concept Map - JPG (9.34 MB)
• Project Concept - Animation Video 
• Project Update - May 2020 - PDF (1.90 MB)
• Project Fact Sheet - November 2019 - PDF (344 KB)

Media Statements

• Albany Ring Road Phase 2 designs unveiled following community feedback - 1 September 2021
• $175 million Albany Ring Road unlocks local jobs as construction gets underway - 23 September 2020
• Work on $175 million Albany Ring Road to being in September, unlocking hundreds of local jobs - 13 July 2020
• Road projects across the Great Southern taking shape and creating jobs  - 24 February 2020
• Expression of interest called for Albany Ring Road - 19 November 2019

Funding 

• The State Government has committed $35 million towards the construction of the project, with the balance of funds ($140 million) being provided by the Australian Government.