Bunbury Outer Ring Road

A 27-kilometre free-flowing highway, linking Forrest Highway to Bussell Highway. The project will be delivered in three sections, providing an alternative route around Bunbury.

Northern Section - Forrest Highway to Boyanup Picton Road

Interchanges will be constructed at Forrest Highway, Raymond Road, South Western Highway, Waterloo and Willinge Drive.
There will be a full connection at South Western Highway, providing better access for Bunbury CBD and Ferguson Valley.

Central Section - Boyanup Picton Road to South Western Highway

Completed in May 2013, the four-kilometre Central Section included the extension of Port Access Road (Willinge Drive).
Willinge Drive, one of the larger interchanges, will provide access to Bunbury Port. We’re also planning to extend Willinge Drive to South Western Highway, providing new access for the timber industry.

Southern Section - South Western Highway to Bussell Highway

The Southern Section will include interchanges at Bussell Highway and Centenary Road, and a connection to Jules Road.

Check out our latest video, providing a visulisation of the project and highlighting its many benefits and opportunities for the region.

What's Happening

We have completed planning and development for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road Project. We are now working on design concepts for the alignment, the interchange forms and most local connections. These designs will be progressed further alongside the delivery alliance.

Detailed design is currently underway and construction will start in early 2021, subject to environmental and heritage approvals being received.

Contract Awarded

In October 2020, the delivery contract for constructing was awarded to the South West Gateway Alliance, a consortium comprising Acciona, NRW Contracting, MACA Civil, AECOM and Aurecon.

Local employment and business opportunities are a priority for the project with a target spend of $300 million set to encourage and maximise local South West industry participation.

Promoting and maximising local Aboriginal participation is also a priority for the project. There is a $20 million target spend for Aboriginal businesses and an employment target equivalent to 60 full time Aboriginal people engaged on the project over its three year construction period.

The South West Gateway Alliance has committed to delivering the project by working with the local recycling industry to maximise opportunities to safely reuse waste materials in construction.

Environmental Approvals Progress

The Environmental Protection Authority has completed its assessment of the northern and central sections, recommending that it may be implemented with certain conditions. The project is currently subject to an appeals process before consideration by the Minister for the Environment. The Environmental Protection Authority is currently conducting its assessment of the southern section.

The Commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment is currently undertaking its assessment of the northern and central sections. We will submit Preliminary Documentation for the southern section in the very near future.

Visit our Environment and Sustainability page for more information

Benefits

Timeline

FAQs

Why is Bunbury Outer Ring Road needed?

As a port city, Bunbury plays an important role in the WA economy. Its annual exports continue to increase. In 2018, approximately 1.5 million tonnes of woodchips, 800,000 tonnes of mineral sands and 950,000 tonnes of other trace minerals left the state via Bunbury Port. More information on Bunbury Port trade is available on the South West Development Commisssion website.

This activity puts significant pressure on the road network that will increase with:

population growth in Greater Bunbury
proposed development in Wanju, Waterloo and surrounding areas
increased freight movements from mining activity and associated growth in Bunbury Port activities.

The existing road network in and around Bunbury currently accommodates a range of vehicle movements, including freight and light vehicles, regional and local traffic.

This combination of vehicles on local road networks impacts on road safety and amenity.

The new road will separate these vehicles, providing a safer environment with improved travel times.

Will this road adequately cater for increased traffic?

Yes. We have designed Bunbury Outer Ring Road to cater for the long term planning needs of a future population of 200,000 people living in the Greater Bunbury area.

When complete, we expect between 10,000 and 15,000 vehicles per day, on average, to use the new road. These regional / port movements would otherwise mix with traffic on local roads.

Will local businesses in Bunbury be adversely impacted by the reduced traffic going through the city?

Surveys of current traffic patterns found that around 60 per cent of travellers already drive through without stopping. Around 30 per cent stop for one hour and another 10 per cent for more than one hour.

The interchanges at each end of BORR have been specifically designed for easy access into Bunbury for travellers who would like to stop there or enter the city centre.

What is the planning history of Bunbury Outer Ring Road?

The original concept for Bunbury Outer Ring Road was developed in the early 1970s.

The central section was completed in 2013, in conjunction with Port Access Road (Willinge Drive). This section links South Western Highway (south) to Boyanup Picton Road, and provides improved access to the Port from areas south east of Bunbury.

A northern section alignment was included in the Greater Bunbury Regional Scheme but has recently been reviewed. The road reserve for the southern section has been protected in the Greater Bunbury Region Scheme for many years, however, it contains Matters of Environmental Significance and, as such, is being assessed along with an alternative investigation corridor.

How is Bunbury Outer Ring Road funded?

The project is fully funded with the State Government allocating $170.4 million (20 per cent) and the Commonwealth Government allocating $681.6 million (80 per cent) for its construction.

When will construction commence?

We are working towards having all necessary approvals to award a construction contract in late 2020. These include environmental and heritage approvals.

When will construction be complete?

Early projections indicate early 2024; however, this is dependent upon construction methodology, timeline of the contractor, and receipt of environmental approvals.

Does Main Roads already own all the land that is required to construct BORR?

All affected landowners are aware of the requirement for Main Roads to acquire land for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road. Discussions are continuing to ensure any land needed will be in the care and control of the Commissioner of Main Roads by October 2021.

View the full list of Frequently Asked Questions document.

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Bunbury Outer Ring Road

Northern Section - Forrest Highway to Boyanup Picton Road

Central Section - Boyanup Picton Road to South Western Highway

Southern Section - South Western Highway to Bussell Highway

Contract Awarded

Environmental Approvals Progress

Why is Bunbury Outer Ring Road needed?

Will this road adequately cater for increased traffic?

Will local businesses in Bunbury be adversely impacted by the reduced traffic going through the city?

What is the planning history of Bunbury Outer Ring Road?

How is Bunbury Outer Ring Road funded?

When will construction commence?

When will construction be complete?

Does Main Roads already own all the land that is required to construct BORR?

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Bunbury Outer Ring Road

Northern Section - Forrest Highway to Boyanup Picton Road

Central Section - Boyanup Picton Road to South Western Highway

Southern Section - South Western Highway to Bussell Highway

27

kilometre corridor

13

traffic lights bypassed

15

minute time savings

Community

Environment & Sustainability

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Maps & Designs

Acknowledgement of country

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