Bunbury Outer Ring Road

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

Bunbury Outer Ring Road will improve access to Bunbury Port as well as existing and proposed industrial areas east of Bunbury.

A new free-flowing, rural freeway-standard road will:

• reduce travel time between the north and south of Bunbury by up to 15 minutes
• improve freight efficiency
• allow vehicles travelling between Bussell Highway and Forrest Highway to avoid 13 sets of traffic lights and one rail level crossing
• create a safer road system by removing a significant number of trucks from local roads
• reduce local congestion and create more reliable journey times for all road users
• improve safety and urban amenity for local residents and tourists
• strengthen Greater Bunbury’s position as a regional industrial hub for the South West Region and as support to the Fremantle and Kwinana Ports

Other benefits include:

• extending the service life of existing arterial roads, currently used by trucks, minimising future local upgrade treatments required
• supporting socio-economic growth and integrated development in Greater Bunbury and the South West Region
• reducing the need for heavy vehicles to mix with local traffic on local roads by redirecting between 10,000 and 15,000 vehicles a day onto the new road

• April 2018: Project planning study commenced
• June 2019: Environmental referral - Northern section
• September 2019: Environmental referral - Southern section
• February 2020: Project planning study completed
• Late-2020: Contract award
• 2021: Construction commences (once all approvals in place)
• Early-2024: Construction complete

How do I become involved in the delivery phase?

We will continue to involve the local communities, particularly in areas where construction may have an impact.

Subscribe to our mailing list now. From time to time, we will send updates and opportunities to be involved via this list.

You can call 138 138 or email enquiries@mainroads.wa.gov.au to ask a question or make a comment.

As we continue preparing work packages, we may invite community representatives to nominate for construction reference groups. If so, we will call nominations via local media and the subscriber mailing list.

What is the best way to keep up-to-date?

Subscribe to the email mailing list to receive regular project updates. Be the first to know about upcoming information sessions, opportunities and project updates.

This project page will be continually updated with information, pictures and videos of progress as we build Bunbury Outer Ring Road.

What if I have a question that is not answered here?

You can contact us with any questions by calling 138 138 and asking to speak to someone about the Bunbury Outer Ring Road. Alternatively, you can send your question via email to the project team at enquiries@mainroads.wa.gov.au.

Will the project include a Principal Shared Path?

An ultimate design was prepared as part of project development, which included a fully grade separated Principal Shared Path (PSP) along the entire length of the project. Costs and scope of works are being finalised, and we are now undertaking a review to determine the optimum network to be built as part of the project that will also allow the ultimate PSP to be built in future when required by path use from increasing population in the area.

The cycling network review will include consultation with a range of stakeholders and take into account current and future planned path networks for the Greater Bunbury area. The outcome of the review will ensure that the cycling and pedestrian infrastructure delivered during the project will be attractive to path users and provide functional connections to the existing network, while representing value for money to the community.

View the full list of Frequently Asked Questions document. 

Check out the latest project video

Project updates

• Project Update - August 2020 - PDF (457 KB)

Media Statements

• Bunbury Outer Ring Road contract to create thousands of local jobs - 12 October 2020
• Preferred proponent chosen for $852 million Bunbury Outer Ring Road project - 4 August 2020
• Contract awarded for early planting to support Bunbury Outer Ring Road  - 30 April 2020
• Two consortia shortlisted to build Bunbury Outer Ring Road - 17 March 2020
• More local connections for Bunbury Outer Ring Road  - 19 December 2019
• Infrastructure to boost jobs and bust congestion  - 20 November 2019
• Expressions of interest called for Bunbury Outer Ring Road  - 10 September 2019
• Preferred alignment chosen for Bunbury Outer Ring Road  - 4 June 2019
• McGowan Government's record regional road budget continues  - 9 May 2019
• State Government welcomes Federal Government's final quarter effort on transport  – 28 March 2019
• Wanju and Waterloo plans re-released for public comment  – 12 March 2019
• Minister welcomes additional Bunbury Outer Ring Road funds  - 27 April 2018

Funding

In November 2019, the Federal government announced a boost to infrastructure funding including $283.6 million of funding being brought forward to the 2019—2020 financial year.

The Australian Government contribution to the project is $681.6 million and the Western Australian Government contribution to the project is $170.4 million bringing the total project budget to $852 million.

In April 2020, the process for the awarding of contracts for transport construction projects including Bunbury Outer Ring Road was streamlined to create more opportunities for local businesses and to protect local jobs.