South Western Highway

Pre-construction work, including construction of a side-track, is complete. Work is progressing to enable installation of retaining walls and drainage.

The project will be suspended during winter, with work recommencing in September 2021.

Construction is expected to be complete by April 2022 and will be followed by a revegetation program using local native species to reflect biodiversity values. Topsoil and mulch mix taken from the area is stockpiled for re-use in the revegetation program.

South Western Highway lane closures

A temporary side track has been constructed to accommodate traffic in both directions, with a reduced speed limit of 60 km/h during construction times only.

Traffic is being diverted to the temporary track at a northern and southern on/off ramp. The temporary track includes a portion of the existing South Western Highway that will become redundant upon completion of the roadworks.

The realignment will:

• provide a straighter road
• address the steep gradient and roadside ‘drop-off’
• improve safety for freight, tourism, agriculture, industry and locals using the highway

Despite some unavoidable vegetation clearing, minimising this has been a key focus for the project. A range of options were assessed for the road design. In addition to design strategies, such as safety barriers, kerbing and steeper roadside batters, we are minimising environmental impacts as far as possible.

Initiatives to reduce the project footprint include:  

• Development of an Environmental Management Plan to manage and minimise vegetation clearing.
• Revegetating part of the original road, once it is open.
• Revegetating an area larger than what is cleared, using local native species to reflect biodiversity values.

• January 2021: Construction start
• May 2021: Construction suspended for Winter
• June 2021: Retaining wall construction
• September 2021: Project recommences
• April 2022: Project completion