Smart Freeway - Mitchell Southbound

Construction activities kick off

Traffic has been shifted to a temporary alignment from Hester Avenue to Warwick Road. This will remain in place for several months whilst we construct a third lane adjacent to the freeway median.

Read about the impacts under the "Roadworks" section below.

Finalising the detailed design 

Detailed design is being finalised from Hester Avenue to Warwick Road for freeway ramp modifications, emergency lane and stopping bays and the shared path. Some of the activities include:

• Geotechnical and site investigations
• Environmental approvals
• Noise monitoring and assessment
• Consultation with key stakeholders 

Learn more in the May Project Update (PDF).

Currently in procurement 

Three consortia have been shortlisted to submit design and construction proposals for the roll-out of smart technologies from Reid Highway to Vincent Street:

• CPB, GHD, UGL and SAGE
• Intelligent Freeways Alliance (NRW, Lendlease Services, WSP)
• SmartWays Alliance (BMD, Ventia, Arup).

A consortia is where contractors come together with their resources and expertise to deliver a project.

The contract is expected to be awarded later this year.

Read more in the latest Media Statement.

Hester Avenue to Warwick Road

• Early-2019: Project planning and development
• February 2021: Contract award
• May 2021: Construction started
• Late 2023: Estimated completion

Reid Highway to Vincent Street

• Mid-2020: Project planning and development
• January 2021: Procurement process commenced
• Late-2021: Contract award
• Early-2022: Anticipate construction to start
• Late-2023: Estimated completion

Freeway widening - A new lane will be added southbound from Hodges Drive to Hepburn Avenue, and a new dedicated lane added from Hepburn Avenue entry ramp to Warwick Road exit ramp, to provide a safe distance for motorists to enter or exit the freeway.

Smart technology - The next ‘Smart Freeway’ is being rolled out from Hester Avenue to Vincent Street. Modifications will be undertaken at each of the 16 entry ramps with co-ordinated signals, and incorporate Smart Freeway technologies at key locations closer to Perth CBD. These technologies will include overhead electronic signs which can display speed reductions and let you know when a lane is closed ahead.

Active transport - Both new and upgraded shared paths will be constructed to create a high standard route between Ocean Reef Road to Warwick Station.

Safety upgrades and additional works include:

• Concrete and safety barriers
• Emergency stopping bays and emergency breakdown lane
• Lighting
• Drainage
• Noise and amenity walls
• Resurfacing and line marking where required

Changed road conditions - ongoing 

• Traffic will be shifted to the emergency and left lanes
• Speed reduced to 80 km/h with reduced lane widths 

Community Reference Group

CRG Workshop summaries are available here:

• CRG Workshop Summary - 19 October 2021 (PDF)
• CRG Workshop Summary - 24 August 2021 (PDF)
• CRG Workshop Summary - 20 July 2021 (PDF)

The CRG will be a sounding board and has been formed to:

• Assist in identifying, discussing and providing advice on stakeholder issues associated with the design of the shared path, and noise and amenity walls.
• Receive information from our team and the contractor for sharing with the wider community.
• View draft designs and provide representative stakeholder input into details, such as noise wall design, landscaping, and wayfinding.
• Provide advice on any additional ways to communicate with local residents, businesses and/or other stakeholders.
• The CRG remit is bounded by the project site boundary, and performs an advisory and consultative role to Main Roads

We make every effort to minimise impact on the surrounding environment.

Flora, vegetation and fauna surveys for the project were completed in 2019 and 2020. These surveys helped inform the planning and design of the proposal.

Learn more in our Environmental Fact Sheet (PDF). 

Below is the EPBC 2020/8833 referral documentation.

• EPBC Referral - Part 1 - PDF (18.3 MB)
• EPBC Referral - Part 2 - PDF (18.3 MB)
• EPBC Referral - Part 3 - PDF (18.9 MB)
• EPBC Referral - Part 4 - PDF (18.9 MB)
• EPBC Referral - Part 5 - PDF (18.8 MB)
• EPBC Referral - Part 6 - PDF (11.2 MB)

In accordance with Section 95A(3) of the EPBC Act, the preliminary documentation for the proposed action were made available for public comment from Thursday 8 July to Friday 23 July 2021.

• EPBC Preliminary Documentation - PDF (611 KB)
• EPBC Preliminary Documentation - Part 1 - PDF (18.9 MB)
• EPBC Preliminary Documentation - Part 2 - PDF (18.7 MB)
• EPBC Preliminary Documentation - Part 3 - PDF (18.4 MB)
• EPBC Preliminary Documentation - Part 4 - PDF (18.7 MB)
• EPBC Preliminary Documentation - Part 5 - PDF (18.3 MB)
• EPBC Preliminary Documentation - Part 6 - PDF (18.8 MB)
• EPBC Preliminary Documentation - Part 7 - PDF (18.8 MB)
• EPBC Preliminary Documentation - Part 8 - PDF (18.8 MB)
• EPBC Preliminary Documentation - Part 9 - PDF (16.8 MB)

On 5 October 2021, the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER) approved our application for a Native Vegetation Clearing Permit, under Section 51C of the Environmental Protection Act 1986 (EP Act), to clear native vegetation for this section of the works.

To facilitate construction of the shared path and works on the Hodges Drive and Hepburn Avenue entry ramps, a small area of native vegetation will be cleared under the Main Roads state-wide clearing permit CPS818/15 issued by DWER.

• Create more reliable journey times
• Reduce congestion, particularly during morning peak
• Alleviate pressure on local roads
• Allow traffic to be managed in real-time 
• Use existing infrastructure more efficiently to cater to future demand

Project Updates

• Construction Update - September 2021 - PDF (1.67 MB) 
• Project Update - May 2021 - PDF (527 KB)
• Project Update - May 2020 - PDF (1.13 MB)

Project Information

• Principal Shared Path Fact Sheet - July 2021 - PDF (462 KB)
• Environmental Fact Sheet - July 2021 - PDF (762 KB)
• Noise Mitigation Fact Sheet - March 2021 - PDF (315 KB)

Management Plans

• Noise and Vibration Management Plan - PDF (1.5 MB)

Media Statements

• Job-creating transformation of Mitchell Freeway now underway - 16 May 2021
• Major transformation of Mitchell Freeway southbound a step closer - 16 April 2021
• Transformation to Mitchell Freeway southbound continues - 28 January 2021
• Major infrastructure projects developing Stirling into a hub of activity - 11 January 2021
• Mitchell Freeway gets smart with $100 million for time saving technology - 8 October 2020
• Quicker safer journeys for Mitchell Freeway southbound users - 23 June 2020
• Expressions of Interest sought for Mitchell Freeway southbound upgrade - 9 March 2020
• I​​nfrastructure to boost jobs and bust congestion - 20 November 2019

Funding

The Smart Freeway contract is jointly funded by the Australian ($70 million) and Western Australian ($70 million) Governments, while the additional lane from Hodges Drive to Hepburn Avenue and shared path upgrades are jointly funded by the Federal and State Governments and estimated to cost $76 million.