Bunbury Port Access and Outer Ring Road (Stage 1)

Project Description

The Bunbury Port Access Road (Stages 1 and 2) and Stage 1 of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road will provide an efficient and safe road link to the Bunbury Inner Harbour and will separate heavy vehicles accessing the Port from local traffic in the City of Bunbury.  The project has been divided into two stages:

• Bunbury Port Access Road Stage 1:  The Bunbury Port Access Road has been constructed from Estuary Drive near Bunbury Port to the South Western Highway (north) near Picton; and
• Bunbury Port Access Road Stage 2 and Bunbury Outer Ring Road Stage 1:  The Bunbury Port Access Road will be extended from the South Western Highway (north) to the yet to be commenced Stage 1 of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road.  Stage 1 of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road will link the Picton Boyanup Road and the South Western Highway (south).

Benefits

Freight and other traffic volumes have risen significantly in recent years and will continue to increase rapidly. The construction of the Port Access Road, including a link to the Australind Bypass, will provide:

• a more direct route to the Port for heavy vehicles and vehicles travelling north on the South Western Highway and the Kwinana Freeway Extension – Forrest Highway;
• a more direct route for vehicles travelling from the south on the Boyanup Picton Road (trucks are expected to divert from the South Western Highway south to the Boyanup Picton Road at Boyanup);
• a more direct route between the Port and the Picton Industrial Area;
• efficient access to the Kwinana Freeway Extension – Forrest Highway from Picton and, with the recently completed Kwinana Freeway Extension – Forrest Highway, will provide a safer and more efficient route to Perth and thus reduce heavy traffic utilising the South Western Highway to the north;
• a reduction in the volume of heavy traffic on Robertson Road and associated intersections; and
• improved freight efficiency into and out of the Bunbury Port Inner Harbour.

Funding

The Australian Government has committed $136 million to the project, in partnership with the Western Australian Government.

Timetable

Construction of the Bunbury Port Access Road (Stage 1) commenced in January 2009 and was completed in February 2010.

The timing for commencement of construction of the Bunbury Port Access Road (Stage 2) and Bunbury Outer Ring Road (Stage 1) is yet to be finalised.