Congestion at the Canning Bridge and Kwinana Freeway interchange is set to improve with the construction of a new southbound freeway on-ramp from Manning Road in Como.
Federal Minister for Population, Cities, and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said improving freeway access will bust congestion for local and regional road users.
“It forms part of a transformative road improvement program, with seven congestion-busting road projects now underway in Perth’s southern suburbs,” Mr Tudge said.
“Safety enhancements including local intersection improvements, traffic efficiency and reduced travel times mean the local and wider community will benefit from this vital new freeway connection.”
Western Australian Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti said heading south from Manning Road on Kwinana Freeway currently involves an intricate path of traffic lights, freeway on and off-ramps and variable speeds – the new on-ramp will make access so much simpler.
“We expect this project to reduce pressure on other parts of the road network and to complement the many upgrades underway on the Kwinana Freeway and its connecting roads,” Ms Saffioti said.
“While there are some roadworks in the short-term, southern suburbs commuters will notice a huge difference to their travel times upon completion and we thank them for their patience.”
Federal Member for Swan Steve Irons said this project has been ranked as one of the highest priority projects for Kwinana Freeway in Como.
“The project has been funded by the Australian and State Governments’ $2.3 billion investment package in road and rail infrastructure works announced in May 2017,” Mr Irons said.
“Education facilities including Curtin University and South Metropolitan TAFE, along with commercial precincts in the areas of Cannington, Cockburn and Jandakot will also benefit from the additional access being built for the Kwinana Freeway, between Canning Highway and Leach Highway.”
Upon completion, around 7,000 vehicles per day will use the new on-ramp, reducing traffic on the Canning Highway and improving travel times by five minutes during peak hour.
Along with the new on-ramp, the project will also include construction of a southbound freeway lane from Canning Highway to Edgewater Road footbridge and a merge lane from the new on-ramp to the Kwinana Freeway, heading south.
Meanwhile, a noise wall will be constructed adjacent to Edgewater Road in Salter Point between the street and the freeway.
BMD Construction was awarded the contract in August 2019 with the new on-ramp expected to be operational in mid-2020.
The $35 million project was jointly funded with the Australian Government committing $28 million and the Western Australia Government committing $7 million.
