Opening date for MASSIVE Mitchell Freeway extension revealed

An opening date has been set for certainly one of Perth’s largest infrastructure initiatives within the northern hall after a price blow-out and delays.

Early works for the $215 million Mitchell Freeway extension challenge from Clarkson to Alkimos started in 2019 after 50 per cent of the challenge value was secured from the Commonwealth.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti stated ongoing provide chain disruptions have been to be blamed for the challenge value ballooning out by $17m to $232m.

“So we reset the construction timetable early on and because of it in 2021 it commenced,” Ms Saffioti stated.

“But it’s because of all the challenges through a very heated construction and market supply chain interruptions — and of course some of the aftermath of COVID.”

The freeway has now been prolonged north from Hester Avenue in Clarkson by to Romeo Road in Alkimos, creating a brand new high-standard north-to-south transport hyperlink in Perth’s northwest.

Federal Pearce MP Tracey Roberts stated the much-needed street linkage would make an enormous distinction to the rising native catchment by slicing journey time and connecting folks to jobs and alternatives throughout the suburbs.

“This is what community power has done — creating this beautiful piece of infrastructure will make such a difference to the fastest and largest known areas in WA, or one of the fastest in Australia,” she stated.

“Big smiles here and a huge thank you to every concerned community member that put their support behind this.”

In addition to the extension, there can be new freeway entry factors at Lukin Drive, Butler Boulevard, and Romeo Road.

Romeo Road was in-built collaboration with Metronet, in addition to the brand new east-west street hyperlink from Wanneroo Road to Marmion Avenue which is a brand new bridge over rail on Romeo Road as a part of the Yanchep rail extension works.

It would be the first of a set of street, rail, and biking enhancements to be accomplished to assist the enlargement and progress of Perth’s quickly rising northern hall.

This consists of the Metronet Yanchep rail extension and the set up of Smart Freeway know-how on the Mitchell freeway southbound between Hester Avenue to Vincent Street.

“There’s a lot happening in this northern corridor. As our communities continue to grow north to Yanchep through to Alkimos, there’s a lot of new houses being built through this entire corridor,” Ms Saffioti stated.

“This infrastructure is keeping pace with new housing. In the past, I think there’s been a real delay between rail infrastructure and road infrastructure to the suburbs.”