Margaret River Perimeter Road
| Margaret River Perimeter Road Western Australia | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Type | Highway (Under construction) |
| Location | Margaret River |
| Length | 7 km (4.3 mi) |
| Major junctions | |
| North end |
 Bussell Highway (State Route 10) |
| |
| South end |
Bussell Highway (State Route 10) |
| Highway system | |
|
Highways in Australia National Highway • Freeways in Australia Highways in Western Australia | |
| |
The Margaret River Perimeter Road is a proposed highway bypass of Margaret River, Western Australia. The seven-kilometre-long (4.3 mi) road will deviate Bussell Highway traffic, including heavy vehicles, to the east of the town, and connect to a new airport access road. It is planned to eventually be a dual carriageway, but will be initially constructed as a single carriageway, in two stages.[1] Construction of stage one, from south of Margaret River to Rosa Brook Road,[1] began in December 2014. Construction of stage two – the remaining northern section[1] – is expected to commence between January and April 2015. An extension of John Archibald Drive and the redevelopment of Bussell Highway in the town were included in the business case for constructing stage two.[2]
Stage two of the project received $60 million of funding from The Nationals Western Australia to enable a complete bypass to be constructed, rather than a "road to nowhere".[3] The state government provided the $13 million to construct stage one.[4] The total cost is projected to be $71.1 million.[5]
The project underwent an Environmental Impact Assessment and Aboriginal Heritage survey. Action will be taken to compensate for the loss of native vegetation,[2] and a zoologist was employed to identify and relocate native fauna at the start of stage one construction.[6]
The perimeter road will reduce congestion, improve safety for the many pedestrians, including tourists, that use the road, and provide heavy vehicles with a lesser gradient to ascend or descend.[7]
References
- 1 2 3 Main Roads Western Australia (November 2013). "Project Overview: Margaret River Perimeter Road" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- 1 2 Main Roads Western Australia (3 December 2014). "Margaret River Perimeter Road". Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- ↑ "Margaret River Perimeter Road goes somewhere". Augusta-Margaret River Mail. Fairfax Media. 9 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- ↑ Terry, Redman (23 August 2012). "State funds for Margaret River Perimeter Road Stage 1, Redman" (Media release). The Nationals WA. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- ↑ Jim Chown, parliamentary secretary representing the Minister for Transport (5 December 2013). "Margaret River – Perimeter Road Construction" (PDF). Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). p. 7360. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 December 2014.
- ↑ Augusta-Margaret River Times (18 November 2014). "Work starts on Margaret River bypass". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- ↑ South West Development Commission; Regional Development Australia – South West. "Margaret River Perimeter Road" (PDF). South West Action Statement. South West Development Commission. p. 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2014.