Mitchell Freeway gets smart with $100 million for time-saving technology

  • $100 million allocated to bring Smart Freeways technology to the northern suburbs
  • Smart Freeways to be rolled out along the Mitchell Freeway southbound with signals installed along 16 ramps
  • Work expected to commence in late 2021, creating more than 700 jobs
  • Up to 10 minutes saved daily along Kwinana Freeway since the roll out of the technology
  • Part of the McGowan Government’s Building for Tomorrow infrastructure program
  • $11.8 billion pipeline of transport infrastructure works over the next four years
  • Smart Freeways are heading north of the river, with $100 million allocated to rolling out the technology southbound along the Mitchell Freeway.

    The project is jointly funded by the State and Commonwealth Governments and will see co-ordinated ramp signals installed along 16 ramps from Hester Avenue to Vincent Street.

    The technology will alleviate pressure on the road network, and improve safety and connectivity for people living and working in the northern suburbs.

    It will also lead to more reliable journey times and provide congestion relief for the more than 180,000 motorists per day that use Mitchell Freeway southbound, enabling the freeway to operate efficiently without stop-start conditions at merge points.

    The technology has already had great success along the Kwinana Freeway northbound, between Roe Highway and the Narrows Bridge, with motorists saving up to 10 minutes during peak hour.

    The expressions of interest for industry to deliver the project will open before the end of the year, with construction on the project to commence in late 2021.

    More than 700 direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created over the life of the project.

    As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:

    “As a frequent Kwinana Freeway user, I know how important saving 10 minutes on the daily freeway commute is – it means less time in the car and more time for family.  

    “Smart Freeways have been a success for the southern suburbs and now we’re bringing the technology to the northern suburbs, with signals to be rolled out along 16 ramps from Hester Avenue to Vincent Street along the Mitchell Freeway southbound.

    “Work will commence late next year and will create around 700 direct and indirect jobs.”

    As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:

    “Smart Freeways have been a game changer for many commuters coming into the city during peak hour – shaving up to 10 minutes off a daily commute.

    “We’ve worked hard to secure Federal funding so we can roll this out along the Mitchell Freeway southbound, which will make daily commutes quicker and easier for the 180,000 motorists that use this stretch of freeway daily.

    “We’re busting congestion in the northern suburbs – combined with the Yanchep Rail Extension, Mitchell Freeway Extension to Romeo Road and Mitchell Freeway widening from Hodges to Hepburn, the northern suburbs will be a hub of infrastructure activity.

    “You can’t visit anywhere around Western Australia without seeing workers in hard hats on the ground and works underway – we’re building the infrastructure for tomorrow.”

    /Public Release. View in full here.