The McGowan Government is delivering on another of its election commitments today, with the announcement that local Western Australian civil construction firm, Densford Civil has been awarded a $6.4 million contract for safety improvement works along South Coast Highway in Albany.
Premier Mark McGowan and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti visited the stretch of road between Killarney Road and Montgomery’s Winery today, to mark the start of the $30 million election commitment to improve safety on the highway between Albany and Jerramungup.
The project involves the reconstruction and widening of this 2.3 kilometre section of the highway, and also includes construction of a westbound passing lane and upgrades to the Mead Road intersection.
South Coast Highway is an important freight transport corridor servicing the ports at Albany and Esperance; this section carries on average 1,600 vehicles per day, of which 20.4 per cent are heavy vehicles.
Works are expected to commence in February 2019, and be completed by May 2019, under the management of Main Roads’ Great Southern Region.
As noted by Premier Mark McGowan:
“One of my Government’s top priorities is fixing regional roads.
“Locals have held concerns over the safety of South Coast Highway for a long time, and our planned upgrades will address these issues. It will also create better freight links for the region and improve connection to tourism opportunities for locals and tourists.
“This is yet another example of the significant commitment the State Government has made to improving safety on regional roads.”
As noted by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
“These works, which are part of the State Government’s $30 million election commitment to upgrade sections of South Coast Highway, are the first in a series planned for the region over the next three years.
“Once complete, these works will significantly improve traffic flow in the area and increase safety for road users.
“These works are also a continuation of the good work Main Roads has been doing to South Coast Highway, with the recent completion of widening works from Millbrook Road to Killarney Road and the major improvement to the Cheynes Beach section in 2018.”
As noted by Albany MLA Peter Watson:
“It’s great to see our election commitment for widening and the installation of passing lanes on South Coast Highway starting with this section of the highway.
“I still remember the day in April 2016 driving South Coast Highway with Mark when he was Opposition Leader, showing him firsthand why this major freight and tourist road needed upgrading and passing lanes.”
