The Western Australian government has announced a staggered timeline for the opening of the Albany Ring Road as the project gets closer to its completion.
Entering its final stages, it says it will be fully open before the middle of the year.
Bridges are now in place at the South Coast Highway and Frenchman Bay Road interchanges. Ongoing works are currently focused on construction of the road surface between Lancaster Road and Princess Royal Drive, along with installation of safety barriers, signs and road markings.
The opening of the Ring Road will begin with the section between the Albany Highway interchange and the South Coast Highway bridge in March.
State transport minister Rita Saffioti says the Ring Road will provide a key transport link in WA.
“The Albany Ring Road is the largest infrastructure project ever delivered in the Great Southern region and will provide a safe, efficient, free-flowing route for heavy vehicles accessing the port,” she says.
“Importantly, the project will also remove heavy vehicles from the existing network, improving safety on Chester Pass Road, Albany Highway and South Coast Highway, and enhancing amenity for local residents and visitors alike.
“The additional interchange at Menang Drive and Chester Pass Road will allow the final link in the Albany Ring Road connection to be delivered, complementing the other new interchanges at Albany Highway, South Coast Highway and Frenchman Bay Road.”
The completed Ring Road will provide an 11km free-flowing route between Albany Highway and Princess Royal Drive, including three grade-separated interchanges at Albany Highway, South Coast Highway and Frenchman Bay Road.
Premier Roger Cook says the new road will improve freight efficiency, congestion and safety by diverting trucks around Albany.
“My government is delivering the infrastructure our regions need to support communities for the future,” he says.
“The Albany Ring Road is a strategically important project, underpinning the long-term economic strength of the Port of Albany and supporting local jobs.
“The new interchange at Menang Drive and Chester Pass Road will allow the full benefits of the Ring Road project to be realised, improving freight efficiency and the competitiveness of our exports from the Great Southern.”
Additionally, the WA government also announced the construction of a $37 million flyover at the intersection of Menang Drive and Chester Pass Road, which will begin in late 2024. This will gives drivers a direct route from Chester Pass Road to the port.
The new flyover will make the westbound turning movement from Chester Pass Road to the Albany Ring Road (Menang Drive) free-flowing, lowering the journey time for more than 6000 vehicles a day, more than half of which are heavy vehicles.
Concept designs and initial planning will continue across the first half of 2024, with construction planned to begin later this year.