A $1 billion road extension and upgrade project has officially moved into major construction in Perth’s south-east corridor.
The project promises significant freight, safety and employment gains for Western Australia.
The Tonkin Highway Extension and Thomas Road Upgrade will extend Tonkin Highway 14 kilometres south from Thomas Road to South Western Highway and duplicate 4.5 kilometres of Thomas Road.
Once completed in late 2028, the corridor is expected to carry more than 60,000 vehicles a day.
The works include new grade-separated interchanges, underpasses and roundabouts, with provisions for shared cycling and pedestrian paths along the alignment. In a first for the corridor, equine crossings designed with local users will also be delivered.
The project is designed to divert thousands of heavy vehicles from suburban streets in Byford, Armadale, Kelmscott and Gosnells, while strengthening freight efficiency and improving travel times across the fast-growing corridor.
“Extending Tonkin Highway will be critical to getting the larger, heavy freight off local roads, making them safer for locals but also improving the efficiency of supply chains and the movement of goods around our State,” said WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.
The $1 billion project is jointly funded, with the Albanese Government contributing $749 million.
“It will not only deliver safer, faster and more efficient connections, but also create thousands of jobs and strong opportunities for local businesses,” Acting Federal Infrastructure Minister Julie Collins said.
An estimated 4,400 jobs are expected to be created through the program. Opportunities will also extend to local suppliers, contractors and First Nations businesses.
The works are timed to complement METRONET’s Byford Rail Extension, due to open in October 2025. Once both projects are operational, the south-east will see expanded road, rail and active transport options to support its rapid population growth.
Early site establishment and traffic realignments are already underway, with large-scale earthworks, bridge construction and interchange development to follow in the coming months.
Federal Member for Burt Matt Keogh said the upgrades would “make journeys faster and safer”, while Darling Range MP Hugh Jones acknowledged the impact on residents, thanking the community for its “patience and understanding during this time of growth and transformation”.
