The Australian Government has provided $10 million in funding, and the Western Australian Government has committed $2.5 million, towards the Bunbury Outer Ring Road project to improve efficiency of heavy vehicle access at the Port of Bunbury.
The project will provide more efficient freight access to the Bunbury Port and reduce congestion on the local road network. Up to 15,000 vehicles a day will use various sections of the Outer Ring Road.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester, said the Australian Government’s $10 million investment towards the $12.5 million planning phase of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road project will provide the community with route certainty.
“This funding will be used to finalise the alignment, which extends from the Bussell Highway to the Forrest Highway with the primary focus on facilitating more efficient access for freight vehicles visiting Bunbury’s port and industrial centres,” Mr Chester said.
“This project is in line with the innovative developments the Australian Government will be backing over the next ten years through its $75 billion national major infrastructure projects.”
Federal Member for Forrest, Nola Marino, said stage two would likely involve construction of a southern section of road between South Western Highway (south) and Bussell Highway.
“Stage three is expected to extend from the Boyannup-Picton Road to the Forrest Highway,” Mrs Marino said.
“Once completed, it is estimated that around 10,000 to 15,000 vehicles a day will make use of various sections of the Outer Ring Road, rather than the already congested existing road network.”
The funding builds on the Australian Government’s previous commitment of $105.4 million to deliver stage one of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road and the Bunbury Port Access Road, which was completed in 2014.
