WHILE a planning review of the northern section of the future Whiteman Yanchep Hwy is underway the highway is unlikely to be built for some years, which may disappoint drivers who want something done about the Pipidinny Rd and Wanneroo Rd intersection.
Last week Main Roads WA confirmed it is currently undertaking a planning review for the section of the proposed Whiteman Yanchep Hwy north of planning control area 173, which would confirm the preferred ultimate alignment, concept and reservation for the Whiteman Yanchep Hwy.
The planning review of the proposed Whiteman Yanchep Hwy will also confirm the highway’s preferred connection point with Wanneroo Rd, which is expected to be in the vicinity of Pipidinny Rd, according to Main Roads.
For more than a decade Whiteman Yanchep Hwy has been one of the major road changes planned for the north metropolitan area as Perth’s population grows.
In Part of proposed Whiteman Yanchep Hwy a step closer, October 30, 2023 Yanchep News Online reported that planning control area 173 for the southern part of the proposed Whiteman Yanchep Hwy from Gnangara Rd to north of Neaves Rd had been approved by Planning Minister John Carey.
The purpose of planning control area 173 was to protect for five years, lands required for the future Whiteman Yanchep Hwy and Flynn Dr extension by preventing anyone from starting or carrying out development in the area without the prior approval of the Western Australian Planning Commission.
In the years to come south east of Yanchep there is proposed development such as the Carabooda district structure plan, which over a 20-year-period is expected to provide 9200 homes and also East Wanneroo, which is expected to provide 50,000 dwellings in stages over a number of decades.
Yanchep News Online asked if the new highway would follow parts of Old Yanchep Rd but Main Roads did not confirm or deny this.
The Carabooda district structure plan – transport impact statement – January 2025 prepared for Acumen Development Solutions says regional operations model 24 hours data for 2051 provided by Main Roads in December 2024 indicated that Whiteman Yanchep Hwy was assumed to have on and off-ramps around Cutler Rd-Carabooda Rd and Wesco Rd.
The narrow left-turn lane onto Pipidinny Rd from Wanneroo Rd is often in a very poor condition. Picture: Anita McInnesYanchep News Online asked Main Roads if the proposed Whiteman Yanchep Hwy would include on and off-ramps around Cutler Rd-Carabooda Rd and Wesco Rd.
“The planning review will confirm the requirement for and location of grade separations, including on- and off-ramps,’’ a spokeswoman said.
In May 2016 then City of Wanneroo planning and sustainability acting director Mark Dickson said the proposed Whiteman Yanchep Hwy was identified in the East Wanneroo structure plan and the North West sub-regional framework.
Then in July 2016 Yanchep News Online reported an announcement by then Transport minister Dean Nalder on the major changes planned for the north metropolitan area when Perth was expected to have a population of 3.5 million by 2050, which outlined more detail on the proposal.
Mr Nalder said the Whiteman Yanchep Hwy would link Tonkin Hwy with Mitchell Fwy with the section between Tonkin Hwy and Neerabup to be built by the time Perth’s population reached 3.5 million.
At the time he said the second section of the Whiteman Yanchep Hwy also of a freeway standard from Neerabup to link with the Mitchell Fwy at Pipidinny Rd would not be built until Perth’s population was more than 3.5 million.
The Main Roads trafficmap shows that in 2024-25 from Monday to Friday an average of 3198 vehicles used Pipidinny Rd west of Wanneroo Rd.
The trafficmap shows that in 2024-25 from Monday to Friday an average of 12,666 vehicles used Wanneroo Rd south of Yanchep Beach Rd.
The only other Pipidinny Rd data Yanchep News Online could find was from 2020-21 when according to the trafficmap from Monday to Friday an average of 14,489 vehicles used Wanneroo Rd south of Pipidinny Rd.
Main Roads said in the five years to December 31, 2025 there were 12 reported crashes at the Pipidinny Rd and Wanneroo Rd intersection.
