THE final stage of NorthLink WA, which will allow motorists to travel from Muchea to Kewdale without having to stop at traffic lights, was due to open this afternoon.
In February the opening of the third and final stage – a 22km dual carriageway highway between Ellenbrook and Muchea – was delayed for two months.
In a construction update on February 22 Main Roads WA said the surface of the northern section was two-coat seal, which was laid differently to the asphalt used on the central and southern sections.
“Two-coat seal is a surface type commonly used on regional roads,’’ the update said.
The update said the final stage would open in late April and in the meantime workers would lay the re-seal coat, sweep the road, roll it and apply the line-marking.
Today Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and Pearce MHR Christian Porter were both in Muchea to announce the opening of Western Australia’s biggest road infrastructure project.
The $1.02 billion NorthLink WA project, which is an extension of the Tonkin Hwy, has been a collaboration across successive governments, having initially been funded in the 2013 federal Budget as the Swan Valley Bypass and continued under the current state and federal governments.
Ms Saffioti said the new Tonkin Hwy would be capable of carrying more than double the current number of vehicles.
“A round trip between the major freight hubs of Kewdale and Muchea will save around 20 minutes, which is a great boost to productivity,” she said.
“Around 3200 trucks a day will be removed from Great Northern Hwy south of Stock Rd, which will provide a huge relief to residents, growers, tourism businesses and visitors in the Swan Valley.’’
Mr Porter said the new highway would make a big difference to those driving freight, people trying to get into the city and people looking for employment in Muchea.
He said key infrastructure projects like NorthLink WA would make the northern suburbs even more accessible and primed for future growth.
