Perth’s newest smart freeway is now complete – a relief for drivers who have dealt with traffic delays and diversions to and from work for the better part of 18 months.
It’s expected to open at the end of December following some testing.
The construction along the Mitchell Freeway southbound cost $209.6 million of state and federal government funds, with an additional $214 million spent on widening the road between Hodges Drive and Hepburn Avenue.
Perth’s Mitchell Freeway.Credit: Getty
It included new traffic signals on all 16 on-ramps, 23 overhead gantries with lane-use and variable-speed signs, and digital message signs to inform motorists of traffic conditions in real time.
The estimated 60,000 motorists who use the stretch of road each morning can expect to shave seven minutes off their daily drive. The 190,000 who use the road each day will also save some time on their journey.
The speed limit will change back to 100 kilometres per hour on Saturday.
WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said it would make merging, “always a hot topic at the dinner table of Western Australian households”, much easier.
“Our government is focused on ensuring infrastructure keeps pace with our growing population and this project is a great example of that,” she said.
“By using technology, we can make journeys safer, smoother and faster for everyone, particularly at merge points where vehicles join the freeway.
“I want to thank the community for their patience. I know the delivery of freeway works can cause frustration, but we will see big improvements before the end of the year including the removal of traffic management.”
The Mitchell Freeway is the second in Perth to be given a ‘smart’ upgrade.
The first along the Kwinana Freeway northbound, finished in August 2020, with motorists continuing to experience a safer journey and save up to six minutes between Roe Highway and the Narrows Bridge to the city during the morning commute.
While smart freeway works are complete, traffic management and diversions will remain in place around the Stephenson Avenue Extension project, which is expected to be completed in the middle of next year.
The project has been beset by delays and cost blowouts, with speculation that conflicting views among stakeholders initially prevented designs from being approved.
The state government is also planning to extend Tonkin Highway by an additional 14 kilometres in the near future.
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