Media Release: Tenderers shortlisted to deliver Perth's first Smart Freeway

Western Australian motorists will soon have a more efficient Kwinana Freeway with potential contractors shortlisted for the $47 million Kwinana Freeway Smart Freeways project.

Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher said the Smart Freeway project will use technology to create an additional lane by converting the emergency lane from Canning Highway to the Narrows Bridge into a full-time traffic lane.

“The high-tech components of this project are expected to deliver journey time savings of up to 10 minutes for freeway road users travelling from Roe Highway to the city,” Mr Fletcher said.

“The Turnbull Government is delivering almost $7 billion worth of infrastructure projects in Western Australia and this project is another example of how that funding is boosting the state’s economy.”

Western Australian Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti said the technology in use has proven successful around the world for managing congestion, improving safety and getting the most out of existing infrastructure.

“This is a state first, with the upgrade the first use of Smart Freeways technology in Perth,” Ms Saffioti said.

“Investment in a number of priority projects around the state highlights the McGowan Government’s commitment to boosting the economy and creating jobs for West Australians.”

Federal Member for Swan Steve Irons said the important freeway project formed part of the $2.3 billion WA Infrastructure Package which is expected to support 6,000 jobs.

“The project from Canning Highway to the Narrows Bridge will allow us to create additional freeway capacity along this critical corridor and will be complemented with ramp signals at Farrington Road, South Street, Leach Highway and Cranford Avenue. These will balance the flow of traffic onto the freeway and ease stop-start conditions,” Mr Irons said.

The shortlisted contractors – Intelligent Transport Alliance (CPB Contractors Pty Ltd, Lendlease Services Pty Ltd, Jacobs Group (Australia) Pty Ltd and SICE Pty Ltd), Perth Smart Alliance (Georgiou Group Pty Ltd and WSP), and SmartWays Alliance (BMD Constructions Pty Ltd, Ventia Pty Ltd and Arup Group) – have been invited to submit proposals by March 2018, with construction expected to start in late-2018.

Perth’s first Smart Freeway is expected to be operating by early 2020.