A $1 BILLION Tonkin Highway extension and Thomas Road upgrade will provide a freight backbone for Perth’s growing southern corridor.
The project will deliver a 14-kilometre extension of Tonkin Highway from Thomas Road to South Western Highway and duplicate 4.5 kilometres of Thomas Road creating a non-stop transport link between Oakford, Mundijong, and key freight routes.
The state government announced on Sunday that work had started on the project which is due to be completed in 2028.
The extension will remove thousands of heavy vehicles from local roads in areas like Byford, Armadale, and Kelmscott, easing congestion and improving safety.
The upgrade lays the groundwork for efficient port access, especially for freight heading south towards Bunbury or east towards the wheatbelt.
It is is one of the biggest road transport infrastructure investments ever delivered in Perth's south-east corridor.
The government release claims that the project will significantly improve road safety, reduce congestion and strengthen freight efficiency for one of the fastest-growing regions in the state.
More than 60,000 vehicles are expected to use the corridor daily and will remove thousands of heavy vehicles off local roads, reducing pressure on communities in Byford, Armadale, Kelmscott and Gosnells.
New grade-separated interchanges, underpasses and roundabouts will improve traffic flow and safety.
The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian governments with a $749 million contribution from the federal government.
WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the project will transform Perth's south-east, improve safety, and create thousands of jobs for Western Australians.
"Extending Tonkin Highway will be critical to getting the larger, heavy freight off local roads, making them safer for locals but also improving the efficiency of supply chains and the movement of goods around our State,” Ms Saffioti said.