New Perth Bunbury Highway on schedule - 28 September 2007
The New Perth Bunbury Highway, which will reduce the trip between the two cities by approximately 30 minutes, is well underway and is presently on schedule for its December 2009 completion date.
The road will result in a 70.5 kilometre dual carriageway that bypasses Mandurah, with 32kms of the construction developed to freeway standard.
Work began in December 2006, with much of the land already prepared for ongoing works. More than 350 people are expected to work on the project.
The project will use:
- 10 million tonnes of sand;
- One million tonnes of crushed rock;
- 4.9 million cubic metres of limestone, crushed base course and ferricrete gravel – enough to fill the Melbourne Cricket Ground from playing field to three-tier stand three times over.
Nineteen bridges will be built as part of the new highway, including a 272-metre bridge across the Murray River.
Five interchanges, nine intersections, 15 fauna underpasses and five pedestrian underpasses will also be built as part of the new construction.
Construction work will follow stringent environmental guidelines, including the re-spreading of 260,000 cubic metres of top soil and the planned planting of 300,000 new native seedlings along the 70.5km alignment.
New fauna habitats will also be developed through the recycling of trees from road clearing operations.
The work is being carried out by Southern Gateway Alliance, an alliance of three road construction industry leaders – Leighton Contractors, WA Limestone and GHD, working in conjunction with Main Roads.
For more information:
Scott Maclean
ph: 9792 2000