New highway set to be a boon for South West tourism
Heading south to enjoy a break during the October school holidays was a breeze for metropolitan residents, thanks to the new Perth to Bunbury Highway.
The $705 million Kwinana Freeway extension and Forrest Highway, which was jointly funded by State and Federal governments, has slashed 30 minutes off the journey between Perth and Bunbury.
Premier Colin Barnett said the continuous dual carriageway brought the South West significantly closer to the metropolitan area, bringing with it immeasurable long term economic benefits.
“It will significantly enhance tourism opportunities for the South West region, one of the most popular destinations for Western Australians as well as interstate and overseas visitors,” he said.
Bunbury Chamber of Commerce and Industries chief executive officer Allan Birrell said the Forrest Highway was a major development for Bunbury and the South West region of WA.
“The reduced travelling time for Perth residents will encourage more visitors to visit Bunbury and boost the local tourism industry,” he said.
The new highway was officially opened on Sunday September 20 and is the State’s biggest single road project.
It involved 70.5 kilometres of new dual carriageway featuring six interchanges, 10 intersections and 19 bridges.
More than 12 million tonnes of sand and one million tonnes of crushed rock base were used, while 27,000 cubic metres of concrete was laid.