Latest news with #MainRoads
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Why major Perth freeway might be getting extended
Nearly 20 years since it was identified as a key strategic project 'essential for the future development of WA' by the former state government, work on upgrading the Orrong Road corridor has struggled to gain momentum, but progress is finally in sight. A community panel of about 50 local residents and stakeholders has delivered its final recommendations to Main Roads WA after spending several sessions evaluating possible solutions for the congested corridor. As part of the proposed Orrong Connect upgrade, the Graham Farmer Freeway would be extended in some form all the way to Leach Highway. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Currently, about 65,000 vehicles use the corridor daily, with congestion estimated to cost the local economy up to $49.5 million annually. An upgrade to Orrong Road was flagged in 2008 by the Barnett government alongside major infrastructure projects such as the Perth City Link and Gateway WA projects, both of which are now complete. Orrong Connect would see the Graham Farmer Freeway extended to Leach Highway. Credit: Main Roads WA Despite already suffering from major traffic delays, Main Roads has stated that without major upgrades, congestion along the Orrong Road corridor will significantly worsen as population and vehicle numbers grow. Speaking to PerthNow, a Main Roads spokesperson said the business case for Orrong Connect is expected to be fully developed by early 2027, following a detailed review of the community panel's recommendations. 'The report provided by the Deliberative Panel for Orrong Road is currently being reviewed by Main Roads, including detailed assessment of the recommendations and consultation with key project stakeholders, ensuring an integrated, collaborative approach,' the spokesperson said. 'The review will assist in determining a preferred option, with next steps to include the creation of a business case for construction funding.' During these independently facilitated sessions, community panel members worked together to shape a plan aimed at 'improving safety, reducing congestion, and enhancing connectivity'. In 2019, Main Roads released an initial concept design showing plans to sink Orrong Road. Credit: Main Roads WA PerthNow requested a copy of the panel's report but Main Roads considers it premature to release the document while it is still being reviewed and assessed. Among the options expected to be considered is a sunken freeway running down the middle of Orrong Road, creating an open-air tunnel, a concept Main Roads WA first detailed six years ago. Although commuters shouldn't expect bulldozers on site anytime soon, some work is under way to improve pedestrian safety along Orrong Road. Electronic speed limit signs on the approach to the Orrong Road and Corser Street traffic warden-controlled children's crossing have recently been installed. 'Once commissioned (expected within the coming three weeks), a 40km/h speed limit will be active during school zone periods, enhancing pedestrian safety,' a Main Roads spokesperson said.
West Australian
4 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Perth traffic: Road closures and delays expected around Matildas v Slovenia game at HBF Park
Perth motorists have been advised of road delays around HBF Park ahead of the Matildas v Slovenia game on Thursday night. Main Roads issued a statement advising drivers that the following roads would be closed between 8.30pm and 10pm on June 26. The closures are expected to trigger extra delays in the area during peak afternoon traffic. Drivers should also be aware of extra foot traffic in the area. The Matildas will clash with Slovenia for the first of their four-match series in WA. The Tillies will play Slovenia again at HBF Park on June 29, before competing against Panama in Bunbury on July 5 then heading back up to HBF Park on July 8 for their second clash with Panama. Captain Sam Kerr will not be playing in Thursday's game but she thrilled fans on Wednesday when she announced that she would be signing autographs before kick off. Kerr has not played a competitive match since the end of 2023 after tearing her ACL at a training camp, but the captain still remains one of the biggest names in the game. Fans are entitled to free public transport included in their tickets on Thursday. Gates open at 5.30pm and kick off is at 7.10pm.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Road delays & traffic around major Perth sporting event
The Matildas will clash with Slovenia for the first of their four-match series in WA. Credit: @matildas Perth motorists have been advised of road delays around HBF Park ahead of the Matildas v Slovenia game on Thursday night. Main Roads issued a statement advising drivers that the following roads would be closed between 8.30pm and 10pm on June 26. Bulwer Street between Smith Street and Lord Street Pier Street southbound from Brisbane Street to Brewer Street The closures are expected to trigger extra delays in the area during peak afternoon traffic. Drivers should also be aware of extra foot traffic in the area. The Matildas will clash with Slovenia for the first of their four-match series in WA. The Tillies will play Slovenia again at HBF Park on June 29, before competing against Panama in Bunbury on July 5 then heading back up to HBF Park on July 8 for their second clash with Panama. Captain Sam Kerr will not be playing in Thursday's game but she thrilled fans on Wednesday when she announced that she would be signing autographs before kick off. Kerr has not played a competitive match since the end of 2023 after tearing her ACL at a training camp, but the captain still remains one of the biggest names in the game. Fans are entitled to free public transport included in their tickets on Thursday. Gates open at 5.30pm and kick off is at 7.10pm.
Perth Now
18-06-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Funding to help fix accident ‘hot spot' in northern suburbs
A notorious accident hot spot in Morley will receive $4 million in State Government funding to fix the road layout. Works at the intersection of McGilvray Avenue and Morley Drive include removing the right turn out of McGilvray implementing a left-in, left-out configuration, modifications to the left turn in to McGilvray and installation of a U-turn on Morley Drive between McGilvray and Bagshot Place. The City of Bayswater had advocated for the changes, highlighting the unsafe nature of the intersection and the importance of improving the road for the safety of motorists. Your local paper, whenever you want it. Bayswater mayor Filomena Piffaretti has campaigned for upgrades to the intersection since 2021. 'The city welcomes the State Government's commitment of $4m towards upgrading the intersection at McGilvray Avenue and Morley Drive,' she said. 'This is a dangerous intersection and the city has advocated to Main Roads for funding to make it safer for our community.' Bayswater North ward councillor Josh Eveson has also advocated for improvements alongside the mayor. The intersection becomes messy as there is a shopping precinct 1.2 km down the road. Credit: Sophie Gannon 'This funding shows the voices in our community are being heard,' Cr Eveson said. 'I hope this $4 million investment signals the beginning of broader upgrades in the area, particularly along Morley Drive, another major corridor in need of renewal.' WA Premier Roger Cook said it was part of a major investment to help improve some of the worst congested areas across the northern suburbs. 'WA is a rapidly growing State but my government's prudent financial management means we are able to deliver on these commitments,' he said. In a social media post from March last year, Cr Eveson shared his personal view on what he believes the works may end up looking like. Credit: Facebook 'We will never stop working to ensure Western Australians have access to the infrastructure we need.' The upgrade is part of a $113.4 million project targeting congestion 'hot spots' in Perth's north. A more detailed design of the layout is expected to be completed in 2025/26 , and community consultation will be taken, giving locals an opportunity to comment on the design.
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Yahoo
Aussie roads dark for months as sinister $100 million trend escalates
It's an illegal, dangerous and growing trend right across Australia, and now copper theft has even left streets without lights in the country's west after opportunists stripped several major thoroughfares dry. A "lucrative and attractive venture for thieves", metal theft, and in particular stealing copper, has increased in prevalence in recent years, according to police. Authorities have warned those responsible for selling items like cables to scrap metal dealers, who melt and reshape them for use in electronics. They say not only is the act costly and inconvenient to energy providers and new homeowners, it's also extremely unsafe, with tradies often left to pick up the pieces after criminals rob worksites. In WA, roads in Rockingham, Kwinana and Mandurah have been left in the dark after thieves targeted streetlights. The lights have remained out for months along stretches of the Kwinana Freeway — including the Thomas Road, Safety Bay Road and Karnup Road off-ramps — as well as throughout Rockingham, in Ravenswood, and along Old Coast Road from Falcon to Dawesville, following a spate of cable thefts, according to local publications. According to the Australian Institute of Criminology, the federal government has estimated the annual cost of metal theft is valued at well over $100 million, with criminals frequently targeting worksites, new home builds, railway lines, electricity substations, sewerage works, hospitals and even schools. In WA, the state's Main Roads department agreed. It said locally, the figure had soared into the millions. In some cases, scrap dealers offer up to $6 per kilo for pure copper, $7 per kilo for mixed copper, and $2 per kilo for copper wire. Only gold and platinum fetch higher prices, trading for as much as $50 per gram. Main Roads confirmed that copper cable theft is a growing concern, with a spokesperson stating the agency is working closely with WA Police and other authorities to "mitigate the impacts and prosecute those illegally accessing vital public infrastructure, including assisting with the identification of stolen Main Roads cable when recovered." Thieves dressed as tradies costing millions in sinister nationwide trend Tradie's disbelief as thieves 'rip out' $300 item from under home Tradie's jaw-dropping act after client allegedly refuses to pay "As a result of copper cable theft, there are currently lighting outages across the road and path network, and Main Roads is working to restore these as soon as possible," the spokesperson told Sound Telegraph. In December, the department revealed a shocking 800,000 metres of cable had been stolen over the past five or six years. It's estimated that some $3 million worth of replacement cable is required per year. Copper theft isn't just a problem in WA, though, with reports of thefts increasing in all regions of Australia and overseas. Last year, Yahoo News spoke with a tradie who was stunned to discover copper had been stolen from a property left vacant for a few weeks between tenants. Local plumber and bathroom specialist Mick was told the house he was heading to in Coffs Harbour, NSW, had "no water" inside the home, yet the new tenants moving in could hear the sound of liquid "p**sing out" from somewhere under the house. After turning on the water, Mick noticed that it was "shooting straight up" from the ground under the house. Investigating its source, he found a "little copper pipe" sticking out that looked as though it had been "ripped off". The pipe should have been supplying the entire house with water. In Queensland, where the crime is particularly prevalent, thieves cost the state a whopping $4.5 million in damages to the electrical network in 2023 alone, with culprits even reportedly dressing a tradies to avoid detection while they make away with live wires. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
