The contract to design and construct the $133.9 million second stage of the Bunbury Port Access Road has been awarded to South West-based contractor Fulton Hogan.


Western Australian Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the project would improve access to the port and Picton industrial area serviced by South Western Highway, and reduce congestion on Robertson Drive in Bunbury.

 

Construction is about to start with completion planned for March 2013.


The $36.1million first stage of the project, Willinge Drive between the port and Picton, was opened to traffic early in 2010.


Stage two will see Willinge Drive extended from Picton to the Bunbury Outer Ring Road and the Bunbury Outer Ring Road constructed between South Western Highway and the Boyanup-Picton Road.”


The total project, worth $170million, is was being jointly funded by the Federal and State governments.


This stage of the project offers an alternative route for freight vehicles from South Western Highway to the Bunbury Port and the Perth-Bunbury Highway, bypassing the congested sections of Robertson Drive between South Western Highway and the Eelup Rotary.


It forms part of the planned expansion of the road network, which includes the Bunbury Outer Ring Road, to cater for future growth of traffic on the road network and facilitate development of the Bunbury Port and South-West industry.