A $700 MILLION project to improve the efficiency of freight moving down the Kwinana Freeway to Western Australia’s proposed Westport container port has been announced by the state and federal governments.
The freeway typically carries 100,000 vehicles a day and plans to widen it will add around 50% capacity to the new sections.
The federal government will contribute $350 million of the total cost.
As well as supporting the operations of the future Westport project, prime minister Anthony Albanese, who was in Perth for the announcement on Monday, 27 January, said it would support jobs, improve safety and ease congestion.
The upgrades to road infrastructure will also support the growing industrial areas and defence assets on the Western Trade Coast.
A federal government media release said the Westport project is the linchpin for future trade growth in Western Australia, supporting local jobs and WA’s economy for the long term.
This new funding builds on the previous $67 million joint commitment towards planning and scoping of landside enabling infrastructure for the Westport project.
“Western Australia is an economic powerhouse, and we want to make sure we are investing in future job creating projects like Westport, while still delivering the immediate congestion benefits for commuters now,” Mr Albanese said.
