One of the biggest road transport infrastructure investments to ever be delivered in the southeast corridor of Perth, Western Australia, has begun.
The $1 billion Tonkin Highway Extension and Thomas Road Upgrade will deliver a 14-kilometre extension of highway from Thomas Road to the South Western Highway and duplicate 4.5 kilometres of Thomas Road.
The project is expected to strengthen freight efficiency, significantly improve road safety and reduce congestion for one of the fastest-growing regions in the state.
Once complete in late 2028, the project will:
- provide safer and more efficient journeys for more than 60,000 vehicles expected to use the corridor daily;
- remove thousands of heavy vehicles off local roads, reducing pressure on communities in Byford, Armadale, Kelmscott and Gosnells;
- deliver new grade-separated interchanges, underpasses and roundabouts to improve traffic flow and safety;
- introduce new shared paths for cyclists and pedestrians along the entire extension, and equine crossings designed in consultation with local users; and
- complement the METRONET Byford Rail Extension, due to open on 13 October 2025, ensuring balanced transport choices for the region.
With early works including site establishment and traffic realignments underway, workers will now transition into major construction.
Large-scale earthworks, bridge structures and interchange building are set to ramp up over the coming months.
WA Transport Minister, Rita Saffioti, said the project, totalling over $1 billion, will be essential to increasing supply chain efficiency and productivity.
“Extending Tonkin Highway will be critical to getting the larger, heavy freight off local roads, making them safer for locals but also improving the efficiency of supply chains and the movement of goods around our state,” she said.
“This is a once-in-a-generation project that will transform Perth’s south-east, improve safety, and create thousands of critical jobs for Western Australians.”
State Member for Darling Range, Hugh Jones, said the diversion of heavy vehicles will benefit motorists and local traffic in the area.
“As our community continues to grow, this project will provide safer and more efficient connections to improve ease of movement and separate local traffic from heavy freight on our roads,” he said.
“I would like to acknowledge and thank people for their patience and understanding during this time of growth and transformation for our community.”
In other news, HELLA Australia Managing Director, Darren Robinson, has announced his resignation.
