Add Category
The duplication of one of Western Australia's riskiest roads is one step closer to completion with the first stage of the works along Bussell Highway opened to the public this week.
Key points:
- The highway is a major tourist route between Perth and Busselton
- The roadworks will see 17 kilometres of the road turned into a dual highway
- Busselton Mayor Grant Henley says opening the first stage will help reduce some of the road delays ahead of the busy summer period
The road links Perth and Bunbury to major tourist hotspots Busselton and Margaret River.
In 2019 the road was named the state's "riskiest" by insurance company RAC due to its narrow lanes and lack of overtaking options.
To improve the popular highway, the federal and state governments allocated $85 million to turn a 17 kilometre section between Busselton and Capel into a dual carriageway.
Main Roads, who is completing the work, has now opened two southbound lanes between Capel and Hutton Road.
A spokesman said some remaining cleaning up works would continue over the next fortnight.
He said the northbound lanes of that section will open mid-December, weather permitting.
Rain delays
Works to widen the first 5 kilometres was set to be finished in the middle of the year, but the spokesman said weather had caused serious delays.
"The worksite experienced nearly three times the monthly rainfall average in October," he said.
City of Busselton Mayor Grant Henley said the roadworks had caused headaches for drivers.
"We all know that it will be fantastic in the end and a huge leap forward in safety for those that travel on that stretch of road, but it's been a long time coming."
A slightly easier summer drive
Mayor Henley said while the newly opened lanes come head of the busy summer period, tourists should still expect some delays.
"It will push those merging zones a little further down," he said.
"[But] the road works will continue, so it won't be an overnight smooth ride but certainly it will be great to see it progressing."
Before the works, the highway could often come to a standstill on Christmas and long weekends as motorists attempted to merge into one lane.
Mayor Henley said he hoped the new lanes would make a difference this summer.
"It will shorten the bottleneck," he said.
The second and final stage of the works have already begun and will continue into next year.