The final link in the Kwinana Freeway Principal Shared Path (PSP), between Leach Highway and Mount Henry Bridge, is now complete.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti today opened the new 880 metre section of path providing riders and walkers a safe, continuous off-road route to travel between Perth and Mandurah.
The four-metre-wide PSP, providing ample space for users, was constructed by local company Georgiou as part of a $16 million project which also included an underpass, local path connections, amenity walls and lighting.
Part of the new section between Leach Highway and Mount Henry Bridge was opened to the community in February while finishing works were undertaken to upgrade the existing path north of Cranford Avenue.
While these final touches took place, Perth artist Darren Hutchens transformed the underpass into a vibrant piece of art, creating a visual exploration of the habitats and inhabitants of the area.
Darren's artwork focuses on the native flora and fauna of the foreshore location and is inspired by the history of the area and its connection to the river, especially where it borders the waters of Bull Creek.
Construction of this project started in early 2021 and required approximately 20,000 square metres of land to be levelled to build the new path within the freeway reserve. In addition, more than 1,000 cubic metres of material was removed to build the Cranford Avenue underpass.
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Completion of this vital missing link means riders and walkers of all abilities can now enjoy an uninterrupted journey on a high-quality path, all the way from Mandurah to the Perth CBD.
"Journeys have also been made much safer for everyone, creating a completely off-road facility eliminating the interaction between people walking and riding, and driving along Selway Road and the busy Cranford Avenue.
"Over the past five years, the number of people riding in WA has grown substantially and our Government is building the infrastructure to match.
"As we have seen with our record investment in cycling infrastructure, when we put the paths in place, people use them."
As stated by Bateman MLA Kim Giddens:
"Walking and cycling are both very important activities for mental and physical health.
"My family and I love to ride along the river, and it makes a big difference when there are top quality Principal Shared Paths.
"This new connection provides an uninterrupted connection between Perth and Mandurah and I'm sure is going to prove very popular."
