A dangerous Forrestfield intersection will be fixed and a new three kilometre cycle path will be built in High Wycombe following a $3 million funding boost from the McGowan Government.
The McGowan Labor Government is progressing with the plans to build the new $900,000 roundabout at the Hale Road and Woolworths Drive intersection in Forrestfield - in line with an election commitment made before the 2017 State Election.
Premier Mark McGowan, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti, Forrestfield MLA Stephen Price and Kalamunda MLA Matthew Hughes visited the intersection today as part of the McGowan Government's Kalamunda-Forrestfield Community Cabinet meeting.
The current intersection is a growing frustration for local residents in the Kalamunda and Forrestfield areas due to heavy congestion during shopping hours, particularly at weekends.
Traffic on Hale Road regularly banks up due to vehicles needing to wait to cross oncoming traffic to enter the Forrestfield shopping precinct, causing a significant safety issue.
The City of Kalamunda is currently working with Main Roads Western Australia to finalise the design of the roundabout, which is set to be constructed by early 2020.
Meanwhile, the McGowan Government has also allocated an additional $2.75 million to build a new cycle path along Roe Highway between Berkshire Road and Maida Vale Road.
The new funding adds 1.8 kilometres to the existing commitment to construct a 1.25 kilometre section of principal shared path (PSP) as part of the Roe Highway-Kalamunda Road interchange upgrade.
The project will now connect Kalamunda Road to the PSP's current dead end at Berkshire Road in Forrestfield and will be built on the eastern side of Roe Highway, connecting the communities of Forrestfield, Maida Vale and High Wycombe.
As stated by Premier Mark McGowan:
"I committed to fixing this roundabout with the then candidate, now Forrestfield MLA Stephen Price before the election and I am pleased to return with the solution.
"This new roundabout is much needed as it will help residents, businesses and commuters navigate the area more easily, and importantly, it will improve safety and it will ease congestion along Hale Road."
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"Building on the significant additions to the PSP network that are now underway across Perth and wider WA, this project provides greater connections to the popular Kalamunda hills area for sports cycling enthusiasts.
"I look forward to working with the busy local members Matthew Hughes and Stephen Price to look at more ways we can harness the popularity of the area for cyclists."
As stated by Forrestfield MLA Stephen Price:
"The road upgrades and cycling paths in the area are welcomed by everyone who lives nearby or travels through the area every day.
"The new roundabout might seem a small investment but it will fix a problem all shoppers and all motorists in the Forrestfield area have faced at some point."
As stated by Kalamunda MLA Matthew Hughes:
"The new PSP will also improve links to schools, workplaces and recreational areas in the eastern suburbs and has the potential to foster more cycling tourism with economic benefits for the Perth hills.
"It's been wonderful to have the Premier and Cabinet Ministers out and about in the Perth hills for this latest Community Cabinet meeting where they've been able to see firsthand the progress of all the new and exciting initiatives and projects."
