NOTIFICATION OF ROAD WORKS - Kojaneerup on South Coast Highway - November 2020

Published on Tuesday, 7 July 2020 at 8:40:25 AM

South Coast Highway – Reconstruction and Provision of Passing Lane Project Kojaneerup Section – Bluff Creek Road to Kojaneerup West Road

South Coast Highway is a strategic freight and tourism route connecting the Great Southern and Goldfields-Esperance Regions.  It services the ports of Albany and Esperance and the connecting regional towns of Albany to Esperance, via Ravensthorpe, Boxwood Hill and Jerramungup.  The route is utilised by both freight vehicles (22%) and tourism related traffic (at least 10% - and approximately double this rate in peak holiday season).  Freight use largely stems from the region’s significant agricultural and mining industries, which are valued at over $7 billion per annum.

The age, design and condition of the South Coast Highway is causing significant safety issues, higher than necessary operating costs and increasing asset preservation requirements, which is adversely impacting Western Australia’s productivity.  Continued road condition decline, steady population growth, and increases in freight volumes and tourism activity, will further exacerbate these problems into the future

As part of the 2017 State Election, the State Government committed $30 million to upgrade South Coast Highway between Albany and Jerramungup. The South Coast Highway Kojaneerup Passing Lanes Project comprises the reconstruction of the South Coast Highway and provision of passing lanes either side of the Drawbin Road intersection.

Why is a detour necessary?

  • For the safety of the public and our construction team, the South Coast Highway will be closed between Bluff Creek Road and Kojaneerup West Road during construction of the Project
  • The Project involves significant earthworks to bring this section of Highway up to current design standards. Height differentials (cuts and fills) of up to 5 metres will be encountered during construction;
  • The Project is situated within the Hassel National Park. Due to Main Roads’ ongoing commitment to mitigate environmental impacts, the construction of a sidetrack is not possible;
  • Constructing the project under public traffic would require 24-hour traffic control and installation of concrete barriers. The impacts to public traffic during construction are estimated to exceed the duration of the proposed detour.
  • The proposed detour reduces construction costs as well as the environmental footprint, maximises the $30 million 2017 State Election Commitment and facilitates the delivery of the Kojaneerup Passing Lane Project.

How will your journeys change?

  • East – West access will be provided via a detour onto Chillinup Road. For Albany bound traffic. this distance is approximately 25 kilometres further and is anticipated to take no more than 20 minutes;
  • Local access via the South Coast Highway will remain for all properties bound between Bluff Creek Road and Kojaneerup West Road (including properties on Warriup Road);
  • Access via the South Coast Highway will remain for emergency services and school busses;
  • Vehicles travelling between Albany and towns East of Jerramungup (inclusive) are encouraged to detour via the Gnowangerup – Jerramungup Road. This distance is approximately 10 kilometres further and is anticipated to take no longer than 10 minutes.

Please refer to the map below for further information.

Timing

The specific timing of the access changes described above is subject to our successful Contractor’s staging and Construction Management Plan. However, we envisage that temporary access restrictions will be in place from November 2020 for a period of approximately six months. We will continue to keep you updated on the timing of this project in the coming months.

Contact us

For further information, to provide your contact information or to organise a meeting with Project Representatives, please contact Susie Chapman on email via gsreg@mainroads.wa.gov.au or via telephone on 9892 0555.

We sincerely thank you for your feedback, patience and assistance during this process

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