The final section of the Albany Ring Road project has officially opened to traffic.
This week trucks and passenger vehicles could access the section between South Coast Highway and Hanrahan Road/Frenchman Bay Road which was the last remaining segment in the 11-kilometre connection.
It’s been called the biggest road infrastructure project ever undertaken in Western Australia’s Great Southern region.
The Albany Ring Road links Menang Drive east of Albany Highway and Princess Royal Drive, including three grade-separated interchanges at Albany Highway, South Coast Highway and Hanrahan Road.
The northern section of the ring road, between Albany Highway and South Coast Highway, as well as the new Frenchman Bay Road interchange, opened to traffic before Easter.
The new road will divert heavy vehicles around Albany, improving freight efficiency and underpinning the long-term economic viability of Albany Port.
It will also reportedly improve traffic flow and safety on the existing road network by reducing heavy vehicles on Albany Highway, South Coast Highway and Chester Pass Road.
There are currently hundreds of trucks moving back and forth from the port each day and these movements increase significantly during harvest. The new ring road removes these trucks from the local road network.
The project has invested approximately $54 million in Great Southern businesses, supporting local jobs and contracting opportunities.
WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti described the Albany Ring Road as a once-in-a-generation project for the Great Southern region.
“The issue of heavy vehicles having to use local roads to access the port has long been a concern, which is why our Government made this commitment to the people of Albany and the Great Southern,” she said.
“Removing heavy vehicles from the existing local network will improve safety on Chester Pass Road, Albany Highway and South Coast Highway and enhance amenity for local residents and visitors alike.
“The new ring road will support the future economic growth of Albany and the Great Southern region by making truck movements to and from the Port of Albany as efficient as possible.”
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the project safeguarded the long-term viability and efficiency of the Port of Albany by providing free flowing road access.
“This will ultimately improve competitiveness of exports from the region,” she said.
Meanwhile, the State Government has committed for a new flyover at the intersection of Menang Drive and Chester Pass Road.
The new flyover will maximise the efficiency of the Albany Ring Road route by providing free-flowing access from Chester Pass Road all the way to the port.
The $225 million project is jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments, with the Australian Government contributing $173 million, including an additional $33 million funded in the 2024-25 Federal Budget.
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