$10.4m contract awarded for Albany Ring Road stage one

Construction of stage one of the Albany Ring Road will commence this month, linking South Coast Highway and Albany Highway in the City of Albany.

Planning and Infrastructure minister Alannah MacTiernan announced that Ertech Pty Ltd had been awarded the $10.4million roadworks contract to construct 6.5km of new road.

Ms MacTiernan said the work on the new road would also include the provision of acceleration lanes and protected turning pockets on the Albany Highway and South Coast Highway intersections.

"The work will assist in managing the increase in heavy vehicle traffic associated with the agro-forestry industry, by providing a bypass around the Albany townsite for heavy vehicles," the Minister said.

"Equally importantly, it will provide a link to the woodchip mill at Mirambeena estate, ensuring more chips are taken to port by rail."

Albany MLA Peter Watson agrees the bypass is required and that locals have waited a long time for the solution to road-train traffic issues in the city.

"It is a very important part of getting grain and wood trucks off our roads to improve safety and access for the local community," Mr Watson said.

Stage one of the Albany Ring Road also caters for long-term residential expansion by providing a link between Albany Highway and the airport and the growth areas of Bayonet Head and Lower King.

"Stage one of the Albany Ring Road provides the initial stage of the complete road which will eventually allow a heavy haulage priority access route to Albany Port, without entering urban and commercial areas of the city," Ms MacTiernan said.

She said Ertech Pty Ltd had a regional presence in Albany and had declared it would be using regional goods and services, estimated at $1.6million.

The contract will begin this month, with a completion date of April 2007.

The Carpenter Government is ensuring that regional Western Australia receives its fair share.