TRANSPORT Minister Murray Criddle has broken his promise to consider alternative routes to the proposed Fremantle Eastern Bypass, says Fremantle City Council CEO Ray Glickman.
TRANSPORT Minister Murray Criddle has broken his promise to consider alternative routes to the proposed Fremantle Eastern Bypass, says Fremantle City Council CEO Ray Glickman.
Mr Glickman said Main Roads WA had disregarded the community consultation process after recently released WA Government documents advocated the construction of the bypass in its original form.
Main Roads wants to create a new 3.9 kilometre four-lane road from Stirling Highway through Beaconsfield, White Gum Valley and Hamilton Hill. A tunnel is proposed to allow the road to pass through Clontarf Hill.
Construction of the bypass is expected to start in 2003-04. It is expected to cost $42 million just to put in the road from High Street to Rollinson Road.
It is estimated the bypass will accommodate 46,000 cars per day by 2021. About 35,000 cars use Stirling Highway each day.
Council wanted Main Roads to investigate upgrading the Rockingham Road-Stock Road-Leach Highway-High Street route as an alternative to the proposed bypass.
Stock Road was once planned to be a six-lane highway.
“We’ve spent a lot of time and money working through the issues with stakeholder groups but Main Roads has failed to cooperate, despite continuous promises,” Mr Glickman said.
“In April we were again told a performance-based evaluation of the two options would be undertaken but so far we’ve seen nothing.
“Mr Glickman said the Stock Freeway alternative would limit the social and environmental impact of a new freight route, providing a more efficient network without disruption to streets and suburbs.
“The Stock Freeway proposal can easily be upgraded to six lanes with overpasses at intersections, making it a faster route,” .
“Our proposal avoids environmental impacts on areas including Lake Coogee, Clontarf Hill and the coastal limestone ridge around Cockburn – areas Main Roads intends to plough through with the Fremantle Eastern Bypass.”
South Metropolitan Region member Jim Scott said the Government was deliberately withholding a report comparing the costs and benefits of the bypass and the Stock Road alternative.
“In the case of the Fremantle Eastern Bypass, Richard Court plans to forever divide our community to preserve his own neighbourhood by funnelling regional traffic away from Dalkieth,” Mr Scott said.
Mr Glickman said Main Roads WA had disregarded the community consultation process after recently released WA Government documents advocated the construction of the bypass in its original form.
Main Roads wants to create a new 3.9 kilometre four-lane road from Stirling Highway through Beaconsfield, White Gum Valley and Hamilton Hill. A tunnel is proposed to allow the road to pass through Clontarf Hill.
Construction of the bypass is expected to start in 2003-04. It is expected to cost $42 million just to put in the road from High Street to Rollinson Road.
It is estimated the bypass will accommodate 46,000 cars per day by 2021. About 35,000 cars use Stirling Highway each day.
Council wanted Main Roads to investigate upgrading the Rockingham Road-Stock Road-Leach Highway-High Street route as an alternative to the proposed bypass.
Stock Road was once planned to be a six-lane highway.
“We’ve spent a lot of time and money working through the issues with stakeholder groups but Main Roads has failed to cooperate, despite continuous promises,” Mr Glickman said.
“In April we were again told a performance-based evaluation of the two options would be undertaken but so far we’ve seen nothing.
“Mr Glickman said the Stock Freeway alternative would limit the social and environmental impact of a new freight route, providing a more efficient network without disruption to streets and suburbs.
“The Stock Freeway proposal can easily be upgraded to six lanes with overpasses at intersections, making it a faster route,” .
“Our proposal avoids environmental impacts on areas including Lake Coogee, Clontarf Hill and the coastal limestone ridge around Cockburn – areas Main Roads intends to plough through with the Fremantle Eastern Bypass.”
South Metropolitan Region member Jim Scott said the Government was deliberately withholding a report comparing the costs and benefits of the bypass and the Stock Road alternative.
“In the case of the Fremantle Eastern Bypass, Richard Court plans to forever divide our community to preserve his own neighbourhood by funnelling regional traffic away from Dalkieth,” Mr Scott said.
