Contractors shortlisted for $1bn road upgrades

Contractors have been shortlisted for the first stage of the state government's $1 billion road upgrade project to extend Tonkin Highway and upgrade Thomas Road.

Two consortia groups have been shortlisted by the state government for the first phase of the road construction package, the first being Laing O'Rourke, Garli, WSP and Arcadis.

The second group consists of Georgiou Group, BMD, Civcon, GHD and BG&E. The shortlisted contractors can now submit a proposal for the first stage of the project. 

An alliance contract is expected to be awarded in late 2024, and expressions of interest for stage two of the project has also been released.

Under stage one of the major road works project, Tonkin Highway will be extended 14 kilometres from Thomas Road to South Western Highway as a four-lane dual carriageway.

Thomas Road will also be upgraded to South Western Highway alongside other improvements.

The works after expected to improve access to ports and the south west generally, alongside creating a non-stop link between Oakford and Mundijong.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the extension of Tonkin Highway represented the largest road investment Perth's south-east corridor had ever seen.

"The project will increase network capacity, improve road freight efficiency and ease traffic congestion on local roads now and in the future,” she said,

"It will improve access to growing residential and commercial areas, the airport and the freeway, and better connect people to jobs and education opportunities.

"The project also supports and aligns with our Westport outer harbour plans in Kwinana, and will also provide even better transport options for our southern suburbs alongside the METRONET Byford Train Station."

The road project is expected to support about 2,020 direct and indirect jobs during the construction phase.