Green light for CBD traffic buster

Commuters battling their way onto freeways from Perth CBD in peak hour may be in for some relief, with Infrastructure Australia endorsing early-stage plans to ease the infamous congestion.

Main Roads Western Australia is developing plans for the stretch of the Mitchell Freeway next to the city, through to the Narrows Bridge.

A number of design proposals are being assessed, with additional lanes, new bridges and ramps, and improved cycling paths all on the list; although it is too early to say which options will be eventually selected to bust the congestion.

New lanes would run from the Narrows Bridge to Loftus Street, while the ramp signals would introduce traffic lights for cars entering onto the freeway to space out merging traffic.

All-lane running would use the tarmac reserved for emergency lanes and convert the space into lanes for moving cars.

The CBD-segment plans form part of a series of upgrades up and down the length of the Mitchell and Kwinana freeways which were assessed cumulatively by Infrastructure Australia, some of which have already commenced.

The federal umpire recently published an endorsement of the proposal.

Taken together, the freeway upgrades would bring nearly $4 billion of travel time savings, (assuming a 7 per cent discount rate) with a benefit to cost ratio of about 4.6.

The documents submitted by the state government to Infrastructure Australia forecast a completion date in 2026.

Projects in the joint assessment already under way include additional lanes on the Mitchell Freeway from Hodges Drive to Hepburn Avenue; while upgrades to the Canning Bridge station intersection and Stirling Station have been flagged.

The segments not yet in construction were expected to cost about $380 million, according to the assessment, with the state government seeking half from the federal government.

Main Roads said it was considering options for the segment of the freeway next to the city.

“As this section of the freeway is physically constrained, the options being considered for northbound and southbound combine major infrastructure upgrades such as additional traffic lanes and new bridge/ramp structures, as well as smart freeway components such as all-lane running and coordinated ramp Signals,” a Main Roads spokesperson said.

“The (principal shared path) component of the project will aim to improve the quality of the cycling network and how it connects with the CBD, encouraging mode shift by providing a more safe and efficient commute for cyclists.”

Platform plans

Meanwhile, there’s also planning under way for upgrades at the Perth, McIver and Claisebrook train stations.

The work would extend platform lengths and support higher train frequencies as the city’s rail network grows.

After the recent opening of the Airport Rail Link, new tracks to Ellenbrook will add to the train movements in the eastern part of the CBD.

The inner-city portion of the Midland line would have 18 trains per hour in peak times in 2031, up from six in 2017.

A spokesperson for the Public Transport Authority of WA said detailed planning and high-level concept designs were in progress to extend platforms at the three city stations and upgrade both track and signalling equipment.

“This work is part of the PTA’s Platform and Signalling Upgrade Program, which will allow six-car trains to stop at these stations and enable a higher frequency of trains through this busy stretch of inner-city rail.

“Ultimately all of Perth’s train stations need to be extended to 150 metre platforms to accommodate six-car trains, which are the future default size on the train system.

“This platform extension program will occur over an extended period.”