MacTiernan chooses Macmahon for Mitchell Fwy makeover

Macmahon Contractors has been chosen as the preferred contractor for the $171.5 million four-kilometre extension of the Mitchell Freeway from Hodges Drive to Burns Beach Road.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said Main Roads would now begin detailed negotiations with Macmahon aimed at awarding the design and construct contract in late September.

"The extension of Mitchell Freeway will help accommodate the strong growth in Perth's northern suburbs by significantly improving traffic flow," Ms MacTiernan said.

"Design work will commence as soon as the contract is awarded and the construction phase will start in late November this year, with completion scheduled for mid-2008."

Joondalup MLA Tony O'Gorman said detailed community consultation since late 2004 had improved the project proposal.

"Major concerns about the impact of the extension, including the height of the freeway, had been addressed by a Community Consultative Working Group, which included representatives of local residents and interest groups, business and local government," he said.

Mr O'Gorman said significant changes to the original proposal included:

- lowering the freeway by approximately 4.5m in front of Connolly Primary School;
- lowering freeway embankments at two locations;
- constructing a pedestrian overpass rather than an underpass at Winton Road; and
- constructing a principal shared path along the eastern side of the freeway, to Moore Drive and continuing northwards, via a proposed road bridge, on the western side.

Mindarie MLA John Quigley said that consultation would continue through the Construction Reference Group, which replaced the CCWG early this year.

"The construction reference group has already met on four occasions and made valuable input to the details of the project," Mr Quigley said.

"I am also pleased that Main Roads has included consultation requirements in the contract documents to make sure the local community continues to have a say through this group."

Ms MacTiernan said the extension was a major project that included significant engineering challenges.

"Two interchanges, which include bridges over the freeway, will be constructed at Hodges Drive and Shenton Avenue," she said.

"Another bridge will be constructed at Moore Drive and a tunnel built south of Moore Drive so the railway can be relocated from the western side of the freeway reserve to the freeway median.

"This will provide the rail alignment necessary for the new Arena train station to be built in Joondalup.

"A Hodges Drive deviation was completed in May 2006 under a separate contract, allowing traffic to be diverted to enable construction of the new interchange."

Macmahon yesterday announced a net profit of $7.5 million after writing off a $19.9 million investment in the Alice Springs to Darwin railway.

Before the writeoff of $19.9 million through its 7 per cent investment in Asia Pacific Transport, Macmahon had recorded a 72 per cent net profit increase to $27.4 million for the 2005-06 financial year.