Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan has opened a $10.4 million heavy haulage bypass, linking Chester Pass Road and Albany Highway, as the first part of the Albany Ring Road project.
The 6.5 km road, part of the project to be renamed Menang Drive, will provide an alternative route for heavy vehicles away from Albany's urban areas, the Minister said.
The full text of an announcement from the Minister's office is pasted below
Stage one of Albany Ring Road - one of the biggest road projects in the Great Southern Region - is now open to traffic.
Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan today officially opened the new $10.4 million heavy haulage bypass which links Chester Pass Road and Albany Highway in Albany.
"The completion of stage one links the major roads in and out of Albany and also provides improved access to the Mirambeena Industrial Estate," Ms MacTiernan said.
"This 6.5km road will provide an alternative route for heavy vehicles away from the urban areas of Albany and improve the safety and efficiency of timber transport to the Down Road chip mill.
"The State Government has been very committed to building this road and we began construction 12 months ahead of schedule to ensure that this commitment was met."
Albany Ring Road is a three-stage project which will cater for the predicted increase in heavy traffic associated with the forestry industry and is an important factor in managing sustainable land use for the development of the City of Albany.
Albany MLA Peter Watson welcomed the new road as another example of the Carpenter Government's commitment to the future of Albany.
"Albany is expanding rapidly and by making the decision to invest in our future now, we are catering for the steady growth in heavy traffic that will occur over the next few years," Mr Watson said.
"Getting as many trucks as we can off the main roundabout and local roads will not only be good for industry, it will be good for the people and the environment of Albany."
Throughout construction, the road has been known as the Albany Ring Road. However, following extensive community consultation the road has been given the new name of Menang Drive.
"The name 'Menang', loosely meaning south, was widely supported by the special interest groups and was endorsed by the City of Albany before being approved by the Geographic Names Committee," Ms MacTiernan said.
