The Perimeter Road,[1] also known as the Margaret River Perimeter Road,[2] is a highway bypass of Margaret River, Western Australia. The seven-kilometre-long (4.3 mi) road deviates Bussell Highway traffic, including heavy vehicles, to the east of the town, and connects to a new airport access road. It is planned to eventually be a dual carriageway, but has initially been constructed as a single carriageway, in two stages.[3] Construction of stage one, from south of Margaret River to Rosa Brook Road,[3] began in December 2014 and was completed in May 2015.[2] Construction of stage two – the remaining northern section[3] – began in September 2017[4] and was completed in February 2019, with an opening in December 2018.[2][5] An extension of John Archibald Drive and the redevelopment of Bussell Highway in the town were included in the business case for constructing stage two.[6]
Perimeter Road | |
|---|---|
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Highway |
| Location | Margaret River |
| Length | 7 km (4.3 mi) |
| Opened | 2018 |
| Major junctions | |
| North end |  Bussell Highway (State Route 10) |
| |
| South end | Bussell Highway (State Route 10) |
| Highway system | |
Stage two of the project received $60 million of funding from The Nationals Western Australia to enable a complete bypass to be constructed, rather than a "road to nowhere".[7] The state government provided the $13 million to construct stage one.[8] The total cost was $47.6 million.[2]
The project underwent an Environmental Impact Assessment and Aboriginal Heritage survey. Action was taken to compensate for the loss of native vegetation,[6] and a zoologist was employed to identify and relocate native fauna at the start of stage one construction.[9]
The perimeter road has been designed to reduce congestion, improve safety for the many pedestrians, including tourists, who use the road, and provide heavy vehicles with a lesser gradient to ascend or descend.[10]
References
edit- ^ "Bussell Highway Road Closure from 27 February – Northern access to the town centre". Shire of Augusta-Margaret River. 26 February 2020. Retrieved 8 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Margaret River Perimeter Road open in time for Christmas". Government of Western Australia. 24 December 2018. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- ^ a b c Main Roads Western Australia (November 2013). "Project Overview: Margaret River Perimeter Road" (PDF). Government of Western Australia. Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- ^ "Margaret River Perimeter Road". Main Roads Western Australia. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- ^ "Margaret River Perimeter Road reaches practical completion". Government of Western Australia. 28 February 2019. Archived from the original on 25 August 2019. Retrieved 25 August 2019.
- ^ a b Main Roads Western Australia (3 December 2014). "Margaret River Perimeter Road". Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- ^ "Margaret River Perimeter Road goes somewhere". Augusta-Margaret River Mail. Fairfax Media. 9 September 2014. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- ^ Terry, Redman (23 August 2012). "State funds for Margaret River Perimeter Road Stage 1, Redman" (Media release). The Nationals WA. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- ^ Augusta-Margaret River Times (18 November 2014). "Work starts on Margaret River bypass". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 5 December 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
- ^ South West Development Commission; Regional Development Australia – South West. "Margaret River Perimeter Road" (PDF). South West Action Statement. South West Development Commission. p. 17. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 February 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2014.