The WA Government is to spend $14million over the next two years upgrading the Coalfields Highway between Allanson and Collie.
Transport Minister Simon O’Brien said that Southern Road Services would be carrying out the works as part of an ongoing program to upgrade the Coalfields Highway.
Mr O’Brien said the State Government’s allocation of $14million in the current and next financial year represented the first capital works funding for the highway since 2000.
“The initial works on Coalfields Highway, which are part of a $4million allocation in the current financial year, will start in the coming weeks and involve the widening, overlay and reconstruction of 4.15km of the highway, between Collie and the Bibbulmun Track crossover,” he said.
“Further works between the Bibbulmun Track crossover and Allanson townsite will follow shortly, once Aboriginal heritage investigations are complete.”
The Minister, who recently inspected the road and discussed safety issues with local residents and Shire of Collie representatives, said there were some sections of the highway where the shoulders were unsealed, the geometry was poor and adjacent vegetation was close to the road.
“The highway is being widened to include a 10m wide seal, providing two 3.5m wide lanes, as well as an additional 1.5m of sealed shoulder on each side,” he said.
“A further one metre of unsealed shoulder will also be built and a clear zone established between the edge of the road and adjacent vegetation.
The Minister did not explain why he believes that the work will improve safety on the notorious road, which has seen a string of fatal accidents involving speed and inattentive driving, which cannot be addressed by spending on road infrastructure.