Perimeter Road | |
---|---|
![]() | |
General information | |
Type | Highway |
Location | Margaret River |
Length | 7 km (4.3 mi) |
Opened | 2018 |
Route number(s) | ![]() |
Major junctions | |
North end | ![]() |
| |
South end | ![]() |
Highway system | |
---- |
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]
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]