Perth-Bunbury Highway
Encyclopedia
The Forrest Highway is an at-grade, dual-carriageway highway
in Western Australia
, linking the Kwinana Freeway
with the Old Coast Road
at Lake Clifton
, bypassing the coastal city of Mandurah
. The road is named after Sir John Forrest
, the state's first premier
. Construction began in 2007 and the highway was opened on 20 September 2009. It is intersected by a number of minor roads in the shires of Murray
and Waroona
, most notably the Old Bunbury Road.
Besides shortening journey times between the South West and the Perth metropolitan area, the highway was planned to assist growth of the port of Bunbury
, one of the state's three largest ports.
Construction was undertaken by a partnership of Main Roads Western Australia
, Leighton Contractors, WA Limestone and GHD
, called the "Southern Gateway Alliance".
serviced the farming and logging areas west of the Darling Scarp
such as Pinjarra
and Harvey
while the Old Coast Road services the coastal fishing communities south of and including Mandurah. However, with increased population growth in both the Peel and South West regions, both routes became clogged with traffic during holiday periods and so a new road was needed both to shorten travel times and alleviate traffic problems in Mandurah, Pinjarra and Waroona
.
Before construction, the Kwinana Freeway terminated at Safety Bay Road in Baldivis
after an extension in 2002, while Old Coast Road was a two-lane single carriageway
between Bouvard
and Lake Clifton before becoming a four-lane dual carriageway south of Grove Road.
The first sod was turned on the project in 2006 and the route was opened three months ahead of schedule on 20 September 2009 along with the extension of the Kwinana Freeway.
and through South Yunderup
. The highway then veers south-west near Greenlands Road towards the Harvey Estuary and then curves back to the south nears Mills Road. The road then curves smoothly over the Spearwood dune system before meeting up with Old Coast Road.
Highway
A highway is any public road. In American English, the term is common and almost always designates major roads. In British English, the term designates any road open to the public. Any interconnected set of highways can be variously referred to as a "highway system", a "highway network", or a...
in Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
, linking the Kwinana Freeway
Kwinana Freeway
The Kwinana Freeway is a major arterial road in Perth, Western Australia, linking Perth with the southern suburbs and then further on towards Mandurah, a distance of . It has a speed limit of , except in central Perth and south of Lakes Road . Like all Western Australian freeways, the minimum...
with the Old Coast Road
Old Coast Road
Old Coast Road is a Western Australian highway linking Mandurah, WA's second-largest city located 75 km south of Perth, with Bunbury, WA's third-largest city. It is signed as Route 1 for most of its length and is long.-Overview:...
at Lake Clifton
Lake Clifton, Western Australia
Lake Clifton is a small town located on the east side of the lake of the same name in the Peel region of Western Australia just off the Old Coast Road, between Mandurah and Bunbury at the north end of the Yalgorup National Park...
, bypassing the coastal city of Mandurah
Mandurah, Western Australia
Mandurah is the second-largest city in Western Australia and is located approximately south of the state capital, Perth.The city attracts a large number of tourists, including many international visitors...
. The road is named after Sir John Forrest
John Forrest
Sir John Forrest GCMG was an Australian explorer, the first Premier of Western Australia and a cabinet minister in Australia's first federal parliament....
, the state's first premier
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
. Construction began in 2007 and the highway was opened on 20 September 2009. It is intersected by a number of minor roads in the shires of Murray
Shire of Murray
The Shire of Murray is a Local Government Area of Western Australia. It covers an area of just beyond metropolitan Perth, the capital of Western Australia. It lies about 80 km south of the Perth central business district. The Shire of Murray had a population of 11,969 as at the 2006...
and Waroona
Shire of Waroona
The Shire of Waroona is a Local Government Area in the Peel region of Western Australia between Mandurah and Harvey and about 110 kilometres south of Perth, the state capital...
, most notably the Old Bunbury Road.
Besides shortening journey times between the South West and the Perth metropolitan area, the highway was planned to assist growth of the port of Bunbury
Bunbury, Western Australia
The port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...
, one of the state's three largest ports.
Construction was undertaken by a partnership of Main Roads Western Australia
Main Roads Western Australia
Main Roads Western Australia is an agency of the Government of Western Australia that is responsible for implementing the state's policies on road access and main roads. It operates under the Main Roads Act 1930 ....
, Leighton Contractors, WA Limestone and GHD
GHD Group
GHD Pty Ltd is an engineering, architecture and environmental consulting firm.Established in 1928, GHD employs more than 6000 people across five continents and serves clients in the global markets of water, energy and resources, environment, property and buildings, and transportation.The company...
, called the "Southern Gateway Alliance".
History
Historically, there have been two road routes and a rail link between Perth and the South West region of Western Australia. The South Western HighwaySouth Western Highway
South Western Highway is a highway in the South West region of Western Australia connecting Perth's southeast with Walpole. It is a part of the National Highway 1 network for most of its length...
serviced the farming and logging areas west of the Darling Scarp
Darling Scarp
The Darling Scarp, also referred to as the Darling Range or Darling Ranges, is a low escarpment running north-south to the east of the Swan Coastal Plain and Perth, Western Australia...
such as Pinjarra
Pinjarra, Western Australia
Pinjarra is a town in the Peel region of Western Australia along the South Western Highway, from the state capital, Perth and south-east of the coastal city of Mandurah. Its local government area is the Shire of Murray. At the 2006 census, Pinjarra had a population of 3,279.Pinjarra is an area...
and Harvey
Harvey, Western Australia
Harvey is a town located in the South West of Western Australia along the South Western Highway, 140 km south of Perth, between Pinjarra and Bunbury...
while the Old Coast Road services the coastal fishing communities south of and including Mandurah. However, with increased population growth in both the Peel and South West regions, both routes became clogged with traffic during holiday periods and so a new road was needed both to shorten travel times and alleviate traffic problems in Mandurah, Pinjarra and Waroona
Waroona, Western Australia
Waroona is a town located in the Peel region of Western Australia along the South Western Highway, between Pinjarra and Harvey. The town is the seat of the Shire of Waroona. At the 2006 census, Waroona had a population of 1,864.-History:...
.
Before construction, the Kwinana Freeway terminated at Safety Bay Road in Baldivis
Baldivis, Western Australia
Baldivis is a semi-rural residential suburb south of the central business district of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, and southeast of the regional centre of Rockingham...
after an extension in 2002, while Old Coast Road was a two-lane single carriageway
Single carriageway
A single carriageway is a road with 1, 2 or more lanes arranged within a single carriageway with no central reservation to separate opposing flows of traffic. Two-lane road or two-lane highway are single carriageway with one lane for each direction...
between Bouvard
Bouvard, Western Australia
Bouvard is the southernmost suburb of Mandurah, Western Australia, and is located south of the state capital, Perth. Its Local Government Area is the City of Mandurah.-History:...
and Lake Clifton before becoming a four-lane dual carriageway south of Grove Road.
The first sod was turned on the project in 2006 and the route was opened three months ahead of schedule on 20 September 2009 along with the extension of the Kwinana Freeway.
Description
The Forrest Highway begins at the southern terminus of the Kwinana Freeway at Pinjarra Road, a parclo interchange. The road continues in a southerly direction over the Murray RiverMurray River (Western Australia)
The Murray River is a river in the southwest of Western Australia which played a significant part in the expansion of Aboriginal settlement in the area south of Perth after the arrival of British settlers at the Swan River Colony in 1829....
and through South Yunderup
South Yunderup, Western Australia
South Yunderup is a township near Mandurah, Western Australia, located on the south bank of the Murray River within the Shire of Murray. Its postcode is 6208, and in the 2006 Census, it had a population of 1,965 with a median age of 50...
. The highway then veers south-west near Greenlands Road towards the Harvey Estuary and then curves back to the south nears Mills Road. The road then curves smoothly over the Spearwood dune system before meeting up with Old Coast Road.
Major intersections
- (at Barragup) Pinjarra RoadPinjarra RoadPinjarra Road is a major west-east road connecting the two major centres of the Peel Region, Mandurah and Pinjarra. Mostly a dual carriageway, it also forms the termini of both the Kwinana Freeway and Forrest Highway.-Major intersections:...
to Mandurah and RavenswoodRavenswood, Western AustraliaRavenswood in a small town in the Peel region of Western Australia.The town is located along Pinjarra Road and on the banks of the Murray River...
/PinjarraPinjarra, Western AustraliaPinjarra is a town in the Peel region of Western Australia along the South Western Highway, from the state capital, Perth and south-east of the coastal city of Mandurah. Its local government area is the Shire of Murray. At the 2006 census, Pinjarra had a population of 3,279.Pinjarra is an area...
. - (at South Yunderup) Beacham Road to South Yunderup
- (at West Pinjarra) Greenlands Road to PinjarraPinjarra, Western AustraliaPinjarra is a town in the Peel region of Western Australia along the South Western Highway, from the state capital, Perth and south-east of the coastal city of Mandurah. Its local government area is the Shire of Murray. At the 2006 census, Pinjarra had a population of 3,279.Pinjarra is an area...
- (at Birchmont) Old Bunbury Road/Dorsett Road to WaroonaWaroona, Western AustraliaWaroona is a town located in the Peel region of Western Australia along the South Western Highway, between Pinjarra and Harvey. The town is the seat of the Shire of Waroona. At the 2006 census, Waroona had a population of 1,864.-History:...
, CoolupCoolup, Western AustraliaCoolup is a small town in the Peel region of Western Australia. The town is situated just off the South Western Highway and close to the Murray River.The area was first settled in 1886 and the townsite was gazetted in 1899....
and Lake CliftonLake Clifton, Western AustraliaLake Clifton is a small town located on the east side of the lake of the same name in the Peel region of Western Australia just off the Old Coast Road, between Mandurah and Bunbury at the north end of the Yalgorup National Park... - (at Lake Clifton) Old Coast Road to Mandurah and BunburyBunbury, Western AustraliaThe port city of Bunbury is the third largest city in Western Australia after the State Capital Perth and Mandurah. It is situated south of Perth's central business district...