Congestion on Road to Recovery
Source: Kent Acott, The West Australian July 20, 2013
The latest Main Roads figures show there has been little change in journey times for city-bound motorists in the past year. Times from some locations have fallen by a minute or two. The biggest decrease in 2012-13 was from Joondalup.
Using Joondalup Drive, Ocean Reef Road and Mitchell Freeway, the journey time fell from 52 to 42 minutes. In 1993-94, the same trip took 25 minutes.
The biggest increase was from Midland – via Great Eastern Highway, Guildford Road and Lord Street – which jumped from 35 to 41 minutes. In 1990-91, the same journey was only 23 minutes.
Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the results were pleasing considering that a number of major road improvement works were being done at the time, including upgrading Great Eastern Highway and widening Kwinana Freeway.
“The results should also be seen against the pressures placed on our road network by the steady growth in the State’s population, with more than 1000 people coming to live in WA each week,” he said.
“The State Government is continuing to invest in transport infrastructure to accommodate this growth.
“The Graham Farmer Freeway Tunnel is now operating at six lanes, which has significantly improved traffic flow, and works are under way to widen Mitchell Freeway northbound between Vincent and Hutton streets as part of a $57 million investment by the State Government.”
An RAC spokeswoman said a recent analysis showed there would be one million more vehicles on WA roads by 2020.
“With congestion in Perth estimated to cost the State’s economy $2.1 billion a year by 2020, increased investment in more efficient roads and better public transport is critical to ensure we keep WA moving,” she said.
Shadow transport Minister Ken Travers said the increase in travel times from Midland showed the importance of the eastern corridor.
He said the Barnett Government needed to match the population growth in this corridor with investment in infrastructure.