Advocate for Kwinana Fwy upgrade Gibbs to Thomas

The City of Cockburn's response to PerthNow Cockburn 16 August 2021 about its advocacy of an upgrade to Kwinana Freeway from four lanes to six lanes from Gibbs Road to Thomas Road

Question: When will the City write to the relevant parties about the possibility of extending Kwinana Freeway from four lanes to six lanes from Gibbs Road to Thomas Road?
Answer: The City will be writing to all relevant parties this week.
 
Question: What are some of the reasons behind the decision?
Answer: There have been growing concerns from the local community that – due to ongoing congestion along the freeway – regional traffic, particularly commercial vehicles like trucks, are using the local road network to avoid delays on the freeway. The widening of the freeway north of Russell Road to six lanes and the introduction of Smart Freeways have had significant benefits to commuters and commercial traffic. The City believes these opportunities should be extended to residents and users at least up to Thomas Road in Kwinana.
 
Question: What are the main concerns of nearby residents and commuters?
Answer: As above.
 
Question: It this patch considered a grid-lock?
Answer: The level of service, under Main Roads criteria for this section of the Freeway, is already low. With increased urban development in the southern corridor of Perth, the level of service is likely to drop even further resulting in significant delays and continuing traffic jams particularly at peak hours.
 
Question: How long have residents been waiting for an upgrade of this section of the freeway?
Answer: The residents and commuters have been calling out for these upgrades for years.
 
Question: Will the City continue to work with the City of Kwinana and the State Government on this possible extension?
Answer: The City believes that the upgrading of the freeway will have significant benefits to all users of the Kwinana Freeway but particularly to those of Cockburn and Kwinana.
 
Question: If the freeway was extended, how will this benefit residents and commuters?
Answer: As above.
 
Question: Anything else you’d like to add?
Answer: The future development of the outer harbour (Westport) will see an increase in commercial traffic using the freeway to access the new port facilities, from both the north and the east. It is essential that the State Government starts work on the infrastructure upgrades needed for the new port.