Construction now underway on $175m Albany Ring Road WA

Western Australia’s $175 million Albany Ring Road project has officially commenced construction and will be creating up to 1,000 local jobs as well as flow-on economic benefits to the State’s south west region. 

“Our focus is getting people back into work quickly, which is why we allocated $1.5 billion across Australia, and $223 million in Western Australia, to prioritise shovel-ready projects and targeted road safety works that can provide a boost to the economy and support jobs immediately. 

“The Australian Government’s $100 billion, 10-year infrastructure pipeline will support our economy and create jobs, particularly for those in the construction and manufacturing industries,” Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said. 

According to WA Premier Mark McGowan, he is pleased to see works getting underway on this significant transport infrastructure project. 

“Today’s ground breaking marks the formal start of a project that has been 25 years in the making and was one of our key election commitments in the Great Southern region. 

“The project as part of our Building for Tomorrow program, which will create lasting infrastructure for generations to come and will provide a vital economic boost for our Great Southern region, is creating up to 1,000 jobs, with initiatives to maximise local content incorporated as part of the contract,” the Premier said. 

The State Government has been committed to fast-track the delivery of this project to support jobs and provide a boost to the local economy. 

“As part of our COVID recovery plan we worked hard to bring this project forward three months earlier than anticipated. 

“The Albany Ring Road is a critical piece of infrastructure that will help underpin the economic success of the Great Southern Region for years to come,” WA Minister for Transport and Planning Rita Saffioti said. 

The Albany Ring Road is sectioned in three stages, with Stage 1 – from Chester Pass Road to Albany Highway on Menang Drive – completed in 2007. 

Stage 2 of the project will cover George Street through to Princess Royal Drive while Stage 3 will cover Albany Highway to Lower Denmark Road via Link Road / George Street. 

“Safe, uninterrupted access to the Port of Albany will provide certainty for current port users and an incentive for future investors. 

“The project will also significantly improve traffic flow on the existing road network by reducing the number of heavy vehicles on Albany Highway, South Coast Highway and Chester Pass Road. This will in turn relieve congestion for the freight industry and enhance safety outcomes for local and tourist traffic,” Federal Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson said. 

The next stages of the Albany Ring Road will include: 

• Building a single lane carriageway (one lane in each direction) 
• Construction of grade separated interchanges (one road goes over the other) with Albany Ring Road at Hanrahan Road/Frenchman Bay Road, Albany Highway and South Coast Highway 

“The Ring Road will take heavy vehicles out of residential areas and away from the centre of town, improving safety and amenity for residents and visitors to the area. 

“The project will also unlock new economic opportunities to the north and west of the city, by opening up the area through a high-quality road connection,” State Member for Albany Peter Watson said. 

In July of this year, Decmil Southern Pty Ltd was appointed as the preferred contractor to build the project which will be delivered in two phases. You can read more about it here. Now, the company has been officially awarded the $55 million contract to undertake Phase One of the project.

“This award demonstrates that we are well positioned to secure opportunities from significant Federal and State Government investment in infrastructure works, which continue to emerge in order to stimulate the COVID-19 impacted economy," Decmil CEO Dickie Dique said.

Phase One will involve the design and construction of a new interchange at Albany Highway and Menang Drive as well as a section of the Ring Road south to Lancaster Road and the design of Phase Two works.

Design for the second phase of the project - from Lancaster Road to Princess Royal Drive – will continue to progress over the next 12 months to allow for construction to begin once environmental approvals are received. 

The project is due to be completed in 2023. 

The Albany Ring Road is jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian Governments, each contributing $140 million and $35 million respectively. 

Source: Government of Western Australia – Media Statements; Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development; Main Roads WA; Decmil Group