The Shire of Northam Council have said the Perth-Adelaide National Highway has more chance of going ahead than ever before.
The $1.6 billion project includes the the Orange Route, a proposed major freight route that will connect Midland and Northam which when completed, will form part of the Perth- Adelaide National Highway (PANH).
Main Roads Western Australia are now seeking comments and support from Council on the proposed project.
There are 10 roads within the Shire of Northam that will be affected by the current Main Roads proposal for the Orange Route.
The roads currently being considered for the 10 intersections to the Perth Adelade National Highway are Merribe Road South, Chedaring Road/ Doy Road, McMullen Road, Hawke Avenue, Sims Road, Great Eastern Highway, Carlin, Koojedda and Jordi Roads in the Bakers Hill town site, Great Eastern Highway/ Chitty Road, Augustini Road/ Refactory Road, Great Eastern Highway/ Spencer Brook Road.
It is proposed that a realignment consideration is given to Great Eastern Hgihway between Clackline and Northam to make consistency in the standards and capacity with the adjoining Orange Route.
The Shire of Northam Council has been recommended to support findings and amendments within the Perth Adelaide National Highway Orange Route Network Assessment Report including;
- Werribe Road Sout/ PANH intersection; relocating the full movement on the T-intersection further west
- Chedaring Road/Doy Road/PANH; supporting the proposal
- McMullen Road/PANH; no direct T-connection is necessay
- Hawke Avenue/PANH underpass; left in/left out configuration on both north and south sides with grade separation
- Sims Road/PANH; supporting the proposal
- Great Eastern Highway/PANH T-intersection; not support the configuration and suggested the removal of the T-section
- Carlin, Koojedda and Jordi Roads/PANH (Bakers Hill town site); supports proposal with an additional link road which will serve both east bound and west bound movements
- Great Eastern Highway/Chitty Road/PANH T-intersection; supports proposal with Chitty Roady but sees accessibility fron Great Eastern Highway as unnecessay
- Augustini Road/Refactory Road/ PANH; supports proposal
- Great Eastern Highway/ Spencer Brook Road/PANH; supports proposal and realign entry from Spencer Brook Road
The Council will vote on the above recommendation at the next Council Meeting on Wednesday March 21.
At this stage there is no timeline for the works.
Numerous studies and planning have been completed over the years for the proposed Orange Route.
In the 1970’s investigations commenced to determine the most desirable route for the Mundaring to Northam section of the proposed PANH and the Eastern Corridor was endorsed as one of Perth’s four major development corridors by the State Government. During this time the Planning Review of the Mundaring to Northam section of the PANH commenced.
Most recently in 2015 Main Roads initiated the Network Assessment for PANH which has reviewed standards, connectivity and included preparation of Concept Design.
The proposed Orange Route would replace the section of Great Eastern Highway, between Midland and Clackline as the primary freight route and regional highway to the east, which currently carries in the order of 8000 vehicles per day with 20 per cent of those being heavy vehicles.
Section 2 of the project falls within the Shire of Northam boundaries between Wundowie and Clackline.
The objectives of the project are to extend the double road train network into the metropolitan area.
Currently these vehicles need to break down at Northam due to the grade on Great Eastern Highway in Green Mount.
Main Roads said the project will improve road safety by the removal of heavy vehicles through the residental areas of Mundaring, Sawyers Valley and Bakers Hill town sites.
They said the Orange Route will have significantly improved geometry and will be designed in accordance with safe system principles.
Great Eastern Highway has over twice the average number of serious crashes, for a number of different crash types compared to other parts of the national highway network in Western Australia.
