Bridgetown Road Planning Study –
Planning for the Future
Background
For many years Bridgetown has looked for a solution to the traffic and safety problems experienced on South Western Highway along Hampton Street, which forms the main route through the town centre.
Various studies undertaken throughout the 1990s recognised that both road and rail networks would continue to play an important role in the transport system. The studies also supported the need to consider options for a heavy haulage route away from Bridgetown's town centre. This work helped to define the broad planning objectives for Bridgetown and highlight the key planning themes and issues.
In 2000 Main Roads in partnership with the Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes initiated a planning study to further explore future heavy haulage transport route options in Bridgetown. Responsibility for completing the study was subsequently transferred to the Department for Planning and Infrastructure.
The study was to select a preferred alignment, determine whether to reserve and protect land for a future route, and assist with broader land use planning and development in Bridgetown.
Following extensive community consultation, the study confirmed the need and community support for planning a heavy haulage route to take freight traffic away from the Bridgetown main street. It recommended that the route be located east of Hampton street, generally along the existing railway line.
Following further community consultation, a preferred alignment along the freight railway corridor was identified.
Current status (June 2005)
The Minister for Planning and Infrastructure has announced that the Government will deliver a heavy vehicle bypass around Bridgetown as part of the State's Safer Roads Program, with construction likely to begin in September 2006. (See the Minister's media statement - 25 May.)
This decision follows a recent Government commitment to develop a common user intermodal facility at North Greenbushes, with an upgrade of the railway line between North Greenbushes and Picton. This project is part of the Government's endeavours to have more timber freight carried by rail in the South West. While the new facility is expected to result in fewer freight trucks on the South West roads in general, the closure of the railway operation south of Greenbushes has led to an increase in truck movements through Bridgetown.
Construction of the heavy haulage route around Bridgetown will help to maintain the safety and amenity of the town centre.
For further information on heavy haulage planning for Bridgetown, please contact Mohsin Muttaqui at the Department for Planning and Infrastructure on (08) 9264 7949 or by email.
For information relating to construction of the Bridgetown bypass, please contact Main Roads Western Australia's South West office in Bunbury by email or phone (08) 9725 5677.
