'Most dangerous roundabout' to get upgrade

The 'most dangerous roundabout' in WA is to get an upgrade, with Transport Minister Troy Buswell announcing that Stage 1 of the works would be completed by September 2011.

Visiting the roundabout today, Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the $16m upgrade included the installation of traffic signals and a left slip lane for southbound traffic.

“This Government recognises it is critical to improve safety as soon as possible at this roundabout, and Stage 1 of the upgrade will see Eelup become the first roundabout in WA with full signals,” Mr Buswell said.

“This interim upgrade is based on international best practice, addresses the complex problem of reducing crash frequency and improving the capacity of the intersection, while being able to be integrated with the planned future interchange.

“The signals will increase vehicle capacity by 40 per cent, addressing the current capacity problems that have seen long queues forming during peak hours.”

The amount of vehicles using the four legs of the roundabout is increasing, with 30,000 vehicles per day travelling on Australind Bypass, 20,000 on Sandridge Road, 15,000 on Robertson Drive and 13,000 on Koombana Drive.

The Minister said several solutions for the issues at Eelup were investigated by Main Roads, with valuable input from Bunbury MLA John Castrilli, the City of Bunbury and Bunbury Port Authority.

“A previous plan to make the roundabout smaller was discarded as it would not fit in with the future upgrade of the intersection, which includes a flyover for traffic coming from Perth along the Australind Bypass,” he said.

“Roundabouts with traffic signals operate in other parts of Australia and overseas, and Main Roads’ investigations have found these to be successful.”

Mr Buswell said work on the slip lane will commence mid-year, and be completed by September 2011. Work on the signals is expected to start in the second half of 2011, with completion expected in mid-2012.

The timeline for construction of the flyover will depend on traffic growth and other variables such as residential growth, construction of the Port Access Road and Bunbury Outer Ring Road.