Roundabout work to start in July

The notorious Bunbury roundabout with the worst crash rate in Western Australia will undergo a $16 million upgrade with work to begin in July.

In a State first, Eelup roundabout will be given traffic signals to reduce the number of crashes and increase capacity.

According to Main Roads WA, the signals will increase vehicle capacity by about 40 per cent, reducing long queues during peak hours and meet the needs of increasing vehicle numbers for the next decade.

Signals on each approach will have two short phases stopping vehicles for shorter periods compared with normal traffic signals.

Additional lanes will be created, including a free left slip lane for traffic heading south from the Australind Bypass.

Work on the southbound slip lane is expected to be completed in September with signal work starting later this year.

More than 650 recorded crashes at the site in the past five years cost the community an estimated $11 million.

A flyover had been earmarked for the intersection, but was pushed aside in favour of the cheaper traffic signal option.

Director South West Operations for Main Roads Brett Belstead said rather than scrapping the flyover, its construction would depend on traffic growth and other variables such as residential growth, construction of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road and further stages of the Port Access Road.

‘‘We will continue to look at how it’s operating and predict the future as best we can,’’ Mr Belstead said.

In addition to reducing waiting times at the roundabout during peak hours and holiday weekends, Mr Belstead said the upgrade would significantly improve safety at the site.

‘‘It’s going to slow people down so if they do get it wrong it’s not a fast crash,’’ Mr Belstead said.

There is also an option to realign Estuary Drive so it intersects Koombana Drive opposite Austral Parade with signals at the new four-way intersection, subject to consultation and City of Bunbury approval.

Mr Belstead said there would be some disruption to traffic during the upgrade, but building the slip-lane first would keep waiting times to a minimum.