Bunbury Outer Ring Road changed for better access to CBD

The State Government has changed a major part of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road in a bid to allay fears the road will force travellers to bypass Bunbury.

The partial interchange where the road meets South Western Highway has been amended to a full interchange, improving access not only to Bunbury but also Ferguson Valley.

The previous design allowed cars heading north on the BORR access to South Western Highway eastbound only, away from Bunbury.

But with the addition of extra ramps and two roundabouts, they will be able to head west as well, towards the CBD.

The redesign comes after extensive consultation with stakeholders and Bunbury MLA Don Punch said the change was a great outcome and demonstrated the State Government was listening to the community and using feedback to improve the project.

“An additional entry point to Bunbury from the Outer Ring Road will increase the access options for visitors as well as improving convenience for locals in the Greater Bunbury area,” he said.

“This design improvement clearly demonstrates the State Government is building a true ring road, not a bypass, with multiple, functional entry points leading to the heart of Bunbury that enhance ease of access to our city.

This change is a clear win-win as it improves road safety while improving access.

The changes will also allow drivers travelling west on the highway to join the BORR heading both north and south, whereas previously with the partial interchange they could only head south.

Waterloo Road will also be realigned to eliminate the existing T-intersection, which Collie-Preston MLA Mick Murray said historically had been the site of numerous serious crashes.

He said the new design would also improve the level of access to the BORR for the community and businesses including those in the Picton East industrial area.

To ensure the road network will continue operating efficiently once developments planned for Wanju and Waterloo take place, extensive traffic modelling has been undertaken.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the amended interchange reflected ongoing discussions with local residents and stakeholders, while taking into account future planned development.

Bunbury Outer Ring Road is one of the most significant projects undertaken in the South West in recent history and it is important the decisions we make are right for the whole community