State and Federal Governments join forces to finish Bussell Highway duplication project

The final stage of the Bussell Highway duplication project is getting underway this month, with contractors awarded for the last 12km stretch this week.

The long-running project sparked by safety fears following a series of tragic car crash deaths on the notorious stretch of road, is expected to finish in late 2024.

Despite the delays construction work has caused for motorists, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said commuters were already seeing benefits.

“Completion of this final section, including construction of the three bridges, will help make this iconic West Aussie road-trip more enjoyable due to the improved safety and efficiency for all road users,” she said.

“In its entirety, the project is supporting up to 570 direct and indirect jobs during the construction process.”

About 8km of road was already completed since Stage 1 of the project finished in December last year.

Calls for dual lanes started a decade ago amid traffic and safety worries, but a tragic incident in 2017 triggered the State Government to fast-track the project.

A then-46-year-old Shaun Troy Southern was on a methamphetamine-fuelled bender when he deliberately veered into oncoming traffic, killing 61-year-old Jennifer Pratt and seriously injuring her passenger Karen Williams.

Southern was later jailed for 22 years.

Further incidents included a 2018 horror crash in which another meth-affected driver, Singleton man Andrew Simon, killed a 20-year-old man and injured his 22-year-old female passenger when he crossed into oncoming traffic near Yalyalup.

In September last year, Michael Patrick Buswell was jailed for seven years after a November 20, 2020 horror smash north of Ludlow in which he killed Isabelle Harnell, 58, and Natalie Harding, 51, while returning from work with two colleagues from Dunsborough.

MACA Civil will build the final section from Hutton Road through to Busselton.

Three new bridges were already under construction along the stretch.

The project was jointly funded by the State and Federal Governments.

Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said the dual-lane project was a key collaboration.

“WA’s South West region is an extremely popular holiday destination with vehicle numbers surging during peak holiday periods to more than 23,000 a day, which is why this upgrade is so vital,” she said.

About 15,000 motorists used the highway daily.