The Government of Western Australia is undertaking improvements to the Tonkin Highway corridor. The Tonkin Highway is a 44-kilometre north-south highway and partial freeway in Perth, Western Australia, linking Perth Airport with the city's north-eastern and south-eastern suburbs.
The Stage Three Extension project will extend the Tonkin Highway from Thomas Road, Oakford to the South Western Highway, south east of Mundjiong. The project will include:
- 16.5 kilometres of four lane dual carriageway
- an upgraded intersection at Thomas Road/Tonkin Highway
- new intersections at Orton Road, Mundijong Road and South Western Highway
- a new grade separated interchange at Bishop Road
- bridges over the existing freight rail line and Perth to Bunbury passenger rail line and Wright Road
- a shared use path along the eastern side of the Tonkin Highway corridor, connecting to local path networks
- an equestrian and pedestrian / cyclist underpass under Tonkin Highway at Abernethy Road, and
- associated service roads and modifications to local government roads and intersections.
The project is being delivered through two separate works packages, with Package One extending the Highway approximately 10 kilometres from its existing termination at Thomas Road to Sparkman Road, and delivering the five-kilometre Thomas Road duplication. Package Two delivering the remaining five-kilometre extension from Sparkman Road to the South Western Highway.
Key Dates
| Mar 2021 | EOIs Open |
| Apr 2021 | EOIs Close |
| Nov 2023 | EOIs Open - Package One |
| Dec 2023 | EOIs Close - Package One |
| Mar 2024 | EOIs Open - Package Two |
| Apr 2024 | EOIs Close - Package Two |
| 2024 | Expected Contract Award - Package One |
| 2024 | Expected Contract Award - Package Two |
| 2025 | Expected Construction Commencement |
| 2027 | Expected Construction Completion |
Funding contributions
| Federal Government | |
| WA Government | |
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Total funding for the project includes Federal and WA Government funding for the $755 million Tonkin Highway Extension Stage Three and the $290 million Thomas Road Upgrade project, which are being procured together. |
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Procurement
| Procuring Agency: | Main Roads Western Australia |
| Shortlist: | Package One: Tonkin Extend Alliance (Laing O'Rourke, Garli, WSP and Arcadis) Tonkin Extension Alliance (Georgiou, BMD, Civcon, GHD and BG&E) Package Two: Tonkin Connect Alliance (CPB Contractors, WA Limestone, Carey, Aurecon and Jacobs); Tonkin Extension Alliance (BMD, Georgiou, Civcon, GHD and BG&E); and Tonkin South Alliance (ACCIONA, NRW, AECOM and Arup). |
| Procurement note: | The Tonkin Highway Extension Stage Three and the Thomas Road Upgrade project are being jointly delivered over two packages, with both packages to be delivered using Alliance contracts. |
PROJECT HISTORY
| May 2019 | The project was allocated funding as part of a $1.2 billion funding package announced in the 2019-20 WA Budget. |
| Jan 2021 | Main Roads Western Australia hosted an industry workshop to seek feedback from contractors for the delivery of the Tonkin Highway Expansion project. Feedback from the workshop will inform the delivery and contract type. |
| Mar 2021 | Main Roads Western Australia opened Expressions of Interest (EOIs) for the project, closing on 20 April. The department also announced that the project will be delivered as an Alliance contract. |
| Mar 2022 | The 2022-23 Federal Budget allocated an additional $200 million to Stage Three of Tonkin Highway Extension. |
| May 2022 | The 2022-23 WA Budget allocated an additional $250 million toward the Tonkin Highway Grade Separations at Hale, Welshpool and Kelvin Roads and Stage Three Extension projects. |
| Nov 2023 | EOIs were opened an alliance contract to deliver Package One of the project, closing 14 December. |
| Mar 2024 | The WA Government shortlisted three consortia for Package One of the project, and commenced a Request for Proposals phase. The Government announced it expected to award the contract in late 2024 and commenced an Expression of Interest phase for Package Two of the project. |
| Jul 2024 | The WA Government shortlisted three consortia for Package Two of the project, and commenced a Request for Proposals phase. The Government announced it expected to award the contract in late 2024 and construction to commence in mid 2025. |
