Road Photos & Information: Western Australia
Forrest Highway, Kwinana Freeway and Mitchell Freeway
Lake Clifton to West Pinjarra
Construction Photos
Statistics:
- Length:
- 151 km (Lake Clifton to West Pinjarra: 30 km)
- Termini:
- Northern: Romeo Rd (unnumbered), Alkimos
- Southern: Forrest Highway (former Old Coast Road) (NR1), Lake Clifton
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Lake Clifton and West Coolup
Route Numbering:
- Current: 2
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- H057 (Lake Clifton to South Yunderup)
General Information:
The Forrest Highway, Kwinana Freeway and Mitchell Freeway, are without a doubt one of the most important road systems in the Perth metropolitan area, and the southwestern part of the state.
Running in a north-south direction, the freeways link the north and southern suburbs of Perth together plus the southern city of Mandurah and the state's southwest, but also act as a coastal link between the northern and southern parts of the state. Built in stages from the late 1950s the route has seen enormous changes / extensions and is continuously undergoing expansion to this day.
Unique to the freeway sections is the passenger railway line down the median of the road corridor. This runs from The Spectacles to Perth, then from West Perth to Butler. The Mitchell Freeway at Nowergup features a railway stabling yard and depot in the median.
When first planned, the Mitchell Fwy was called the Yanchep Highway, as it is envisaged that eventually the route will connect to the town.
The section of State Route 2 south of Baldivis involved the design and construction of 70.5 kilometres of dual carriageway. The route was constructed as a single project and extended the dual carriageway from Safety Bay Road in Baldivis, around the eastern side of the Peel Inlet and Harvey Estuary to join the existing dual carriageway on Old Coast Road at Lake Clifton.
The route was constructed to freeway standard from Safety Bay Road to South Yunderup, a distance of 32 kilometres. The remainder of the route, 38 kilometres, was initially be built as a rural highway, with the ability to upgrade it in the future as traffic demands increase. The route links Perth and the South West, bypassing the heavily populated areas in Mandurah and the Dawesville Peninsula, and avoiding inland communities on the existing highway.
As part of the work, five interchanges were constructed at Safety Bay Road, Karnup Road, Paganoni Road, Lakes Road and Pinjarra Road. Nine intersections were constructed and have the capacity to be upgraded to interchanges in the future. They are located at Beacham Road, Greenlands Road, Paull Road, Mills Road, Herron Point Road, Old Bunbury Road, Dorsett Road, Old Coast Road and Peppermint Grove Road. In total, 19 bridges were built to grade separate the interchanges and extend the new Perth-Bunbury Highway over the Serpentine River, Nambeelup Brook, Murray River/Pinjarra Road, South Yunderup Road, Murray River floodplain, Harvey River and a number of Water Corporation drains. At the time, it was the largest infrastructure project ever undertaken by Main Roads Western Australia.
History:
- Forrest Highway:
- December 2006: Works commence on the Forrest Highway. 2
- 20 September 2009: Opening of Forrest Highway from Lake Clifton to South Yunderup. 3
This page concentrates on construction photos between Lake Clifton and West Pinjarra
Forrest Highway (NR1 Section):
Northbound
Construction Sign:
Construction signage at Lake Clifton on Forrest Hwy (then Old Coast Rd) (NR1). April 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Construction Sign & Contraflow:
Construction signage and contraflow at Lake Clifton on Forrest Hwy (then Old Coast Rd) (NR1). April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Old Single Carriageway:
Section of old single carriageway at Lake Clifton, with contraflow from the Forrest Hwy works. April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Old Single Carriageway:
Section of old single carriageway at Lake Clifton, with contraflow from the Forrest Hwy works. April 2009. Note new southbound carriageway to the right of shot.
Image © Paul Rands
Traffic Switch:
Traffic switch over to new carriageway whilst the original route is being upgraded. Lake Clifton, April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Lake Clifton approaching Peppermint Grove Rd, April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Peppermint Grove Road Intersection:
Northbound at Lake Clifton on the future southbound carriageway at Peppermint Grove Rd junction, April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Southbound Carriageway:
Driving north on the southbound carriageway at Lake Clifton, between Peppermint Grove Rd and Old Coast Rd (NR1). April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Northbound Carriageway Reconstruction:
Works on upgrading the northbound carriageway at Lake Clifton, April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Old Coast Road Intersection:
Northbound on the southbound carriageway at Lake Clifton, approaching Old Coast Road (NR1), April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Old Coast Road Intersection:
Northbound on the southbound carriageway at Lake Clifton, approaching Old Coast Road (NR1), April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Old Coast Road Intersection:
Northbound on the southbound carriageway at Lake Clifton, at the junction with Old Coast Road (NR1), April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Old Coast Road:
Northbound on Old Coast Rd (NR1) at Lake Clifton, with new traffic arrangements, April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Speed Limit Change Sign:
Speed limit change sign indicating the drop in speed limit from 110 km/h to 100 km/h at Lake Clifton, and also the end of the connection works to Forrest Highway. April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Construction Sign & Contraflow:
Construction signage and contraflow at Lake Clifton on Forrest Hwy (then Old Coast Rd) (NR1). August 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Lake Clifton approaching Peppermint Grove Rd, August 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Peppermint Grove Road Intersection:
Northbound at Lake Clifton at Peppermint Grove Rd junction, August 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
NR1 Trailblazers:
National Route 1 trailblazers and car U-turn bay at Lake Clifton, August 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Dual route RD sign at Lake Clifton, August 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Lake Clifton, approaching Old Coast Rd (NR1), August 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Old Coast Road Intersection:
Northbound at the Old Coast Rd (NR1) junction at Lake Clifton, August 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Southbound
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign, southbound at Lake Clifton, approaching a rest area built on the old highway alignment and also the junction with Forrest Hwy (NR1 / SR2), August 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at Lake Clifton, at the junction with Forrest Hwy (NR1 / SR2), August 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Lake Clifton approaching Peppermint Grove Rd, August 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Peppermint Grove Road Intersection:
Southbound at Lake Clifton at Peppermint Grove Rd junction, August 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign facing Peppermint Grove Road at Lake Clifton, August 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Dorsett Road:
Lake Clifton
Construction Sign:
Works sign at Lake Clifton, travelling on Dorsett Road, September 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Old Bunbury Rd / Dorsett Road / Forrest Highway Construction Site:
Intersection of Forrest Hwy, Old Bunbury Rd and Dorsett Rd under construction, September 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Old Bunbury Rd / Dorsett Road / Forrest Highway Construction Site:
Intersection of Forrest Hwy, Old Bunbury Rd and Dorsett Rd under construction, September 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Works Depot:
Forrest Hwy southern works depot, Dorsett Rd at Lake Clifton, April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Dorsett Road / Forrest Highway Construction Site:
Intersection of Forrest Hwy and Dorsett Rd under construction, September 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Dorsett Road / Forrest Highway Construction Site:
Intersection of Forrest Hwy and Dorsett Rd under construction, September 2008. Looking northeast.
Image © Paul Rands
Dorsett Road / Forrest Highway Construction Site:
Intersection of Forrest Hwy and Dorsett Rd under construction, September 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Dorsett Road / Forrest Highway Construction Site:
Intersection of Forrest Hwy and Dorsett Rd under construction, September 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Old Bunbury Road:
Lake Clifton
Construction Sign:
Sign detailing the works for the Perth-Bunbury Highway. Old Bunbury Road at Lake Clifton, September 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Temporary Traffic Signals:
Old Bunbury Rd at the Forrest Hwy works zone. The traffic signals are designed to control flow between regular traffic and construction machinery. September 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Dorsett Road:
Corner of Old Bunbury Road and Dorsett Road at Lake Clifton, April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Forrest Hwy Construction:
Looking at bridge work for Forrest Hwy. Looking northeast from Old Bunbury Rd. April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Northbound At Lake Clifton:
Forrest Hwy northbound from Old Bunbury Rd, April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Southbound At Lake Clifton:
Forrest Hwy southbound from Old Bunbury Rd, April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Herron Point Road:
Northbound
Looking North:
Forrest Hwy looking north from the intersection with Herron Point Rd at West Coolup. April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Looking North:
Forrest Hwy looking north from the intersection with Herron Point Rd at West Coolup. April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Southbound
Looking South:
Forrest Hwy looking south at the intersection with Herron Point Rd at West Coolup. April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Looking South:
Forrest Hwy looking south at the intersection with Herron Point Rd at West Coolup. April 2009. Note the SR2 trailblazers and temporary barriers.
Image © Paul Rands
Birchmont Road:
Northbound
Looking North:
Looking north from the southbound carriageway of the Forrest Hwy at the Birchmont Rd junction at West Coolup. April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Southbound
Original Alignment:
Original alignment (left of shot) of Birchmont Rd, taken from the new staggered junction with Forrest Hwy at West Coolup. April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Looking South:
Looking south along the southbound carriageway at West Coolup from the Birchmont Rd intersection. April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Mills Road:
Northbound
Looking Northwest:
Looking northwest along Forrest Hwy from Mills Rd at West Coolup. April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Southbound
Blade Sign:
Blade sign for Mills Road East at West Coolup. April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Forrest Hwy Sign:
Sign on the post waiting for a junction warning sign, Mills Rd East, West Coolup. April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Looking Southwest:
Looking southwest along the southbound carriageway from Mills Road at West Coolup. April 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
2 Southern Gateway Alliance Fact Sheet - Project Facts 01.
3 Southern Gateway Alliance Media Release - Kwinana Freeway Extension and Forrest Highway Opening Celebration.