Road Photos & Information: Western Australia
Forrest Highway, Kwinana Freeway and Mitchell Freeway
South Yunderup to Baldivis
Statistics:
- Length:
- 151 km (South Yunderup to Baldivis: 30 km)
- Termini:
- Northern: Romeo Rd (unnumbered), Alkimos
- Southern: Forrest Highway (former Old Coast Road) (NR1), Lake Clifton
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- North Yunderup, Nambellup, Barragup, Parklands, Lakelands, Keralup, Karnup and Baldivis
Route Numbering:
- Current: 2
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- H015 (South Yunderup to Perth)
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:
- Kwinana Freeway:
- 1975: Additional land reserved for the future extension of the Kwinana Fwy. 2
- December 2006: Works commence on the Kwinana Freeway Extension from Safety Bay Road (SR18) Interchange at Baldivis to Pinjarra Road at North Yunderup. 3
- 20 September 2009: Completion of the 70.5 km Perth to Bunbury Highway project (Kwinana Fwy / Forrest Hwy) - bypassing the heavily populated areas in Mandurah and the Dawesville Peninsula, and avoiding the inland communities on South Western Highway. The route is freeway standard from Safety Bay Road to Pinjarra Road with the remainder of the route built as a divided rural highway. In the future as traffic demands increase, the highway will be upgraded to a freeway standard for its entire length. 4
Click or tap here for construction photos between South Yunderup and Baldivis
South Yunderup to Baldivis
Pinjarra Road Interchange:
Pinjarra Rd interchange on the Forrest Hwy at North Yunderup. November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Pinjarra Road Interchange:
Pinjarra Rd interchange at North Yunderup. November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Official Start of Kwinana Freeway:
Kwinana Fwy heading north at North Yunderup at the Pinjarra Rd interchange. November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Exit Distance Sign:
RD sign at Barragup. November 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign at Barragup. November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Nambellup Brook:
Kwinana Fwy (SR2) as it crosses Nambellup Brook at Barragup. November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Barragup approaching Lakes Road. November 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Speed Change Warning:
Sign indicating a drop in speed limit from 110 km/h to 100 km/h at Barragup, near Lakes Road. September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
Lakes Road Interchange:
Lakes Rd interchange at Barragup, November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Lakes Road Interchange:
Lakes Rd interchange at Barragup, September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
Serpentine River:
Kwinana Fwy (SR2) at Parklands as it crosses Serpentine River. November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Exit Distance Sign:
RD sign at Parklands. November 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign at Parklands. November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
AD Sign:
Advance directional sign at Lakelands approaching Lymon Rd. September 2009. This sign has since been replaced since Mandjoogoordap Drive opened.
Image © Tim Cole
Mandjoogoordap Drive & Lymon Road Interchange:
Northbound at the Mandjoogoordap Drive & Lymon Rd interchange at Lakelands, November 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Mandjoogoordap Drive & Lymon Road Interchange:
Northbound at the Mandjoogoordap Drive & Lymon Rd interchange at Lakelands, December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Mandjoogoordap Drive & Lymon Road Interchange:
Northbound at the Mandjoogoordap Drive & Lymon Rd interchange at Lakelands, December 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Exit Distance Sign:
RD sign at Lakelands. November 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign at Lakelands. November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
AD Sign:
Advance Directional Sign at Lakelands approaching Paganoni Road. December 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Paganoni Road Interchange:
Northbound at the Paganoni Rd interchange at Lakelands, November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Paganoni Road Interchange:
Northbound at the Paganoni Rd interchange at Lakelands, September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
Paganoni Road Interchange:
Northbound at the Paganoni Rd interchange at Lakelands, September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
Exit Distance Sign:
RD sign at Karnup. November 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Heavy Vehicle Inspection Bay Sign:
Sign indicating distance to the heavy vehicle inspection bay sign at Karnup, December 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign at Karnup. December 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Heavy Vehicle Inspection Bay:
Exit to the heavy vehicle inspection bay at Karnup, December 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Karnup approaching Karnup Rd, November 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Karnup Road Interchange:
Kwinana Fwy northbound at Karnup Road interchange at Karnup, December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Baldivis to South Yunderup
Exit Distance Sign:
RD sign at Karnup. September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
Heavy Vehicle Inspection Bay Sign:
Sign indicating distance to the heavy vehicle inspection bay sign at Karnup, December 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Exit Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign showing distances to exists, Karnup, November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Heavy Vehicle Inspection Bay:
Southbound at the Karnup heavy vehicle inspection bay. November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Heavy Vehicle Inspection Bay:
Southbound at the Karnup heavy vehicle inspection bay. September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
Variable Message Sign:
VMS sign at Karnup. September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
AD Sign:
Advance Directional Sign at Karnup approaching Paganoni Road. December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Paganoni Road Interchange:
Southbound at the Paganoni Rd interchange at Karnup, November 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Paganoni Road Interchange:
Southbound at the Paganoni Rd interchange at Karnup, September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
Exit Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign for upcoming exits, Keralup, December 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Keralup, December 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD sign at Stake Hill for Mandjoogoordap Dr (SR19) and Lymon Rd. April 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
Southbound AD sign at Stake Hill for Mandjoogoordap Dr (SR19) and Lymon Rd. December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Services Sign:
Services sign at Stake Hill for Mandjoogoordap Dr (SR19) and Lymon Rd. December 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Mandjoogoordap Drive & Lymon Road Interchange:
Southbound at the Mandjoogoordap Dr (SR19) and Lymon Rd interchange at Lakelands, December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Mandjoogoordap Drive & Lymon Road Interchange:
Southbound at the Mandjoogoordap Dr (SR19) and Lymon Rd interchange at Lakelands, December 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Mandjoogoordap Drive & Lymon Road Interchange:
Southbound at the Mandjoogoordap Dr (SR19) and Lymon Rd interchange at Lakelands, December 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Exit Distance Sign:
RD sign at Parklands. November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Reassurance directional sign at Parklands, November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:
Supplemental AD directional sign at Parklands for the Lakes Rd interchange, November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Serpentine River:
Kwinana Fwy (SR2) at Parklands as it crosses Serpentine River. The indigenous name for the river is on the bottom panel. November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
AD Sign:
Advance directional sign at Parklands approaching Lakes Rd. September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
Lakes Road Interchange:
Southbound at the Lakes Rd interchange at Parklands, September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
Lakes Road Interchange:
Southbound at the Lakes Rd interchange at Parklands, September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
Lakes Road Interchange:
Southbound at the Lakes Rd interchange at Parklands, September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on the off ramp to Lakes Rd at Parklands, April 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign on Lakes Rd at the Kwinana Fwy (SR2) interchange at Parklands, April 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Start 110 km/h Zone:
Southbound after Lakes Road interchange at Stake Hill. September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
Exit Distance Sign:
RD sign at Stake Hill. November 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
RD sign at Stake Hill. November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Nambellup Brook:
Kwinana Fwy (SR2) as it crosses Nambellup Brook at Nambellup. November 2012.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
Southbound AD sign at Ravenswood for the Pinjarra Rd interchange. April 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Tim Cole from September 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Services Sign:
Southbound services sign approaching Pinjarra Road at Ravenswood. September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
Pinjarra Rd Interchange:
Southbound through the Pinjarra Road interchange at Ravenswood. September 2009.
Image © Tim Cole
End Kwinana Freeway / Start Forrest Highway:
Southbound at Ravenswood at the Pinjarra Road interchange at the end of Kwinana Freeway where it connects with Forrest Highway. December 2012.
Image © Tim Cole
2 Australasian Legal Information Institute.
3 Southern Gateway Alliance Fact Sheet - Project Facts 01.
4 WA Government, Main Roads Western Australia.