Length:

151 km (North Lake to Perth: 14 km)

Termini:

Northern: Romeo Rd (unnumbered), Alkimos

Southern: Forrest Highway (former Old Coast Road) (NR1), Lake Clifton

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

North Lake, Leeming, Murdoch, Bateman, Bull Creek, Brentwood, Salter Point, Como and South Perth

Current: 2

Multiplexed with: 1

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.

National Route 1, for 4 km, between Brentwood and Como.

Kwinana Freeway:

1899: The first serious proposal to bridge The Narrows was considered in 1899, but the estimated cost of £13 000 pounds caused public outrage and the plan was shelved. ²

1901: The Public Works Department prepared a sketch plan for a 900-foot timber bridge with central swing spans to cross The Narrows, but again it did not proceed. ²

1954: Main Roads resurrected the concept of a Narrows Bridge due to quickly increasing traffic using the Causeway bridges. ²

1956: Cabinet approved a design suitable for The Narrows site and tenders were called for the construction. ²

1957: Commencement of construction of the Narrows Bridge and first stage of the Kwinana Fwy. ³

1959: Narrows Bridge was officially opened by then Western Australian Governor, Sir Charles Gairdner. Initially, the original six-lane structure was intended to carry about 6000 vehicles per hour in each direction. Measuring 396.5 m with five spans, the longest span being 98 m, the original Narrows Bridge made history as the largest precast, prestressed concrete bridge in the world. The construction project included 5.4 km of the Kwinana Freeway from the Narrows to Canning Highway, bringing the total cost to £3.5 million. ²

1967: Construction of the Kwinana Freeway in inner southern Perth suburbs. ³

3 December 1976: South Perth interchange opened. ⁴

1974: More than 77 500 vehicles were using the Narrows Bridge every day. ²

1975: Additional land reserved for the future extension of the Kwinana Fwy. ⁵

19 July 1979: Kwinana Freeway / Canning Highway interchange including Manning Road Bridge fully operational. ⁴

October 1980: Narrows Bridge median lane opened to Northbound traffic. ⁴

29 March 1982: Narrows Bridge median lane opened to southbound peak traffic, thus becoming a reversible lane. ⁴

9 May 1982: Mt Henry Bridge and Kwinana Freeway extension (6.5 km) from Canning Bridge to South Street opened. ⁴

February 1987: Introduction of bus lanes. ³

1988: $70 million was allocated to duplicate the Narrows Bridge. ²

18 December 1989: Kwinana Fwy bus lane Canning Bridge to city opened. ⁴

November 1991: Kwinana Freeway bus lane extended from Canning Bridge to Mt Henry Bridge. ⁴

1998: Traffic figures had doubled to more than 155 000 crossing Narrows Bridge, making it the busiest piece of freeway in the nation. ²

1999-2001: Construction of the South West Metropolitan Railway down the centre of the freeway alignment - this was done by relocating 16 kilometres of existing northbound carriageway 15 metres westwards. ⁶

25 February 2001: The second bridge over The Narrows opened to traffic and increased the number of traffic lanes from seven to 10 and formed part of a $230 million upgrade of the Kwinana Freeway and its extension to Safety Bay Road. ²

12 March 2006: The connection of the Roe Highway Stage 7, from South Street to the Kwinana Freeway, officially opened to traffic. ⁴

2007: The Narrows rail bridge was also commissioned as part of the Perth to Mandurah railway service. ²

2009: Figures show the Narrows Bridge carries almost 180 000 vehicles every day. ²

10 August 2011: Major construction work began to add two new lanes to the Kwinana Freeway between the Leach and Roe highways. ⁷

North Lake to Perth

Advance Directional Sign:

Advance directional signage for South Street (SR13) and Leach Hwy (NR1 / SR7) at North Lake. April 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign approaching South St (SR13) interchange at Murdoch, December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

South Street Interchange:

Looking north approaching the South Street exit at Murdoch, April 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

South Street Interchange:

Exit distance sign at the South Street (SR13) interchange in Murdoch. In the distance is Murdoch railway station. April 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Lane Allocation Sign:

Lane allocation sign at the South St (SR13) interchange, Murdoch, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

Advance directional sign for Canning Hwy at Bateman approaching Parry Av, April 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Leach Highway Interchange:

Kwinana Fwy (SR2) at the Leach Hwy (NR1 / SR7) interchange at Bateman, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Leach Hwy Exit:

Looking northbound through the Leach Hwy interchange at Bateman, April 2016. NR1 duplex starts at this interchange. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Mount Henry Bridge:

Crossing the Canning River at Mt Pleasant. April 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Exit Distance Sign:

Northbound at Salter Point, December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

Advance directional sign for the Canning Hwy at Salter Point, December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:

Northbound RD near the Canning Hwy interchange at Salter Point, December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Canning Hwy Interchange:

Northbound at Como as the NR1 duplex ends here at the Canning Hwy interchange, November 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on the Canning Hwy off ramp from Kwinana Fwy at Como, December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Lane Allocation Sign:

Lane allocation sign on the Canning Hwy off ramp from Kwinana Fwy at Como, December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign on the Canning Hwy off ramp from Kwinana Fwy at Como, December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

Looking northbound at the footbridge in Como. April 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Lane Allocation Gantry:

Looking northbound in South Perth as you pass under the signs for Mounts Bay Rd, Hay St and the bus lane, December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Mill Point Road Exit:

Northbound in South Perth at the Mill Point Rd interchange. December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Perth to North Lake

Mill Point Road Interchange:

Southbound in South Perth approaching the exit to Mill Point Road. April 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Mill Point Road:

Southbound through the Mill Pond Rd interchange in South Perth. December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

Advance directional signs for South Tce and Canning Hwy (SR6) at South Perth. December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

South Terrace Sign:

Several signs along SR2 are hidden behind lamp posts such as this one for South Terrace in Como. April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Exit Distance Sign:

Sign detailing distances to the next few exits, southbound at Como near Preston Street. December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Exit Distance Sign:

Sign detailing distances to the next few exits, southbound at Como near Olives Reserve. December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Trucks Sign:

Sign instructing truck drivers to use Leach Highway instead of Canning Highway to access Fremantle. December 2007 in Como.

Image © Paul Rands

Approaching Canning Hwy:

Looking southbound in Como as you approaching the Canning Hwy (SR6 / NR1) exit. December 2007. SR2 picks up the NR1 duplex from here.

Image © Paul Rands

Canning Hwy Interchange:

Southbound at Como through the Canning Hwy interchange. December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Canning Hwy Interchange:

Southbound at Como through the Canning Hwy interchange. December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Manning Road Interchange:

Kwinana Fwy at Como at the Manning Rd (SR26) interchange, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Lane Allocation Sign:

Lane allocation sign on the interchange with Canning Hwy (SR6), Manning Rd (SR26) and Kwinana Fwy (SR2) at Como, November 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign on the interchange with Canning Hwy (SR6), Manning Rd (SR26) and Kwinana Fwy (SR2) at Como, November 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Manning Road Interchange:

The interchange with Manning Road, Como. December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Exit Distance Sign:

Looking southbound on the section of the freeway that opened in 1982 at Como. December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:

RD sign at Salter Point after the interchange with Canning Hwy (SR6) and also Manning Road, April 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

Advance directional sign for the Leach Hwy at Salter Point. December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Canning River:

Crossing the Canning River via the Mount Henry Bridge at Salter Point. December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Cranford Av Exit:

Cranford Av interchange at Mount Pleasant. December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Leach Hwy Interchange:

Southbound approaching the Leach Hwy exit, the NR1 duplex ends here in Brentwood. December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Exit Distance Sign:

Exit RD sign located in the interchange with Leach Hwy at Brentwood. December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

Advance directional signage for the South Street (SR13) and Farrington Road interchanges at Bull Creek. April 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from November 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

South Street Interchange:

Kwinana Fwy (SR2) at the South St (SR13) interchange at Bull Creek, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

South Street Interchange:

Looking southbound through the South Street interchange. April 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Signs:

Looking southbound at Bull Creek outside Murdoch railway station and as you pass under South Street. December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Bull Creek approaching the Farrington Rd interchange, December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Bull Creek near the Farrington Rd interchange for Roe Hwy (SR3) and Berrigan Dr (SR14), April 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Farrington Rd Interchange:

Southbound at Leeming at the interchange with Farrington Road. April 2016. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Supplemental Advance Directional Sign:

Supplemental AD sign at Leeming approaching Roe Hwy (SR3) interchange, December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Roe Hwy Interchange:

Looking southbound at Leeming as you approach the Roe Hwy interchange. December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands