Length:

151 km (Heathridge to Alkimos: 16 km)

Termini:

Northern: Romeo Rd (unnumbered), Alkimos

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

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Connolly, Currambine, Kinross, Neerabup, Tamala Park, Clarkson, Ridgewood, Nowergup, Butler and Alkimos

Current: 2

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

H016 (Perth to Alkimos)

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.

Mitchell Freeway:

2 November 2008: $171.5 million extension to Burns Beach Road Currambine opened to traffic by then State Premier, Colin Barnett. ²

2017: Mitchell Freeway extended to Hester Avenue at Clarkson.

May 2021: Construction commenced on the Mitchell Freeway extension between Clarkson and the suburbs of Neerabup and Alkimos. ³

10 July 2023: The 5.6 km extension from Clarkson and the suburbs of Neerabup and Alkimos opened to traffic. The works included new freeway access points at Hester Avenue, Lukin Drive, Butler Boulevard and Romeo Road, new east-west link with the extension of Romeo Road from Wanneroo Road to Marmion Avenue, duplication of Wanneroo Road from Romeo Road to Trian Road, new footpaths, shared paths and Principal Shared Paths, including underpasses, plus a new bridge over the Butler railway. ³

This page concentrates on construction photos between Heathridge and Alkimos

Hodges Drive to Burns Beach Road Extension:

Construction Photos

Old End Freeway 1 km Sign:

Sign at Heathridge warning the freeway ends in 1 km at Hodges Drive, December 2007. With the opening of the freeway extension, this sign was relocated 4 km north of here at Currambine.

Image © Paul Rands

Construction at Hodges Dr Interchange:

Northbound at Heathridge approaching Hodges Dr interchange. December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Construction at Hodges Dr Interchange:

Northbound at Heathridge approaching Hodges Dr interchange. December 2007.

Image © Paul Rands

Opening Ceremony

Vintage Car Procession:

Vintage car procession waiting for the pre-opening speeches to end. Once the freeway was declared open, the vehicles proceeded northbound along the freeway to the Burns Beach Road interchange and the travelled to the Connolly Primary School for a display. November 2008.

Image © Paul Rands

Start of Ribbon Cutting Ceremony:

Then Premier Colin Barnett about to cut the ribbon to open the freeway extension near the Connolly pedestrian bridge, amid journalists, security, dignitries, and protesters who were demonstrating on the day about the future of Butler railway station. November 2008.

Image © Paul Rands

Freeway Extension Declared Open:

The cut ribbon with then Premier Colin Barnett. Connolly, November 2008.

Image © Paul Rands

Burns Beach Road to Hester Avenue Extension:

Construction Photos (Northbound)

Freeway Extension Works:

Mitchell Fwy (SR2) extension works at Currumbine near Burns Beach Rd (SR87), April 2017. The building in the foreground is the railway station.

Image © Paul Rands

Construction Photos (Southbound)

Freeway Extension Works:

Extension roadworks for the Mitchell Fwy (SR2) near Hester Av at Nowergup, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Freeway Extension Works:

Extension roadworks for the Mitchell Fwy (SR2) near Hester Av at Nowergup, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

¹ WA Government, Main Roads Western Australia, Road Information Mapping System.
² WA Government, Main Roads Western Australia.
³ WA Government, Main Roads Western Australia, Mitchell Freeway Extension, Hester Avenue to Romeo Road.