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

Click or tap here for the former alignment between Heathridge and Alkimos
Click or tap here for construction photos and opening ceremony photos between Heathridge and Alkimos

Heathridge to Alkimos

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Connolly for the Shenton Avenue interchange. November 2008.

Image © Paul Rands

Shenton Avenue Interchange:

Looking northbound from the Connolly pedestrian bridge. November 2008.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:

RD sign at the Shenton Avenue interchange in Connolly showing the distance to the next interchange. The coverplates on the sign hide destinations ahead for the next extension of the freeway. December 2012. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from November 2008.

Image © Paul Rands

Shenton Avenue Interchange:

Intersection directional sign at the end of the Shenton Av off ramp at Connolly, April 2016.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Burns Beach Road (SR87) at Currambine. December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Intersection Directional Sign:

ID sign on the westbound slip lane to Burns Beach Road (SR87) at Currambine. December 2012.

Image © Paul Rands

Alkimos to Heathridge

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on the off ramp to Neerabup Dr at Neerabup, June 2017.

Image © Terry Siva

Burns Beach Road Interchange:

Looking eastbound on Burns Beach Road (SR87) at Joondalup at the on ramp to the Mitchell Freeway. November 2008.

Image © Paul Rands

Variable Message Sign:

VMS on the Mitchell Fwy at Joondalup, November 2008.

Image © Paul Rands

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Joondalup for the Shenton Av interchange. Moore Dr bridge is in the distance. November 2008.

Image © Paul Rands

Shenton Avenue Interchange:

Looking southbound at Joondalup at the Shenton Av interchange. November 2008.

Image © Paul Rands

Distance Sign:

RD sign with distances to the next 3 interchanges. Southbound at the Shenton Av interchange in Joondalup, November 2008.

Image © Paul Rands