Road Photos & Information: Western Australia

Forrest Highway, Kwinana Freeway & Mitchell Freeway (State Route 2) - (Currambine To Duncraig) - Construction Photos: Hodges Drive to Burns Beach Road Extension

Statistics:

• Length: 140 km (Mitchell Fwy: 30 km) (Hodges Dr to Burns Beach Rd extension: 4 km)
• Northern Terminus: Burns Beach Road (SR87) at Currambine
• Southern Terminus: Forrest Highway (former Old Coast Road and Perth-Bunbury Highway) (NR1) at Lake Clifton
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: (Mitchell Fwy) Perth, Northbridge, Leederville, Glendalough, Osborne Park, Stirling, Gwelup, Hamersley, Duncraig, Kingsley, Woodvale, Heathridge, Joondalup, Connolly and Currambine

Route Numbering:

• Current:
• Road Authority Internal Classfication: H16 Mitchell Freeway 1

General Information:

The Mitchell Freeway extension from Hodges Drive to Burns Beach Road was opened to traffic by state premier Colin Barnett during an opening ceremony at 12:30 pm on Sunday the 2nd of November. The extension was opened to traffic at 5 pm, that day.

Three major bridges were constructed for the project at Moore Drive, Shenton Avenue and Hodges Drive. A footbridge from Connolly across to the Joondalup business district has also been included.

Railway works in the project include the construction of a 170 metre tunnel and relocation of the passenger railway into the freeway median north of Shenton Avenue.

The project also included the duplication of Burns Beach Road by the City of Joondalup, which was completed in October 2008.

The Western Australian Government gave the green light early in 2006 for work to resume on the freeway extension, following postponement in late 2004 to allow community over concerns such as the height of the freeway near the Connolly Primary School.

History (Mitchell Fwy):

• 1967 to 1973: construction of the section between the Narrows Bridge and Sutherland Street West Perth commenced - eventually forming the Narrows Interchange.
• 8 March 1976: Mitchell Freeway extension (1.6 km) from Railway Parade to Vincent Street opened. (Stage 2). 1
• 2 June 1978: Mitchell Freeway extension (4.8 km) from Vincent Street to Hutton Street opened. (Stage 3). 1
• 12 December 1983: Mitchell Freeway extension (3.5 km) from Roberts Street to Karrinyup Road opened. (Stage 4). 1
• 21 September 1984: Mitchell Freeway extension (1.8 km) from Karrinyup Road to Erindale Road opened. 1
• 6 August 1986: Mitchell Freeway extension to Hepburn Avenue opened. 1
• 1987: the freeway extended to Ocean Reef Road Craigie.
• 2 July 1988: Mitchell Freeway to Ocean Reef Road opened. 1
• 1992: the median strip of widened for the Joondalup railway line. Also, Mitchell Fwy widening to McDonald St completed. 1
• 1993: Mitchell Fwy widening to Erindale Rd completed, providing three lanes in each direction. 1
• 2001: freeway extension to Hodges Dr at Joondalup opened.
• 2 November 2008: $171.5 million extension to Burns Beach Road Currambine opened to traffic by State Premier, Colin Barnett. 1

Preview:	Description:
	Old End Freeway 1km Sign: Sign at Heathridge warning the freeway ends in 1km at Hodges Drive, December 2007. With the opening of the freeway extension, this sign has been 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
	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: 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 Premier Colin Barnett. Connolly, November 2008. Image © Paul Rands

1 Main Roads WA

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