A section of WA's Albany Ring Road opens to traffic

Albany Ring Road, Frenchman Bay Road bridge, Western Australia,

April 2, 2024

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Albany Ring Road’s completed section between Albany Highway and South Coast Highway and Frenchman Bay Road bridge opens to traffic in Western Australia.

The Albany Ring Road project has reached two important milestones, with the completed section of road between Albany Highway and South Coast Highway and the new bridge connecting Hanrahan Road to Frenchman Bay Road opening is now open to traffic.

Opening the section of the Ring Road between Albany Highway and South Coast Highway will improve access to and from Denmark for residents of Albany’s northern and eastern suburbs.

The opening of the Frenchman Bay Road bridge over the rail line will address one of Albany’s most congested intersections and improve access between Little Grove and the CBD, and enable the final pavement and sealing works on the main Ring Road alignment to be undertaken over the coming months.

“The Albany Ring Road is a critical project for Western Australia’s Great Southern Region, safeguarding the long-term viability and efficiency of the Port of Albany by providing free‑flowing road access,” says Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King.

“The opening of the section to South Coast Highway and the new Frenchman Bay Road Bridge is an important double milestone as we look to get the Ring Road fully operational by the end of autumn,” says Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King.

The Albany Ring Road project is the biggest road project ever undertaken in the Great Southern region – delivering a free-flowing, 11-kilometre connection between Albany Highway and Princess Royal Drive, including three grade-separated interchanges at Albany Highway, South Coast Highway and Frenchman Bay Road.

“Main Roads and their contractor Decmil have made outstanding progress on the Albany Ring Road project during the summer months. The new interchanges are substantively complete and road pavement works are on the final stretch,” says WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.

“Removing heavy vehicles from the existing local network will improve safety on a number of key roads including Chester Pass Road, Albany Highway and South Coast Highway and enhance amenity for local residents and visitors alike,” says WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti.

The new road will divert heavy vehicles around Albany, improving freight efficiency, reducing congestion and improving safety on existing local routes, including Albany Highway.

“The opening of the Frenchman Bay Road bridge and connecting roundabouts significantly improves the local road network,” says Senator for Western Australia Varun Ghosh.

“It will also provide safer and more efficient access for residents and visitors to the Torndirrup Peninsula, which is home to some of Albany’s most spectacular tourist destinations,” says Senator for Western Australia Varun Ghosh.

The entire Albany Ring Road is funded by the Australian and Western Australian Governments and remains on track to open before the middle of the year.

The Western Australian Government also announced in February it would fund works on a $37 million flyover at the intersection of Menang Drive and Chester Pass Road, with construction scheduled to commence later this year.

The new flyover will further maximise the efficiency of the Albany Ring Road route by providing free-flowing access from Chester Pass Road all the way to the port.

Albany Ring Road project on track to open before mid-2024

Source: WA Government – Main Roads Western Australia

Image Source: WA Government – Main Roads Western Australia