MAIN ROADS WESTERN AUSTRALIA MAY 2016 NorthLink WA Fact Sheet

ACCESS CHANGES TO ABBEY STREET

The upgrade of Tonkin as part of NorthLink WA requires Abbey Street to be made into a cul-de-sac at the intersection with . Planning since the 1980s indicates that this junction would be closed because of its close proximity to . When NorthLink WA is complete, the Tonkin Highway Interchange at Morley Drive will be a free-flowing at ground level, with a raised Tonkin Highway passing over the top. The new roundabout will be very close to Abbey parking area on the eastern side of Benefits Street and will have vehicles travelling Tonkin Highway within the road reserve Many road users are avoiding the at relatively high traffic speeds. If Abbey to access the school via the pedestrian currently congested Tonkin Highway Street was to stay open, it would result underpass. This car park will be by using local roads. Once complete, in: removed to construct the new highway NorthLink WA will discourage such and interchange with Morley Drive. • fewer gaps for existing traffic – no ‘rat running’ through local streets by traffic lights at the new interchange In addition to new parking in and attracting traffic onto a safe and efficient will mean more continuous traffic flow around the school grounds, the school highway that is purpose built to handle and leave fewer gaps for drivers to community requested that some high traffic volumes. Without NorthLink exit from Abbey Street; and parking be provided along Abbey Street. WA, local roads would become busier, less safe and more congested. • an increased risk of vehicle This parking can only be provided safely crashes – as drivers take risks to if the Abbey Street intersection with complete exit movements, or as Morley Drive is closed. vehicles turning left into Abbey Street are rear-ended by vehicles coming out of the roundabout. NorthLink WA will provide a vital, state of the art During 2015/16, consultation with transport link between Morley and Muchea. It the Hampton Park Primary School will reduce travel times and congestion, and provide community was undertaken to plan safe significant productivity benefits to the economy, access to and from school. Parents and carers have been using an interim industry, motorists and local communities. Once NorthLink WA is complete, traffic Considerations WANT MORE INFORMATION? from areas such as Ellenbrook and While closing Abbey Street may cause Ballajura that currently use Beechboro some inconvenience to locals accessing For more information call Road North will use the new highway. the area, safety for all road users is Main 138 138 or email Traffic forecasts for Roads’ paramount consideration. Any [email protected] with NorthLink WA are significantly lower potential inconvenience brought about than traffic forecasts without NorthLink by extra travel distance on local roads Further information can be found WA. This reduction in traffic should is expected to be balanced by time on the project website make it easier for residents to move savings provided by free flowing traffic www.northlinkwa.com.au around the area including Beechboro conditions on NorthLink WA. Road. Traffic monitoring will take place before, NorthLink WA will take regional traffic during and after construction to record away from local roads, leaving local traffic changes and to check that the roads to do what they do best - provide network is performing satisfactorily. local access.

Construction of the NorthLink WA Southern Section (Guildford Road to ) starts in mid-2016 and will continue through to early 2018. As part of this upgrade, interchanges are proposed at Collier Road and Morley Drive and a flyover is proposed at .