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Labor stays mum on ring road

Toby HusseyAlbany Advertiser
One alternative ring road proposal includes an overpass/underpass at the Chester Pass Road roundabout.
Camera IconOne alternative ring road proposal includes an overpass/underpass at the Chester Pass Road roundabout. Credit: Albany Advertiser

The Australian Labor Party and its O’Connor candidate are yet to flag their position on the Albany Ring Road.

Only weeks from an election, neither Shelley Payne nor the office of Federal shadow transport minister Anthony Albanese would confirm Labor’s stance on funding the ARR.

The Liberal Party has committed $140 million to its completion.

A spokesman for Ms Payne said Labor’s plan would be revealed ahead of the vote.

“Over the course of the election campaign, Labor will be outlining its infrastructure priorities for WA,” he said.

Australians go to the ballot box within four weeks.

The ARR first stage, linking Chester Pass Road and Albany Highway, was completed in 2007.

The final two stages would see Albany Highway linked to Princess Royal Drive via Link Road, George Street and Lower Denmark Road.

Albany Advertiser readers reacted with mixed opinions when Federal funding was announced in March.

Wendy Fancote, who claimed to live near the Chester Pass Roundabout, said the project would have a big impact on traffic.

“You have no idea what these truckies have to put up with from motorists every day, all day,” she said online.

However, not everybody backed the plan — including city planner Neil Smithson.

Mr Smithson, who designed a section of Reid Highway in Perth, said an overpass or underpass linking Chester Pass Road and Hanrahan Road would cost about a third of the price.

“There seems to be a clear preference to put in an underpass or overpass on the big roundabout, which I think makes a lot more sense at this point in time,” he said.

The Commonwealth’s ARR funding is subject to Infrastructure Australia approving the WA State Govern-ment’s business case.

The Albany Advertiser understands that is still being considered.

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