Work to significantly improve the safety and efficiency of one of Perth’s most notorious intersections, the Nicholson Road, Garden Street, and Yale Road roundabout, is now underway.
Known as a grade separation, the $80 million project, equally funded by the federal and state governments, will involve constructing a new bridge over the existing roundabout, creating a seamless connection between Nicholson Road and Garden Street with the aim of significantly reducing traffic congestion at the intersection.
Early works now in progress include the relocation of ATCO gas assets, the extension of the shared path under Nicholson Road, and the creation of an active transport link to the new METRONET Nicholson Road Station, which is nearing completion.
Community feedback is being sought by Main Roads via an online survey on traffic management, local access, noise and visual screening, and improvements to pedestrian and cycling pathways for the project.
WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the Nicholson Road, Garden Street, and Yale Road Grade Separation project will significantly improve traffic flow and safety in the area.
“The delivery of the new bridge over the existing roundabout will remove thousands of vehicles from this intersection every single day, reducing congestion and delays and improving traffic flow and safety for commuters,” Ms Saffioti said.
“We’ve seen a huge amount of residential development in this area, which has significantly grown the number of vehicles moving on the local road network.
With 61,000 vehicles per day on Nicholson Road north of the intersection, 35,000 vehicles west, 24,000 on Garden Street, and 18,000 on Yale Road, the upgrade is expected to provide significant benefits for tens of thousands of local motorists daily.
Federal Member for Burt Matt Keogh welcomed the progress of the election commitment, calling the upgrades a solution to the “headache of an intersection”, and thanked the local community for their support and patience.
“Everyone using this intersection understands the frustrations and delays it causes. People hate it and go out of their way to avoid it,” Mr Keogh said.
“Thanks to the Thornlie and Canning Vale community for your unrelenting advocacy to fix this intersection, with the second highest number of crashes in the City of Gosnells, we know just how important upgrades are.”
Given the intersection has seen 256 crashes reported between 2019 and 2023, the upgrades are expected to significantly improve safety, something Local MP for Thornlie, Chris Tallentire, welcomes.
“This is a really important project for the local community that will make a real difference to the safety and efficiency of our road network,” Mr Tallentire said.
Around 560 direct and indirect jobs are expected to be created through the project, which is set to begin main construction in early 2026.
To view and have your say on the project, visit Main Roads’ website.
The survey, seeking feedback on traffic management, local access, connectivity, noise and visual screening, and pedestrian connections, is open until December 16.
