Road realignment paves way for future Forrestfield METRONET precinct

• Realigned section of Dundas Road in Forrestfield now open to traffic
• Road is the first public element of the METRONET station precinct to be completed
• $1.86 billion Forrestfield-Airport Link project jointly funded by the Western Australian ($1.37b) and Australian ($490m) governments

The realigned Dundas Road in Forrestfield is now open to traffic.

The road now diverts around the site of the future Forrestfield Station making it the first section of the new station precinct to open to the public.

It also means the construction site is no longer divided by Dundas Road making it safer for workers and motorists. Traffic can now flow freely without being interrupted by crossing construction vehicles.

The existing Dundas Road is now closed south of Maida Vale Road and north of Imperial Street. A map of the changes can be viewed here.

The road realignment will allow backfilling of the 300 metre-long retaining wall for Forrestfield Station to continue. Construction of the wall is almost complete, with 89 of the 93 panels in place. The remaining four panels will be installed once the multi-service vehicles no longer require access to the tunnels.

More than 100 counterforts are being used to keep the 8.2 metre high wall securely in place. The counterforts support the 18 tonne wall panels, as well as the backfilling which is required to raise the ground level at the station by up to six metres.

Work is also continuing south of the site with the installation of services for the stowage yard. The stowage yard will be the end of the Forrestfield-Airport Link, where trains will be cleaned and maintenance will be undertaken.

Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:

"This is an important part of the METRONET project to bring the two sites together, and make it safer for workers and motorists in the area.

"To the west of Dundas Road is the dive structure where the two tunnel boring machines (TBMs) began tunnelling. The dive structure is 260m long and up to 22m wide.

"To the east of Dundas Road is infrastructure vital to the operation of the TBMs. The site is operating 24 hours a day to support tunnelling activities, including processing excavated soil and treating water for re-use in the tunnelling process.

"The backfilling at Forrestfield Station will allow future passengers to transit around the station precinct more easily and safely, including from the car park to the station entrance."

Comments attributed to Forrestfield MLA Stephen Price:

"The area surrounding the new station provides opportunity for more housing and activity close to public transport - a very important planning step as Perth continues to grow.

"In just a few years, we will see the area transition from the construction site we see today to a new, vibrant urban centre with a key transit interchange that will service the wider east metropolitan area.

"In the meantime, I look forward to working with the community, local government, key stakeholders and State Government departments to refine plans for the surrounding precinct."