Federal election 2025: Funding for Perth roads topped up as Labor steps on Federal election pedal

A key road project in Perth’s northern suburbs will be able to go ahead after Federal government found a spare $295 million for WA roads, two weeks after the Federal budget was criticised for slashing the State’s share.

Roger Cook and Rita Saffioti announced plans for a $450 million upgrade of the Reid Highway and Erindale Road intersection in Balcatta during the State election campaign in January, but wanted the Commonwealth to pay half.

While funding wasn’t included in Jim Chalmers’ budget last month, The West Australian can now confirm Labor will commit to it on Tuesday, with plans set to include a bridge, a free-flow ramp and road upgrades to improve safety and traffic flow.

“Perth’s northern suburbs are growing rapidly and with that comes the need for better infrastructure, which is what we are delivering,” Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said.

“We’re partnering with the Cook Labor Government to fix WA’s worst intersection so residents of Balcatta, Warwick and Perth’s north can feel safe on their daily commutes.”

The intersection is the worst in the State for crashes, according to Main Roads WA, with 263 incidents recorded over five years and estimates of $21.3 million lost in productivity each year due to congestion.

The State Government has predicted daily traffic volumes would increase form 60,000 in 2025 to 111,000 by 2054.

The funding is not a Federal election commitment, rather the investment is a decision of government building on the commitment from the State level.

At a press conference in January, Ms Saffioti promised construction would start in early 2028 and take up to three years.

The Transport Minister stopped short of criticising the shortfall in WA roads funding in the Federal budget last month, when the Erindale Road project failed to get a mention.

A budget night letter promising another $642 million for WA, but only after 2029, was dismissed by the Opposition as a “side deal” that shouldn’t be believed.

Two weeks later, the Commonwealth’s new $225 million commitment towards a graded separation of Erindale Road has instead been included in the Albanese Government’s pre-election economic and fiscal outlook.

“I’ve been advocating on behalf of my community to fix this intersection for a long time,” Labor MP Anne Aly said.

“This is a much-needed upgrade that will help commuters get to and from home quicker and safer.”

Ms Aly will also be hoping it helps defend her re-election campaign in Cowan, which has a margin of 9.9 per cent, against claims Perth’s northern suburbs were neglected by the March budget.

A further $70 million, also funded in the pre-election economic update, will go towards a grade-seperated interchange between Wanneroo Road and Hepburn Avenue, plus a pedestrian pathway over Wanneroo Road.