PERTH'S traffic chaos has hit tipping point with the state's most influential leaders including Governor Malcolm McCusker insisting the dozens of roadworks and countless surprise detours across the CBD are causing mayhem.

Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi and Opposition Leader Mark McGowan are calling for urgent action, including a special roads co-ordination group to clear the streets, as random roadblocks on top of major works cripple the city.

But Premier Colin Barnett yesterday claimed there had to be "some pain for the gain" that came with building major infrastructure, saying roadworks were being managed "as well as it can".

Mr McCusker said: "Once, you could say, 'I have X kilometres', and that's how long it is going to take. Now it's double that time.

"As Governor, if I travel now to a particular function I have got to make extra time allowance because of the possibility of congestion which in years gone wasn't necessary.

"I have noticed that every citizen of Perth experiences some sort of traffic congestion at various times. I think it's clear that the Government itself is aware of the problem. I hope it will be overcome very soon, like everyone else in WA."

Enraged motorists spend up to an hour to get out of the city as roadworks, lane closures, changed signals, reduced speeds and pop-up detours caused by construction sites bring Perth's business district to a standstill.

WA Taxi Council head Olwyn Williams said taxi passengers were paying far more in fares and were abusing drivers, while taxis that are used to rush blood to hospitals for transfusions had also been delayed.

Chamber of Commerce boss James Pearson said authorities had to "limit the impact and cost to business from congestion", while WA Police said officers on bicycles were sent to city incidents because they could respond faster than patrol cars.

The chaos also prompted Mr McGowan to call for a "high-level group" for better co-ordination between the City of Perth and government authorities. He said WA's politicians could not even get out of Parliament House because traffic was so bad.

Ms Scaffidi to seek an "urgent" meeting with Mr Barnett.

The WA Chamber of Commerce to survey members to "understand how congestion was impacting on their business" in the wake of a Federal Government report that put the cost of Perth congestion at $2.1 billion a year by 2020.

Admissions from the Public Transport Authority that customers were complaining about bus-service delays and that it was now working on plans to deal with congestion problems.

Claims from frontline emergency-service workers that response times have been affected, though this was denied by WA Police, St John Ambulance and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.

Australian Medical Association president Richard Choong to say roadworks were taking a toll on drivers' mental health and bringing them closer to "breaking point".

The roadworks stem from major WA Government projects including Elizabeth Quay and Perth City Link, Main Roads upgrades to Mitchell Freeway and the Northbridge tunnel, and upgrades to major thoroughfares such as Barrack, Beaufort, Hay, Wellington and William streets.

The headaches for drivers are exacerbated by obstruction notices handed out by the City of Perth for temporary lane closures for jobs such as cranes operating on building sites.

In the past six weeks City of Perth has handed out six such notices, which disrupted St Georges Tce and Pier, Hay, Stirling and Altona streets.

Ms Scaffidi said her council could not be blamed for the chaos, while work was generally undertaken during weekends.

"As the Lord Mayor I am the recipient of many emails from frustrated commuters and yet I feel helpless in addressing the issue because it is bigger than the 8sqkm area we cover," she said. "The work we do is specifically planned. It would be worse if we did it on weekdays."

Mr Barnett said every major city had to deal with roadworks.

"Yes, there are disruptions. I apologise about that, but the work is progressing quickly, on time, on budget and the benefits will be immense," he said.

Transport Minister Troy Buswell dismissed the idea of a co-ordination group, saying "there was already across-government approach to assess and approve scheduled road works".

"I acknowledge these events are having an impact on traffic, but I want to reassure the travelling public the most significant impact will be in the first half of this year and we are doing everything we can to ensure disruption is minimised," Mr Buswell said.

But Mr McGowan said there should be a high-powered committee operating at the most senior levels.