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​ Freeway merge enhancement program will improve traffic flow and safety

Two-year roll out begins in July 2015

Rollout part of the State Government's traffic congestion management program

Main Roads is starting the first phase of the Liberal National Government's traffic congestion management program.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder said $8.5 million would be spent implementing changes to line markings at freeway merges over the next two years.

"The improvements will take place at all on-ramps to the Kwinana and Mitchell freeways and at five off-ramps," Mr Nalder said.

"At on-ramps, the improvements involve using a better defined merge line between the on-ramp and the freeway traffic lanes that improves merging behaviour."

At the five off-ramps the merge will be removed completely to create an exclusive exit lane. This has already been put in place at Hutton Street, and has helped ease congestion.

The changes to the merge follows a recent Main Roads trial of different merge-line treatments to on-ramps. This resulted in consistently fewer 'merge events' where drivers swerved or braked. It has also reduced vehicle queue lengths on the on-ramps by up to 50 metres.

The Minister said the works would start on the Kwinana Freeway, beginning in July.

Fact File

The $8.5 million in merge line improvements is part of the Liberal National Government's $40 million package to address traffic congestion at key hotspots

All 45 on-ramp locations on Mitchell and Kwinana freeways will be completed in 2015-16 and the remaining 32 locations on Reid, Roe and Tonkin highways will be finished by mid-2017

The five exclusive exit lanes will also be completed during this time

Other initiatives to be rolled out include:

modifications to the intersection of Graham Farmer Freeway and East Parade



improvements to Marmion Avenue at Hepburn Avenue and Whitfords Avenue and at the Tonkin Highway intersection with Kelvin Road



additional variable message signs at key locations to provide improved real time travel information



an expansion of the coverage and hours of operation of the Main Roads' Incident Response Service

Minister's office - 6552 6400