Expressions of interest are open for contractors to deliver the first stage of the Anketell Road upgrade in Perth’s south, a jointly funded federal and state job covering the stretch between Leath Road and Abercrombie Road, including a new grade separated interchange at Rockingham Road.
The EOI was reported by Roads & Infrastructure Magazine, which says the process will identify experienced proponents to move through to the next stage of procurement. An alliance contract for stage one of the Anketell Road upgrade is expected to be awarded by late 2027, according to that report.
What’s actually in stage one
Anketell Road gets widened to a dual carriageway between Abercrombie Road and Rockingham Road, with the grade separated interchange going in at Rockingham Road.
The scope runs wider than the main alignment. It takes in upgrades to Rockingham Road and Beard Street, changes to existing roads and property accesses, and new shared paths. The design also has to leave room for a future freight rail corridor running through to a new on-dock rail terminal.
That last point matters for anyone reading the drawings later. Preserving a rail corridor through a road package means structures, levels and service relocations get set now for something that isn’t built yet, and it usually shows up as extra constraints on the civil work rather than extra scope.
The reason the state is spending here
Western Australian Minister for Transport and Major Infrastructure Rita Saffioti framed the works around the freight precincts going in around them.
“These road upgrades will improve safety and help reduce congestion for surrounding communities as these major economic infrastructure projects ramp up, while supporting local businesses and generating quality jobs for Western Australians,” Saffioti said.
The projects she’s pointing at are the future Westport container terminal, the Kwinana Bulk Terminal redevelopment, and the planned defence precinct at Henderson. All three sit in the Western Trade Coast, and all three will push heavy vehicle volumes onto the same arterials.
What a grade separation means on the tools
The interchange is the piece that pulls in the most trades. Grade separation means structures work: piling and pier construction, formwork and steel fixing for abutments and headstocks, crane lifts for girders or beams, deck pours, then barriers, drainage, lighting and signage behind it.
Running alongside that is the earthworks and pavement job on the dual carriageway, plus the service relocations and the shared path construction that tends to follow the main alignment through.
Traffic management is the other constant on a live arterial upgrade. Anketell Road stays open while this gets built, so night shifts, staged switches and long-running barrier runs are part of the job rather than a sideshow to it.
Timing is the thing to read carefully
An EOI is not a tender award, and the alliance contract isn’t expected until late 2027. For subbies and suppliers, that’s the number to plan against: the people putting crews on this package are the ones in a position to win or sub into an alliance two years out, not the ones chasing work for next quarter.
For smaller civil outfits, the realistic path onto a package this size is through the successful proponent’s supply chain, which means the relationships get built during the procurement run, not after the award.
Watch for the shortlist coming out of the EOI, and for Main Roads WA to publish design and staging detail as the procurement moves along. Project information for WA road upgrades is published through Main Roads WA.
Frequently asked questions
When will the Anketell Road alliance contract be awarded?
An alliance contract for stage one of the Anketell Road upgrade is expected to be awarded by late 2027, according to Roads & Infrastructure Magazine’s reporting on the EOI.
What work does stage one of the Anketell Road upgrade include?
Stage one widens Anketell Road to a dual carriageway between Abercrombie Road and Rockingham Road and builds a new grade separated interchange at Rockingham Road, plus upgrades to Rockingham Road and Beard Street, property access changes and new shared paths.
How can smaller civil contractors get involved in the project?
The realistic path for smaller outfits is through the successful proponent’s supply chain once the alliance contract is awarded, with relationships typically built during the procurement process rather than after.
Sourced from Roads & Infrastructure Magazine. Original article.
