'Don't fix death road, bypass it'

When David Rose signed a petition in 2003 to have the Great Northern Highway fixed, pleading with authorities to "Fix it to save my sanity", he could not have foreseen that he would lose his life on that very stretch of road.

The 34km section of highway from Middle Swan to Muchea is the scene of at least one crash every three days. Local politicians, residents and truck drivers are calling for the Swan Valley bypass to become a Federal priority before more lives are lost.

Between January 2004 and December 2008, 581 crashes claimed the lives of seven people and caused at least 65 to be admitted to hospital, according to Main Roads WA figures.

City of Swan mayor Charlie Zannino is worried that the opening up of big projects in WA's north, such as the Gorgon LNG project, will mean many more heavy-duty trucks will use the road in what has been a tourist precinct.

"It's a two-lane road that is taking the traffic meant for four lanes," he said. "It goes through a tourism precinct. Tourism and heavy trucks don't mix."

He said money spent improving the Great Northern Highway would be better spent building the Swan Valley bypass. "People get very frustrated behind lorries. The bypass would take the heavy traffic off the Swan Valley," said Mr Zannino, who has lobbied State and Federal governments.

Truck drivers also call for a bypass. Transport Forum WA chief executive Ian King said recent road works were inadequate for traffic, including the estimated 2600 trucks a day. "It is a very busy road and it's going to get busier, and the road works are nothing more than a bandaid," he said.

John Rose's brother David was one of three people killed in a 2008 crash that this month saw Katrina Ann Olive sentenced to prison.

"We have the road trains using this highway. When they did the upgrades I was surprised they didn't put in a dual carriageway," Mr Rose said. "I would like to see the bypass."

Terry Fielding, whose son Robert was killed on the highway in 2005, called for the speed limit to be reduced if a dual carriageway could not be constructed. He questioned the wisdom of having a 100km/h limit in areas with bus stops and residential driveways.

Campaigner for the bypass, Helen Keillor, said residential developments, such as Ellenbrook, together with the opening of the livestock sale yards in Muchea this month would increase the amount of traffic on the road. Her 2003 petition to improve the highway through to Wubin garnered 6000 signatures, including that of David Rose.

Main Roads spokesman Dean Roberts said no funding had been approved for the bypass, which was a medium to long-term proposal.

"The need for the Swan Valley bypass in the future is recognised and Main Roads will be progressing with the development of a business plan later this year," he said, adding that further improvements to the road were still under way.

Premier Colin Barnett said he was aware of the congestion.

"With increased development in Western Australia's north, the Perth-Darwin Highway will be an important transport route in helping the State grow. It is a medium-term project that will be discussed with the Federal Government at the appropriate time," he said.