Bussell Highway duplication opening short lived as lane closures and speed reductions to be reinstated

The long-awaited opening of the Bussell Highway duplication — a project five years in the making — will be short lived, as lane closures and speed reductions are set to be reinstated after the April school holidays. All four lanes of the highway were opened to the public on Thursday, April 17 at 3.30pm, as Main Roads WA fulfilled its promise to have it ready over Easter. However despite having 17km of fresh bitumen down and completed between Capel and Busselton, a Main Roads spokesperson said there was still more work to be done. “Finishing works, including rock pitching at culverts and landscaping along Bussell Highway, along with minor works on side roads will commence after the April school holidays and run through to mid-2025,” the spokesperson said. “Some of these works will require temporary lane closures and speed reductions on Bussell Highway and some of the adjoining road network.” The Herald understands the finishing works are due to be completed in June, three months before the Wilman Widandi Highway. Originally costed at $80 million, the price tag for the highway has risen to $120 million — with the funding split between the Federal and State governments 80 and 20 per cent respectively. Burt MHR Matt Keogh — who was in Augusta last week to announce infrastructure upgrades — said the highway duplication was a major piece of infrastructure being supported by the Federal and State governments. “It’s getting very close to completion, obviously, as these big projects hit close to completion, when exactly they open is dependent sometimes on the weather, sometimes on other issues that affect these projects,” he said. “I know everyone’s very much looking forward to it opening very soon.”