Published on Wednesday, 20 August 2025 at 12:46:11 PM
The long-anticipated upgrade to Toodyay Road is one step closer to becoming a reality, with Main Roads Western Australia officially issuing a tender for the project’s construction. Major works are expected to begin in late 2025 and continue through to late 2027.
The initiative will target the section of Toodyay Road, between Dryandra Road and Clackline-Toodyay Road, delivering significant safety and efficiency improvements to one of the region’s most notorious stretches of highway.
Two segments of the upgrade at Jingaling Brook and from Clackline-Toodyay Road have already been completed under separate contracts. The remaining works have now been bundled into a single, streamlined contract to improve efficiency, traffic management, and construction staging.
Scope of Works include:
- Toodyay Road upgrade to meet modern regional standards
- Major intersection improvements with better sight lines and turning lanes
- Construction of four new overtaking lanes
- Replacement of the ageing Jimperding Brook Bridge (85 years old)
Once completed, these upgrades will integrate seamlessly with the previously completed sections of Toodyay Road.
The upgrade is driven by a pressing need to address serious safety concerns. Between 2011 and 2021, the project area recorded 81 crashes, 30 of which led to death or serious injury. The most recent fatal accident occurred in late 2024.
Despite recent reductions in crash rates, the road’s inherent risks remain. These include:
- Narrow lanes and unsealed shoulders
- Poor visibility at intersections
- Lack of overtaking opportunities
- Hazardous roadside vegetation and drop-offs
The project aims to significantly reduce both the frequency and severity of future accidents.
Main Roads WA has committed to keeping the Toodyay Road corridor open in both directions for as long as practicable. Detours and contraflow arrangements will only be implemented when necessary.
In response to environmental concerns, the project team has made substantial design changes after consultation with local stakeholders. One of the most notable is at the Sandplain Road and Salt Valley Road intersection, where the proposed cut has been halved from 12 metres to 6 metres. This change allows preservation of mature wandoo trees and important cockatoo breeding habitats.
While vegetation clearing is unavoidable due to the narrow and constrained corridor, Main Roads is working closely with advocacy groups to reduce the ecological footprint wherever possible.
To find out more about the Toodyay Road Upgrade project, please visit the Mainroads project webpage here
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