Big change to SR14 in Perth

[Sam Laybutt]

Hi guys,


In the middle of making my forehead sore with the continued discovery of facepalms, I have noticed that a big change is underway to SR14 in Perth's south.


Some of you might remember my post on the ultimate facepalm, on SR14 at Hamilton Hill
http://groups.google.com/group/aussie-highways/browse_thread/thread/8f874a1619170a1d/d96aa54b2cb18df0?lnk=gst&q=hamilton+hill#d96aa54b2cb18df0


Well, Main Roads have finally moved to do something about this. The intention is to re-route SR14 completely to reflect the changed road hierarchy in the area. Forrest Road has now been downgraded and traffic calmed, while roads like Beeliar Drive and Spearwood Avenue have been improved to carry through traffic. 


A map of the old and new routes I created is here:
http://maps.google.com.au/maps?msid=200534495037722856730.0004a8e49de0a9a003784&msa=0&ll=-32.104898,115.800962&spn=0.061436,0.132093&z=14&iwloc=0004a8e4a5272d71cb10b


The current situation is still a bit retarded though. As of a couple of weeks ago, almost all signs are still intact along the old alignment, including the ridiculous situation at Hamilton Hill. Almost all signs have been erected on the new alignment, however a few key signs are missing.


AIUI, the re-routing of SR14 is supposed to happen once the Spearwood Avenue extension between Barrington Street and Discovery Drive is opened in the next few months. According to the City of Cockburn (teehee) they are waiting on Western Power (a serial offender when it comes to delaying roadworks in Perth) before the road can be completed. For now, there's a low-standard dog-leg via Barrington Street and Miguel Road. 


Here's a selection of new signs along the new route:


http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/sr14/IMG_3045.jpg
New AD sign northbound on Cockburn Rd (SR12). No southbound AD sign though, despite that being the dominant flow of traffic! Also, there's meant to be a westbound AD sign (post are there) but it hasn't been installed yet. 


http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/sr14/IMG_3069.jpg
Spearwood Avenue eastbound at Stock Road. In typical Main Roads fashion, install the sign amongst the trees rather than on the treeless left verge >_<


http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/sr14/IMG_3085.jpg
Or hide them behind traffic signals, if possible.


http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/sr14/IMG_3151.jpg
How about we just install half the sign and do the other half later?


http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/sr14/IMG_3104.jpg
We'll just put this one behind the trees - Beeliar Drive westbound at Spearwood Ave


http://www.ozroads.com.au/misc/sr14/IMG_3148.jpg
And finally, Spearwood Avenue extension underway looking south near Discovery Drive


I'll head down that way again in the next few weeks and keep my eye on the progress. 


Cheers


Sam

[Paul Rands]

Nice discovery there Sam. 

More dodgy AD disasters there too. Maybe MRWA has switched to Trasicad.

Looks like I will have to relegate that section of SR14 to the former alignments in a few weeks. Can you let me / us know when the new route is open so it can be changed please? Ta

--
Paul Rands
paul...@gmail.com

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[Dr B.J. Winzer]

I can't view the map routes on Google.  ??

[Sam Laybutt]

Sorry, stupid Google makes it very hard to find the link to the map >_<


This should work:

http://maps.google.com.au/maps/ms?msa=0&msid=200534495037722856730.0004a8e49de0a9a003784

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Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 18:27:52 +1000
From: sarcop...@iprimus.com.au
To: aussie-...@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: [Aussie Highways] Big change to SR14 in Perth

[Paul Rands]

The rerouting certainly makes a lot more sense

--
Paul Rands
paul...@gmail.com

[Dr B.J. Winzer]

Does it?
My first reaction, looking at the map, is that it doesn't make sense at all.  That's just a first-glance reaction without knowing much of the geography and population distribution of Perth, note.

[Sam Laybutt]

The main purpose of that part of the route is to link Fremantle with Cockburn Central. 


Forrest Road/North Lake Road was the original main road through the area but has gradually been downgraded, so much so that it now makes no sense as a through route. Beeliar Drive has been built as a controlled access road and Spearwood Road is a divided carriageway for most of its length so that's a reasonable substitute. The re-routing came more from the aspect of needing to do something about the route discontinuity at Hamilton Hill than Spearwood Avenue jumping out as a much better route. 



I actually think that the focal point of Armadale is rather irrelevant on the western part of the route - I'd much rather replace that with 'Cockburn Central' which is supposed to grow into the dominant town centre of the LGA (City of Cockburn). Westbound traffic at the freeway is not even signed for Fremantle, the focal point is 'Yangebup'. 


However, if Beeliar Drive is ever extended to Cockburn Road then SR14 should probably be re-routed onto it. 

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Date: Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:41:16 +1000