Second stage of Indian Ocean Drive upgrades begin next month, with road to close for weeks

A section of Indian Ocean Drive will close in April as the State Government begins the second stage of a $55 million project to improve the notorious tourist route. Safety upgrades to widen a 33km stretch of road between Leeman and the Brand Highway and construct two new overtaking lanes will begin soon. The upgraded road will realign 8km between Eneabba-Coolimba Road and Freshwater Bay. A 48km stretch of the road will be closed between Eneabba-Coolimba Road and the Brand Highway from April while Main Roads undertake the second phase of the project. The road closure is expected to last about seven months, with road traffic requested to detour 20 minutes if approaching road works. Stage one of road works between Jurien Bay and Green Head, which included widening the road and installing audible edge and centre lines, was completed in May 2023. It comes after Coorow shire president Guy Sims called on the State to invest in the section of road between Green Head and Leeman, explaining the width, absence of slip lanes and 80km/h speed limit through Leeman concerned residents. Last week, Opposition Leader and Moore MP Shane Love presented a petition with more than 250 signatures to the WA Parliament, calling for the speed limit to be dropped down to 60km/h through Leeman and the installation of slip lanes. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said there was a high priority placed on the safety of Indian Ocean Drive and the project would help improve the tourist route. “Since 2020, more than $30 million of safety upgrades have been made to Indian Ocean Drive, including the installation of over 200 kilometres of audible edge and centrelines, construction of four overtaking lanes and the installation of safety barriers and new warning, advisory and multi-lingual signage,” she said. Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Catherine King said the Australian Government was pleased to partner with the State to enable a smoother and safer coastal route. “Improving this top stretch of Indian Ocean Drive will deliver long-term benefits to residents and coastal communities between Perth and Dongara,” she said.