Paris Road set to be closed to Forrest Highway for 16 months as part of Bunbury Outer Ring Road construction

Australind residents are being warned to prepare for a navigational headache, with a major road into the suburb set to be closed for more than a year. Motorists will need to find an alternative route in from the Forrest High from Saturday, with Paris Road to be cut off from Forrest Highway next month until June 2024 as part of works for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road. The closure was approved by the Shire of Harvey at its council meeting on January 24 after an one-month consultation period held late last year. In his report to councillors prior to the meeting, infrastructure services director Rick Lotznicker said the South West Gateway Alliance consortium constructing the Bunbury Outer Ring Road had requested the Shire close Paris Road between the Forrest Highway and the Australind Spudshed entrance to allow for “major modifications” to the intersections of Paris Road, Clifton Road and Forrest Highway. “The proposed road closure and associated road network detours will also allow for upgrades to local roads and roads connecting to the BORR network,” he said. “The suggested detours during the temporary road closure are along Kingston Drive, The Promenade and Grand Entrance while the Paris Road closure is in place.” Mr Lotznicker said the council had been liaising with the consortium to delay the partial closure of the road until the extension of the Promenade between Ditchingham Place and Kingston Drive had been completed. The extension is set to open on Friday. Three public responses were received during the community consultation period, which expressed concerns surrounding the length of time the road is set to be partially closed for, alongside emergency access in Kingston. Councillor Amanda Lovitt successfully moved an amendment to the council decision to see the SWGA work with council to implement suitable temporary traffic measures on the local traffic network should it be determined there has been a measured adverse effect on local businesses and emergency services. “My concern is with the amount of additional traffic going through, the businesses along those roads and the emergency services could be severely affected in a negative way by the increase of traffic along there. “They need to be included in this so that we can provide that feedback to Main Roads as well as those residents in the area.” Councillor John Bromham asked if the option of reopening Paris Road in an emergency situation had been considered. Mr Lotznicker said the feedback will be passed on to the SWGA. “We’re going through the formality that is required in the Local Government Act, so the ball can be squarely in their court and all of this will be passed onto them and they need to implement measures to address concerns that have been raised,” he said. Councillor Dakota Krispyn asked if the SWGA would cover any damage that occurs along the diversion roads, with council officers stating any damage could be difficult to pinpoint down to the diversion. Speaking after the meeting, Harvey Shire president Paul Gillett said he was thankful The Promendade extension is planned to open before the partial closure begins. “It is probably unfortunate but it is part of the bigger picture of getting the Bunbury Outer Ring Road completed,” he said. Mr Gillett asked local residents with concerns or feedback surrounding the closure to raise it with the council. “Our Shire officers are meeting with the South West Gateway Alliance regularly and will be bringing up any concerns with them,” he said.