Work is still underway on a 17-kilometre stretch of road in the South West of WA, more than five years after upgrades were first announced.

The duplication of the Bussell Highway began in 2020 to ease congestion between Bunbury and Busselton.

But five years on, finishing works are still going even though the highway was officially opened in April, with drivers frustrated over lane closures and speed reductions.

Richelle Piggott lives in Capel and travels to Busselton five to six times a week.

She said driving on Bussell Highway was "extremely frustrating".

Drivers are frustrated that work on the Bussell Highway is still going. (ABC South West WA: Pip Waller)

"It takes a very long time. There's a lot of different signage and I see a lot of people getting confused and unaware of the directional requirements with regards to the roadworks," Ms Piggott said.

"I can see it being a very good project once it's finished.

"But the constant frustration of broken promises and goalposts being moved with regards to when it's going to be finished? I battle to understand why it's taken so long."

Traffic diverted​

To avoid delays on the Bussell Highway, Ms Piggott said she drove along Tuart Drive, just off the highway.

Scott Olney has lived just off Tuart Drive in Ludlow for almost a decade.

He said since construction on the highway began, traffic had been diverting down the single-lane, tree-lined road to avoid the roadworks.

A sticker was placed over the completion date on a Bussell Highway road sign, marking delays to the project. (ABC South West WA: Pip Waller)

"Down south is obviously a really popular holiday destination, but the majority of traffic has been coming down Tuart Drive," Mr Olney said.

"Five years ago, we used to be able to walk down Tuart Drive and people used to walk their horses along the road.

"But now no-one does and I'd hazard a guess it's because there's been a 500 to 1,000 per cent increase in cars."

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In February, the RAC announced its top 10 riskiest roads across metropolitan and regional areas.

The intersection of Bussell Highway and Tuart Drive in Yalyalup came in at number three.

The intersection has already claimed multiple lives over the past 18 months.

Richelle Piggott drives from Capel to Busselton at least five times a week. (ABC South West WA: Pip Waller)

A 40-year-old motorcycle rider was killed in April last year after their bike and a ute collided at the intersection.

Just two months later, an 18-year-old woman was killed at the same intersection after a collision involving a minibus.

Mr Olney said there should not be more fatalities on the road, which was getting busier.

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"The road signage is inadequate; there's no extra signage, no flashing lights saying slow down, dangerous intersection," he said.

"There's other parts of the world where they've built skyscrapers in lesser time and all we've done is construct a dual highway.

"The time that it's taken to complete this road [Bussell Highway] is astronomical and we're still not there."

Several roadside memorials are in place at the intersection of Bussell Highway and Tuart Drive. (ABC South West WA: Pip Waller)

Always a 'staged' project​

WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti announced in February last year that the Bussell Highway duplication would be open by the end of 2024.

But while the road was completed in April 2025, finishing works requiring lane closures and speed reductions are expected to continue until the end of June or early July, depending on the weather.

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Roadworks were also paused on the Easter and WA Day long weekends.

In a statement, a state government spokesperson said the duplication was always designed as a staged project to be delivered over several years.

"We appreciate these works have caused disruption and we thank the community for their patience," the spokesperson said.

By Pip Waller

 

[Iggydi]

I thought it was only Queensland that went on a go slow when fixing or duplicating roads.

 

[DLHM]

I remember when the roadworks first started on that road. I’ve driven along there from Perth to Busselton to visit my son and grandson. Very frustrating and I thought it would’ve been finished by now. Haven’t been there for over a year.

 

[Kman]

I have lived in SA since 1998, 27 years. There is one road that has been worked on constantly, since I arrived. South Road. And isn't over yet.

 

[7777]

I have lived in SA since 1998, 27 years. There is one road that has been worked on constantly, since I arrived. South Road. And isn't over yet.

Perhaps an email to the RTA, regarding the lengthy roads work, could bring forward independent roadwork inspectors who can do some surveillance and report the matter to departments higher up. Clearly, the manager's and those authorised to deal with these road repairs, are not doing their job efficiently and still being paid a wage. Good luck, God bless,

 

[Kman]

Perhaps an email to the RTA, regarding the lengthy roads work, could bring forward independent roadwork inspectors who can do some surveillance and report the matter to departments higher up. Clearly, the manager's and those authorised to deal with these road repairs, are not doing their job efficiently and still being paid a wage. Good luck, God bless,

That will never work, as it is a 'political' thing.

 

[7777]

The road that goes through our street was smooth as, not a single bump or pot hole in sight, just perfect, until the local council brought in their road workers. For well over a week, bobcats everywhere, road workers at least 20 of them, more than half leaning against fences on their mobile phones, the others sitting on the ground with their coffees in hand, while three of the workers were actually doing something. Ever since they finished scrapping the road with their bobcats, and then leveling the tar, our road has continuously developed cracks and small pot holes, time and time again, calling for the road works people to fix the on going road faults. All the residence are fueming about the needless road works that were done in the first place, and that have now created never ending disruption to the road repairs, with on going pot holes and cracks in the road.

 

[7777]

That will never work, as it is a 'political' thing

 

[7777]

Dear member Kman, it doesn't cost anything to send an email as a concerned member of the public as well as speaking on behalf of all the local residents. Give it a go, the more people that are made aware of this issue, the bigger chance there is of this email reaching the right person, or department, who can investigate the reason why is it taking so long these road works. Good Karma to you always, God bless,

 

[Oaklegs]

Recently my wife was a patient in Bunbury Hospital for eight days and as I live in Busselton I visited her every day. The first trip when I took her there before 7am in the dark was a nightmare as are many Kangaroo collisions on the road every day. So many stretches of road have a 60kph speed limit on them even when there are no workers in sight. Some people choose to use Tuart drive but there are so many Kangaroos in the treed areas I don't think it is worth the risk to save perhaps 5 minutes. I am 87 now and I don't think the roads will be finished in my lifetime.

 

[Bagshaw]

I thought it was only Queensland that went on a go slow when fixing or duplicating roads.

The continuation of th Gold Coast Highway is a disgrace. It took 3 years to do 8 lanes from Bentleigh to Smith Street. The rest, over 6 years to add 6, then 4 lanes. And its not finished. Whenever I have had to go south, a lot of workers, but not much work being done.

 

[7777]

Sen

The continuation of th Gold Coast Highway is a disgrace. It took 3 years to do 8 lanes from Bentleigh to Smith Street. The rest, over 6 years to add 6, then 4 lanes. And its not finished. Whenever I have had to go south, a lot of workers, but not much work being done.

 

[PattiB]

I thought it was only Queensland that went on a go slow when fixing or duplicating roads.

No, that’s Tasmania, then often potholes have to be fixed before the new section of road is opened. It’s all deteriorated since the building of roads was handed over to contractors. When I was still a kid I can remember road construction taking years, we’d travel over the gravel for ages. There were fewer cars & people weren’t as prone to going places. It was a really big deal whenever we went to Launceston, all decked out in our best clothes, even hats

 

[7777]

Dear member Iggydi, try and send an email to RTA clearly explaining this matter to them. God bless,

 

[Veggiepatch]

For those who lived in Bundaberg in the 2000s would remember the Airport Drive which connected Takalvan Street to the airport proper. It took years to construct a single lane road. I drove along that road nearly every day and witnessed thousands of tonnes of soil being moved from one place to another for months on end. I'm sure it was used as a training ground for budding earthmoving operators.

 

[Luckyus]

Until such time we rid ourselves of frivolous politicians and their collectives politics we will forever be stuck in the quagmire of bullshit.

 

[Iggydi]

The road that goes through our street was smooth as, not a single bump or pot hole in sight, just perfect, until the local council brought in their road workers. For well over a week, bobcats everywhere, road workers at least 20 of them, more than half leaning against fences on their mobile phones, the others sitting on the ground with their coffees in hand, while three of the workers were actually doing something. Ever since they finished scrapping the road with their bobcats, and then leveling the tar, our road has continuously developed cracks and small pot holes, time and time again, calling for the road works people to fix the on going road faults. All the residence are fueming about the needless road works that were done in the first place, and that have now created never ending disruption to the road repairs, with on going pot holes and cracks in the road.

It is to keep them in a job. Can't have smooth roads, they would be jobless

 

[Iggydi]

Dear member Iggydi, try and send an email to RTA clearly explaining this matter to them. God bless,

I did put in a complaint when the council added a turning and bike lane right outside our driveway. We live on a busy main road. When I said we have to slow down in the turning lane because of the way our driveway is and along 3 kilometres of road, ours was the only one that has a turning lane and bike lane out the front, the council said if there are cars behind us we should turn down the side road and circle back to our driveway. All good and well except you have to drive down the side road for 500 meters before there is a side street you can turn around to go back. Then we have to go out onto the main road so we can turn into our driveway. When we have the caravan on it's even scarier and we can't just turn around so we have to do an extra 2 kilometres before we can get back to our driveway. So we now put on our hazard lights to warn people behind us when we are turning

 

[Bill MacL]

I have lived in SA since 1998, 27 years. There is one road that has been worked on constantly, since I arrived. South Road. And isn't over yet.

Working on roads is a job for life, like dockers.

 

[PattiB]

I did put in a complaint when the council added a turning and bike lane right outside our driveway. We live on a busy main road. When I said we have to slow down in the turning lane because of the way our driveway is and along 3 kilometres of road, ours was the only one that has a turning lane and bike lane out the front, the council said if there are cars behind us we should turn down the side road and circle back to our driveway. All good and well except you have to drive down the side road for 500 meters before there is a side street you can turn around to go back. Then we have to go out onto the main road so we can turn into our driveway. When we have the caravan on it's even scarier and we can't just turn around so we have to do an extra 2 kilometres before we can get back to our driveway. So we now put on our hazard lights to warn people behind us when we are turning

What a cheek! What’s the world coming to when you can’t turn into your driveway without a detour. Love your idea of using hazard lights, think that’s what I’d do too.