Main Roads quiet on future upgrade plans for major routes

Main Roads WA has indicated there are no immediate plans for any major road upgrades in the Augusta-Margaret River shire. A contentious plan to widen and upgrade sections of Caves Road between Yallingup and the Boranup Forest was still yet to receive any funding schedule from the State Government. This comes despite an ambitious Margaret River-Busselton Tourism Association project for a major interpretive centre at the Boranup Forest requiring a 3km relocation for Caves Road. A Main Roads spokesperson also told the Times there was nothing on the drawing board to extend dual lane roadworks into the shire. Main Roads was finalising dual-lane works between Busselton and Bunbury, tacking on to major road improvements and realignments stemming from work on the Bunbury Outer Ring Road. However, dual lane projects were not yet identified or funded between Busselton and Margaret River, the agency said. The Caves Road project sparked concerns when first flagged in 2018. However, Main Roads said its community and stakeholder group would be informed “when there is further information available regarding funding, timing and scope of works”.