Over 4000 residents from Busselton and Dunsborough have signed a petition calling for the completion of the dualling of Bussell Highway between Busselton and Capel.
Vasse MP Libby Mettam will present the petition, which she started in June, to Parliament next week.
“There has been an overwhelming response to the petition in particular from Perth which shows the importance of this road link for not only residents but drivers travelling to the south west which is a key tourist destination,” Ms Mettam said.
“It is crucial that this project is prioritised for the safety of drivers and benefits of businesses and the tourism industry into the future.”
Earlier this year the RAC named this stretch of the Bussell Highway as the fifth riskiest in regional Western Australia.
The results of the RAC Risky Roads survey were released after more than 6000 nominations were received from the public.
The survey noted the stretch of road on Bussell Highway posed a risk to commuters due to narrow lanes and bridges and a lack of overtaking opportunities.
“This section of road carries around 14,000 vehicles per day with volumes increasing significantly on long weekends and public holidays, up to almost double this number on the Fridays of long weekends,” Ms Mettam said.
Earlier this year, Labor MPs Rita Saffioti and Mick Murray both fired shots at the Barnett government for doing “nothing” in their term to advance the building of a dual carriageway from Capel to Busselton along Bussell Highway.
Ms Saffioti said the Labor government recognised the importance of the project and that it would be put to consideration under budget processes.
At the time, Ms Saffioti said she had been advised that all of the preliminary works for the dualling had not been undertaken.
However, Main Roads have started preliminary road works along the area between Capel and Busselton this month.
Dean Roberts, a Main Roads spokesman said while there was no current funding for the dualling of the highway, there were extensive preconstruction works that must be done.
“The current works occurring along Bussell Highway, south of Capel are part of preconstruction activities for the anticipated future duplication of the highway between Capel and Busselton,” he said.
“Although construction of the project is currently unfunded, it requires significant and lengthy pre-construction works which the current activity forms a part of.”