During March – April 2024 we asked residents in Upper Swan for feedback on a proposed left in/left out intersection at Railway Parade and Great Northern Highway to boost road safety.

Many residents opposed this proposal. As a result, the City looked at other ways to manage the growing traffic and safety issues at the Great Northern Highway and Railway Parade intersection.

After reviewing all options, and with safety as the top priority for both the City and MRWA, a left in/left out intersection is the only option that can be safely implemented.

This project will begin after the rail level crossing upgrade at the Railway Parade and Apple Street intersection is finished. It is expected to start in two to five years, once traffic congestion at the intersection becomes more noticeable.

Please read on to learn more about the options we considered and why a left in/left out intersection will be implemented.

The City will modify the Great Northern Highway and Railway Parade intersection to a left in/left out arrangement.

This change will direct most vehicles exiting Railway Parade to use the Great Northern Highway and Apple Street roundabout, which was designed to handle future traffic growth in Upper Swan.

The left in/left out changes include:

• Widening the existing splitter island on Railway Parade approach

• Installing a mountable median along Great Northern Highway

• Updating existing road signs and adding new signs and pavement markings.

These changes will affect traffic and access to nearby areas in the medium to long term. They will:

• Boost safety at the Great Northern Highway and Railway Parade intersection by reducing conflict points

• Separate incoming and outgoing traffic from the south for properties on Railway Parade and nearby roads and developments

• Slow the growth of traffic using the Great Northern Highway and Railway Parade intersection

• Stop illegal right turns from Great Northern Highway into Railway Parade (traffic surveys recorded 14 illegal turns in 24-hour period).

Most respondents from the 2024 consultation raised two main concerns: longer travel time for residents (53 per cent) and fewer exit options from Upper Swan during an emergency (23 per cent).

Despite these concerns, the City considers this proposal the most effective way to manage traffic at the intersection.

This option works because:

• The works can be done within the available road reserve and does not affect the operation of the rail level crossing at Great Northern Highway (located east of this intersection).
• Travel time through the intersection are currently short, but traffic on Railway Parade will increase as development continues. Any option that does not increase travel time will fail and will turn Railway Parade into a rat run.
• Great Northern Highway has a mountable central median that allows oversized and over-mass vehicles to cross safely. In an emergency, this median could also be used under traffic management arrangements, helping to ensure Railway Parade remains a viable exit for residents in either direction if needed.
• MRWA supports the left in/left out proposal because it boosts road safety and follows safe system principles. MRWA also considers it a well-balanced and low-cost solution for the intersection.

This option would keep the existing Great Northern Highway and Railway Parade intersection and remove the temporary closure at Apple Street.

The City introduced the temporary closure in June 2019 while MRWA built the Great Northern Highway and Apple Street roundabout and completed the Northlink on-ramp at The Promenade.

The City used traffic modelling to study what would happen if it reopened the road while keeping the current intersection layout.

The modelling showed this option would create serious safety risks and heavy congestion because:

• Large traffic increases: Modelling shows that reopening the road would increase traffic on Railway Parade to 2,797 vehicles per day in 2025, rising to 4,450 vehicles per day by 2031
• Severe congestion: Traffic growth on Great Northern Highway would cause right turns out of Apple Street onto Great Northern Highway to operate poorly. During peak times, drivers would wait up to seven minutes to turn right onto Great Northern Highway
• Safety risks: Right turns at uncontrolled intersections are less safe. Long wait times can cause drivers to take risks by turning into small gaps, increasing the chance of crashes.

For these reasons, the City does not support this option.

This option would permanently close Railway Parade at the intersection of Apple Street while keeping the current intersection layout at Great Northern Highway.

This closure would only temporarily reduce congestion. Over time, traffic growth would again create unsafe conditions and congestion, similar to option two.

The key differences between this option and option two are traffic movements:

• Short term: Traffic would divert through Orange Avenue and Rose Street
• Long term: Traffic would use a new road built as part of future development.

To permanently close a road, the City must follow Section 58 of the Land Administration Act 1997. This process requires detailed planning, further community consultation, and approval from the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.

A roundabout would normally boost safety and traffic flow and is often the preferred solution.

However, the City cannot build a roundabout at or near this intersection because of the nearby railway level crossing and strict safety rules under the Railway Crossing Control Policy and Guidelines. Any roundabout must also safely handle heavy vehicles using Great Northern Highway.

The City investigated other roundabout locations:

North of the intersection (between Railway Parade and Apple Street)

This option is not possible because:

• A roundabout would require large amounts of land, much of which is privately owned and residential
• It would require a new railway level crossing to connect to Railway Parade.

South of the intersection (between Railway Parade and West Swan Road)

This option is also not possible because:

• It would require significant land and road extensions into private residential areas
• Traffic from nearby traffic signals would queue back into the roundabout
• Safety clearance distances from the rail crossing cannot be met, creating a risk of vehicles stopping on the tracks
• It would create significant delays for the large volumes of through traffic on Great Northern Highway.

New level rail crossings require approval from the Public Transport Authority (PTA) and MRWA. Current state and national policies do not support new rail crossings, and the PTA has confirmed it would not approve this option.

Traffic signals could allow all turning movements, but they are not suitable for this location.

Traffic signals are not supported because:

• They would cause major delays to through traffic on Great Northern Highway
• Great Northern Highway is a key freight and north-south route, so delays would affect transport and the economy
• Slowing heavy vehicles on a freight route can create safety risks
• The nearby rail crossing and existing traffic signals would make installation complex
• Traffic signals are expensive and provide poor value for money.

The City consulted Main Roads Western Australia (MRWA), which confirmed it does not support traffic signals at this intersection. MRWA advised that the Apple Street roundabout already works as intended and that a left in/left out option at Railway Parade South is the most balanced solution.

As Great Northern Highway is a state-managed road, the City cannot install traffic signals without MRWA approval.

This option would involve building a bridge over Ellen Brook to connect Upper Swan, The Vines, and Ellenbrook.

The City does not consider this option practical because:

• It would encourage rat running through Upper Swan unless the left in/left out intersection is installed
• It would cost a lot and provide very little benefit
• The site is within a Bush Forever area, which would require complex approvals from the City and the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.

Further considerations

Travel time and safety impacts

New developments will greatly increase traffic on Railway Parade. This increase will cause congestion at the intersection and longer travel times for drivers.

Traffic modelling shows that the current intersection design will not work well by 2031. It will not provide a good level of service, especially for drivers turning right from Railway Parade onto Great Northern Highway.

The modelling also shows that drivers will face long queues and have very few chances to enter Great Northern Highway from Railway Parade. Long waits can cause frustration, which may lead to impatience and risky decisions. If nothing is done, this could increase the chance of crashes at the intersection.

As part of the development approval for the Clementine Estate, the Satterley Group must upgrade the intersection to a left in/left out design when traffic volumes require the change.

Emergency access/egress

During community consultation, residents raised concerns that a proposed left in/left out intersection could limit exit options from Upper Swan in an emergency.

Great Northern Highway includes a mountable central median that can be safely traversed by oversize and over-mass vehicles. In an emergency, this median could also be used under traffic management arrangements, helping to ensure Railway Parade remains a viable exit for residents in either direction if needed.

Timeframe for works

The Railway Parade and Great Northern Highway left in/ left-out intersection will be constructed after the rail level crossing upgrade next to Railway Parade and Apple Street intersection has been completed.

As resolved at the Ordinary Council Meeting on December 15, 2021, the lifting of the existing temporary barrier closure at Railway Parade will be undertaken when the intersection of Railway Parade and Great Northern Highway has been converted to a left in/ left out arrangement.

Related works

Rail level crossing upgrade next to Railway Parade and Apple Street intersection. The upgrade of the level crossing is required due to the increased traffic volumes on Apple Street. The upgrade is proposed to reduce the likelihood of a train and motor vehicle collision.