Road Photos & Information: Western Australia
Roe Highway and Reid Highway
Middle Swan to Karrinyup
Former Alignment
Statistics:
- Length:
- 58 km (Middle Swan to Karrinyup: 23 km)
- Termini:
- Northern: Marmion Av (SR71) and North Beach Rd (unnumbered), Karrinyup
- Southern: Kwinana Fwy (SR2) and Murdoch Dr (unnumbered), Jandakot
- Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:
- Middle Swan, Caversham, West Swan, Dayton, Beechboro, Bennett Springs, Noranda, Malaga, Dianella, Mirrabooka, Westminster, Balga, Balcatta, Hamersley, Carine and Karrinyup
Route Numbering:
- Current: 3
- Road Authority Internal Classification: 1
- H021 (Middle Swan to Karrinyup)
General Information:
State Route 3 is a major arterial route servicing Perth's northern and eastern suburbs.
The route services residential, commercial, industrial and semi-rural areas and features both grade-separated and at-grade junctions. Part of the route forms the designated truck route through the Perth metropolitan area and as a result the route sees a lot of road train and B-double vehicles.
State Route 3 once incorporated Middle Swan Rd which was a single carriageway, 2-lane roadway that acted as temporary link between the Reid Hwy and Roe Hwy, passing through suburbs such as West Swan, Caversham and Middle Swan. This is now a series of service roads north of Reid Hwy.
Roe Highway:
The Roe Highway is part of the Perth metropolitan area outer ring road system. It's a limited access dual carriageway and carries not just SR3, but also NH94 and NH95.
The Roe Highway was first proposed in 1955 by Gordon Stephenson as part of the Metropolitan Region Planning Scheme. It is named after John Septimus Roe, first Surveyor General of Western Australia. Click or tap here for a document by Paul Fisher, one of the project managers for the Tonkin Hwy to Welshpool Rd section.
Reid Highway:
First proposed in the late 1960s as the North Perimeter Highway, Reid Highway is a major arterial highway in Perth, and runs between West Swan Road, West Swan and Marmion Avenue, Karrinuyp. The route is named after former Governor Gordon Reid. Click or tap here for a document on stages 4 and 5 by project manager Paul Fisher.
History:
- Reid Highway:
- 1986: Stage 1 constructed between Erindale Road and the Mitchell Freeway.
- 1989: Route renamed Reid Highway in honour of former Governor Gordon Reid.
- 6 September 1991: Reid Highway from Alexander Dr to Malaga Dr opened. 2
- 11 November 1991: Reid Highway (Malaga Dr to Tonkin Highway) and Tonkin Highway (Benara Road to Reid Highway) opened. 2
- 11 February 1992: Reid Highway from Tonkin Highway to Beechboro Road and Alexander Dr to Mirrabooka Avenue opened. 2
- 6 September 1996: Reid Highway extension from Wanneroo Road overpass to Erindale Road opened. 2
- 25 November 1996: Reid Highway extension from Beechboro Road to Great Northern Highway opened. 2
- 2000: Works commenced to extend Reid Highway from Mitchell Freeway to Marmion Avenue. The extension had been planned since 1963. 3
- 2001: Reid Highway resurfaced using asphalt at Carine to reduce noise levels. 4
- 26 February 2010: The then transport Minister Simon O'Brien opened the extension of Reid Highway from West Swan Road to Great Northern Highway. The $96 million project involved the construction of 2.6 km dual carriageway between West Swan Road and Great Northern Highway in Middle Swan; the provision of a road underpass and service road to facilitate safe local access; and significant improvements to the signalised intersection at Great Northern Highway. It also involved building a new road bridge across the Swan River designed to accommodate four lanes of traffic; and a separate shared cycle and pedestrian path. 5
- June 2010: Construction of grade separated interchange with Alexander Dr commenced. 6
- 15 April 2011: Reid Highway interchange Alexander Drive opened to traffic, with Reid Highway running over Alexander Drive. 7
- 12 November 2011: Reid Highway grade separated interchange with Mirrabooka Avenue opened to traffic. 8
- 2015: Work started on upgrading Reid Highway to improve capacity. Works included 4.2 km road widening between Marmion Avenue and Erindale Road to provide two lanes in each direction, and associated intersection upgrades, a new bridge over Mitchell Freeway, a new ramp from Reid Highway westbound to Mitchell Freeway northbound, traffic lights at Duffy Road South, traffic barriers to separate traffic from the shared path on the existing bridge over Mitchell Freeway, and a grade separated interchange at Malaga Drive / Reid Highway intersection. 9
- 2017: ​Upgrade works commenced at the Reid Highway and Altone Road intersection. The works provided an additional through-lane for Altone Road in each direction and extend turning pockets to Reid Highway. 10 Also work started to upgrade Reid Highway between Altone Road and West Swan Road to dual carriageway, other work included installation of noise walls and a shared path along the route. 11
- August 2018: The first two bridges on Reid Highway between Beechboro Road North and Tonkin Highway opened to traffic as part of the NorthLink WA project. These bridges replaced the dual carriageway of the Reid Highway between Beechboro Road North and Tonkin Highway, which will be absorbed into a westbound to southbound ramp when the interchange is completed. 12
- October 2018: A direct exit ramp from Lightning Park Recreation Centre to Reid Highway at Noranda opened to traffic. 13
This page concentrates on the former alignment between Middle Swan and Karrinyup
Middle Swan to Karrinyup
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Caversham approaching Lord St, April 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Lord Street:
Flashing warning sign at Caversham approaching Lord St, April 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Lord Street:
Corner of Reid Hwy (SR3) and Lord St, Caversham, April 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Exit Reassurance Directional Sign:
Exit distance sign at Caversham, after the Lord St intersection, April 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Bennett Brook Bridge:
Reid Hwy (SR3) at the Bennett Brook Bridge, Caversham, April 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Altone Road:
Reid Hwy (SR3) approaching Altone Rd at Beechboro, April 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Flashing Warning Sign:
Warning sign with flashing lights approaching Altone Rd, Beechboro, April 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Trailblazer:
SR3 trailblazer at the corner of Reid Hwy (SR3) and Altone Rd at Beechboro, April 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Trailblazer:
SR3 trailblazer after Altone Rd at Beechboro, April 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Beechboro Road:
Flashing warning signs on Reid Hwy (SR3) approaching Beechboro Rd (SR53) at Beechboro, April 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Beechboro Road:
Reid Hwy (SR3) approaching Beechboro Rd (SR53) at Beechboro, April 2016.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
Westbound AD sign on Reid Hwy approaching the signalised intersection with Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at Beechboro. February 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Tonkin Highway Intersection:
Westbound approaching the intersection with Tonkin Hwy at Beechboro. April 2018. Click or tap here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from February 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Westbound RD sign on Reid Hwy at Noranda after the Tonkin Hwy intersection. November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Distance Sign:
Intersection / exit distance sign, westbound at Noranda, November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Malaga Drive:
Westbound approaching Malaga Drive at Noranda, February 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Alexander Drive AD Sign:
Westbound advance directional sign at Noranda approaching the intersection with Alexander Drive. November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Alexander Drive Intersection:
Looking west at Noranda, February 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Alexander Drive Intersection:
Looking west at Noranda, November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Northwood Drive Overpass:
Westbound RD sign and Northwood Dr overpass at Dianella. November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign approaching Mirrabooka Avenue in Mirrabooka, November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Mirrabooka Av Intersection:
Looking west at Mirrabooka, November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
Looking west at Westminster, approaching Wanneroo Road (SR60), November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Wanneroo Road Interchange:
Looking west at Westminster, November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
Looking west at Balcatta, as you approach Erindale Road (SR77), November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Erindale Road Intersection:
Looking west at Balcatta, November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
Looking west at Balcatta approaching the Mitchell Fwy (SR2) interchange, November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Mitchell Fwy Interchange:
Looking west at Balcatta, November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Mitchell Fwy Interchange:
Looking west at Balcatta, November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Mitchell Freeway Interchange:
Signage facing the off-ramp from the Mitchell Fwy (SR2) at Balcatta, June 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Duffy Road South Intersection:
Looking west at Gwelup, November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
Looking west at Karrinyup approaching Okely Road, November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Okely Road Intersection:
Looking west at Karrinyup, November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Karrinyup to Middle Swan
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign on North Beach Road at North Beach approaching Marmion Avenue (SR71) and Reid Highway (SR3). November 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at the Mitchell Fwy (SR2) interchange at Carine, June 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Mitchell Freeway & Balcatta Road:
Reid Hwy (SR3) at Hamersley approaching Mitchell Fwy (SR2) and Balcatta Rd (SR78), June 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Mitchell Freeway Interchange:
Reid Hwy (SR3) at Hamersley at the junction with Mitchell Fwy (SR2) and Balcatta Rd (SR78), June 2009.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at Malaga approaching Tonkin Hwy (SR4), April 2016. This junction has now been extensively modified due to NorthLink WA roadworks.
Image © Paul Rands
Approaching Tonkin Highway:
Flashing warning signs at Malaga approaching Tonkin Hwy (SR4), April 2016. This junction has now been extensively modified due to NorthLink WA roadworks.
Image © Paul Rands
Reid Highway & Tonkin Highway:
Reid Hwy (SR3) at the junction with Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at Malaga, April 2016. SR3 turned left here. This junction has now been extensively modified due to NorthLink WA roadworks.
Image © Paul Rands
Exit Reassurance Directional Sign:
Exit distance sign at Bennett Springs, April 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Flashing Warning Sign:
Warning sign with flashing lights approaching the Altone Rd signalised intersection, April 2018. The lights activate when the signals are about to change to red or are currently red for Reid Hwy traffic.
Image © Paul Rands
Bennett Brook Bridge:
Reid Hwy (SR3) at Bennett Brook Bridge, Bennett Springs, April 2018
Image © Paul Rands
Flashing Warning Sign:
Warning sign with flashing lights approaching the Lord St signalised intersection, April 2018. The lights activate when the signals are about to change to red or are currently red for Reid Hwy traffic.
Image © Paul Rands
Intersection Directional Sign:
ID sign at the corner of Reid Hwy (SR3) and Lord St, Bennett Springs, April 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Exit Reassurance Directional Sign:
Exit distance sign, Caversham, April 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Advance Directional Sign:
AD sign at West Swan, approaching West Swan Rd (SR52), April 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Flashing Warning Sign:
Warning sign with flashing lights approaching the West Swan Rd (SR52) signalised intersection, April 2018. The lights activate when the signals are about to change to red or are currently red for Reid Hwy traffic.
Image © Paul Rands
West Swan Road:
Reid Hwy (SR3) at the intersection West Swan Rd (SR52), West Swan, April 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
West Swan Road:
Reid Hwy (SR3) at the intersection West Swan Rd (SR52), West Swan, April 2018.
Image © Paul Rands
Flashing Traffic Signals Warning Sign:
Warning sign for traffic signals on the Roe Hwy (SR3 / NH95) at Middle Swan approaching the intersection with Toodyay Road (SR50), May 2008.
Image © Paul Rands
2 WA Government, Main Roads Western Australia.
3 WA Government, Media Statements, Reid Highway to be extended west from Mitchell Hwy to Marmion Ave, 16 December 1998.
4 WA Government, Media Statements, Smoother road for Reid Highway through Carine, 24 September 2001.
5 WA Government, Media Statements, Reid Highway extension opened, 26 February 2010.
6 WA Government, Media Statements, Milestone reached on new Reid Highway overpass at Alexander Drive, 28 November 2010.
7 Brendan Cherry.
8 WA Government, Media Statements, Reid Hwy / Mirrabooka Ave black spot eliminated, 12 November 2011.
9 WA Government, Main Roads Western Australia, Project Display, Reid Highway Works, 20 July 2015.
10 WA Government, Main Roads Western Australia, Projects, NorthLink WA, Works Begin at Reid Highway and Altone Road intersection, 31 August 2017.
11 WA Government, Main Roads Western Australia, Project Update, Reid Highway Dual Carriageway: Altone Road to West Swan Road, November 2017.
12 WA Government, Main Roads Western Australia, NorthLink WA Traffic Update, August 2018.
13 WA Government, Media Statements, Lightning Park off-ramp to Reid Highway now open, 12 October 2018.