Road Photos & Information: Western Australia: Tonkin Highway (State Route 4)

Road Photos & Information: Western Australia

Tonkin Highway (State Route 4) - Maddington to Noranda (State Route 4)

Statistics:

Length: 81 km (Maddington to Noranda: 21 km)
Northern Terminus: Great Northern Highway (NH95) and Brand Highway (NR1) at Muchea
Southern Terminus: Thomas Road (SR21) at Darling Downs
Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route: Orange Grove, Kenwick, Wattle Grove, Forrestfield, Kewdale, Cloverdale, Redcliffe, Ascot, Bayswater, Morley and Noranda

Route Numbering:

Current:
Road Authority Internal Classification: H17 1

General Information:

Tonkin Highway links the south-east corridor with the north-east and north-west corridors of the metropolitan areas.1 The highway is a multi-laned limited access dual carriageway and provides direct access to Perth airport and was built in several stages.

The highway was originally named the Beechboro-Gosnells Highway, the name coming from the two suburbs it was originally planned to link. It was eventually renamed Tonkin Highway in honour of former West Australian premier John Tonkin.

History:

1980: Stage 1, from Welshpool Road to Hardey Road, opened.
22 December 1980: Tonkin Highway (12.2 km) from Albany Highway to Hale Road opened. 1
11 July 1984: Tonkin Highway extension (3.6 km) from Railway Parade to Morley Drive opened. 1
April 1985: Stage 4, linking Hardey Road and Great Eastern Highway opened. This included the construction of four bridges over the Forrestfield railway yards, the first bridges in Australia to be constructed using the incremental launch technique. On opening of this stage the Beechboro-Gosnells Highway was renamed Tonkin Highway after former West Australian premier John Tonkin. 1
1988: the northern and southern sections were linked with the opening of the Redcliffe Bridge
18 December 1989: Tonkin Hwy extension from Benara Rd to Morley Drive opened. 1
11 November 1991: Tonkin Highway (Benara Rd to Reid Highway) opened. 1
April 2005: The section between Mills Road West and Armadale Road was opened to traffic by the then Premier Geoff Gallop. 1
December 2005: Tonkin Highway extension from Armadale Road to Thomas Road was opened to traffic by the then Premier Geoff Gallop. 1
February 2013: Work commenced on building on ramp from Abernethy Rd to Tonkin Hwy. 2
November 2013: Abernethy Road and Tonkin Highway interchange completed and opened to traffic. 3
May 2017, Tonkin Highway and Kelvin Road intersection upgraded to improve traffic flow and safety. The upgrade works included additional through lanes on Tonkin Highway and additional and extended turning lanes, including a double right-turn for the high number of vehicles turning from Tonkin Highway southbound to Kelvin Road westbound. New cycle lanes were provided on the Tonkin Highway approaches and departures while pedestrian facilities, traffic signals and street lighting were also upgraded. 4
June 2018: As part of NorthLink WA works, completion of upgrade of Tonkin Highway to a freeway-standard, free-flowing link with six lanes between Guildford Road and Reid Highway. 5

Click here for the former alignment between Maddington and Noranda

Maddington to Noranda		Noranda to Maddington
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Distance Sign: Distance sign to the next 3 exits, located after the Gosnells Road West junction. Maddington, November 2008. Image © Paul Rands		Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Beechboro, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Kelvin Road in Maddington. November 2008. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Morley approaching Morley Dr (SR76), January 2020. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching Kelvin Road: Flashing warning signs approaching the Kelvin Rd intersection, April 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Morley, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands
	Kelvin Road Intersection: Tonkin Hwy as it passes through the Kelvin Rd intersection at Maddington, November 2008. Image © Paul Rands		Morley Drive: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at Morley Dr at Morley, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands
	Old No Standing In Road Reserve Sign: Old style sign found on the older sections of SR4 banning parking along the route, Maddington, November 2008. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Morley approaching Collier Rd, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: Advance directional sign for the Welshpool Road East junction at Wattle Grove. The SR8 shields are on coverplates, hiding the old route number of SR35. November 2008. Image © Paul Rands		Collier Road: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at Collier Rd, Bayswater, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands
	Approaching Welshpool Road East: Flashing warning signs approaching the junction with Welshpool Road East, April 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bayswater approaching Guildford Rd (SR51), January 2020. Image © Paul Rands
	Welshpool Road East Intersection: Approaching Welshpool Road East at Wattle Grove, November 2008. Image © Paul Rands		Guildford Road: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the Guildford Rd (SR51) interchange, Bayswater, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands
	SR4 Trailblazer: State Route 4 trailblazer after the Welshpool Rd East (SR8) junction at Wattle Grove, April 2009. Image © Paul Rands		Guildford Road: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the Guildford Rd (SR51) interchange, Bayswater, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Large RD after the Welshpool Road East junction at Wattle Grove, November 2008. Image © Paul Rands		Distance Sign: RD sign showing distances to Perth Airport terminals, Bayswater, January 2020. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign showing distances to Perth Airport terminals, Wattle Grove, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Great Eastern Hwy (NR1 / NH94) at Bayswater, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Hale Road in Wattle Grove, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Swan River: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) as it crosses Swan River via Redcliffe Br at Bayswater, January 2020. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Hale Road: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the junction with Hale Road in Wattle Grove, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Great Eastern Highway: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the Great Eastern Hwy (NR1 / NH94) interchange, Ascot, January 2020. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign for the interchange with Roe Hwy (SR3) at Wattle Grove, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the off ramp to Great Eastern Hwy (N1 / NH94) at Ascot, January 2020. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at the Roe Hwy (SR3) interchange at Wattle Grove, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Trailblazer: Trailblazer assembly on the off ramp to Great Eastern Hwy (N1 / NH94) at Ascot, January 2020. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Roe Highway Interchange: Tonkin Hwy as it passes under Roe Hwy at Wattle Grove. April 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on the off ramp to Great Eastern Hwy (N1 / NH94) at Ascot, January 2020. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching the Abernethy Road (SR55) interchange at Kewdale. January 2020. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Perth Airport approaching Dunreath Dr, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Abernethy Road: Abernethy Road (SR55) interchange at Kewdale, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands		Dunreath Drive: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the Dunreath Dr interchange, Perth Airport, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at the Abernethry Rd (SR55) interchange at Kewdale for Leach Hwy (SR7). January 2020. Image © Paul Rands		Airport Drive & Leach Highway: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the interchange with Leach Hwy (SR7) and Airport Dr at Perth Airport, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Horrie Miller Drive & Kewdale Road: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the interchange with Horrie Miller Drive and Kewdale Road in Kewdale, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands		Airport Drive & Leach Highway: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the interchange with Leach Hwy (SR7) and Airport Dr at Perth Airport, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Kewdale Rd / Horrie Miller Dr: Tonkin Hwy as it passes Horrie Miller Drive and Kewdale Road in Kewdale, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Perth Airport approaching Kewdale Rd and Horrie Miller Dr, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching the Leach Hwy (SR7) interchange in Kewdale, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Perth Airport approaching Kewdale Dr and Horrie Miller Dr, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Leach hwy Junction: Passing through the Leach Hwy (SR7) interchange in Kewdale, January 2020. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from April 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Kewdale Road & Horrie Miller Drive: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the interchange with Kewdale Rd and Horrie Miller Dr at Perth Airport, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the off ramp to the Leach Hwy (SR7) interchange in Cloverdale, November 2008. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Perth Airport approaching Roe Hwy (SR3), April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on the ramp with the Leach Hwy (SR7) interchange in Cloverdale, November 2008. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Forrestfield approaching Roe Hwy (SR3), April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Redcliffe approaching Dunreath Dr, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands		Roe Highway: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the Roe Hwy (SR3) interchange, Forrestfield, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Dunreath Drive: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the Dunreath Dr interchange at Redcliffe, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands		Roe Highway: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the Roe Hwy (SR3) interchange, Forrestfield, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Dunreath Drive: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the Dunreath Dr interchange at Redcliffe, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Roe Hwy (SR3) interchange at Forrestfield, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching the interchange with Great Eastern Highway (NR1 / NH94) at Redcliffe, January 2020. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from April 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on Roe Hwy (SR3) interchange at Forrestfield, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Great Eastern Hwy Interchange: The interchange with the Great Eastern Highway (NR1 / NH94) at Redcliffe, January 2020. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from April 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at the Roe Hwy (SR3) junction at Forrestfield for Hale Rd, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign after Great Eastern Highway (NR1 / NH94) at Redcliffe. January 2020. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from April 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Hale Road: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the Hale Rd junction, Forrestfield, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bayswater approaching Guildford Rd (SR51), January 2020. Image © Paul Rands		Hale Road: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the Hale Rd junction, Forrestfield, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Guildford Road: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the Guildford Rd (SR51) interchange, Bayswater, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands		Hale Road: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at the Hale Rd junction, Forrestfield, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on the off ramp for the Guildford Rd (SR51) interchange at Bayswater. April 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Welshpool Road East (SR8) at Wattle Grove. December 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Guildford Road Interchange: Off ramp from Tonkin Hwy at the junction with Guildford Road at Bayswater, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands		Welshpool Road East Intersection: Looking southeast at Wattle Grove, April 2016. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Bayswater approaching Collier Rd, January 2020. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from April 2018. Image © Paul Rands		AD Sign: Advance directional sign approaching Kelvin Road at Maddington, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Collier Road: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at Collier Rd, Bayswater, January 2020. Click here for a photo of this location by Paul Rands from April 2018. Image © Paul Rands		Kelvin Rd Intersection: Approaching the signalised junction with Kelvin Road in Maddington, December 2007. Image © Paul Rands
	Collier Road: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at Collier Rd, Bayswater, April 2018. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Embleton approaching Morley Dr (SR76), January 2020. Image © Paul Rands
	Morley Drive: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at Morley Dr at Embleton, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Noranda approaching Reid Hwy (SR3) interchange, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Noranda approaching Reid Hwy (SR3) interchange, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands
	Reid Highway: Tonkin Hwy (SR4) at Reid Hwy (SR3) interchange, Noranda, January 2020. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of State Route 4 between Noranda and Muchea Click here for the continuation of State Route 4 between Maddington and Oakford

1 Main Roads WA
2 Government of Western Australia, Media Releases, Joint Media Statement - Billion-Dollar Gateway WA Now Underway, 1 February 2013
3 Government of Western Australia, Media Releases, New ramp at Abernethy Road now open, 13 November 2013
4 Main Roads Western Australia, Completed Projects, Tonkin Highway and Kelvin Road intersection, 16 July 2018
5 Main Roads Western Australia, Project Update, NorthLink WA, June 2018

Last updated: 26-Jul-2020 23:35

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