Freight Link final stage in 2026: Barnett

The final stage of the controversial Perth Freight Link probably won't be needed for a decade, but there will be a traffic choke point in the meantime, the WA premier says.

After transport minister Dean Nalder told a community newspaper that stage three wouldn't be required until 2026, Colin Barnett was asked if that was true.

"It probably is - I'm not aware of the actual dates," Mr Barnett told ABC radio on Wednesday.

"So the first sort of kilometre or so out of the harbour is going to be slow, but it works and from there on, when the freight link is completed, the trucks will be on a no-intersection route that will take them all the way through to Muchea."

The $1.9 billion Perth Freight Link is largely federal funded and aims to provide a more direct route to Fremantle Port for trucks, which will be charged a toll to use it, but passenger vehicles will not.