‘Hell’s highway’: The town with 800 trucks rolling through every day

Residents of a West Australian town frustrated by 800 heavy trucks rumbling through their streets are renewing demands for a long-awaited bypass to be built.

Pinjarra, 80km south of Perth in the Peel region, was earmarked for a bypass more than 20 years ago.

Since then residents have endured heavy truck movements of about 800 vehicles a day, sparking concerns a “catastrophic” accident is likely to happen unless action is taken.

Shire of Murray President Douglas McLarty told nine.com.au many of the heavy haulage trucks – heading to and from major mining sites – along the South Western Highway pass through Pinjarra’s main street, homes, schools and businesses.

“It is a really significant issue for residents which is getting worse,” he said.

“We have heavy loads heading through the centre of town and nearly touching parked cars on either side of the road … knocking the traffic lights and road signs over.”

In one incident last week, a traffic light was struck by a truck and left pointing in the opposite direction, posing a potential hazard for motorists.

Many of the town’s 6000 residents have found themselves in an “untenable position” with the town’s main street locked down by the trucks, says McLarty.

Pinjarra’s only primary school has been forced to end a bus service for students due to the traffic chaos.

Worryingly, says McLarty, is the risk to students walking on the footpaths while the truck drivers attempt to traverse the road by driving forwards and reverse at traffic lights.

He says he had no grudge against the truck drivers who he says are only trying to perform their job, but fears an accident is waiting to happen.

“You ony need one misstep and it could be catastrophic,” McLarty said.

The bypass for Pinjarra has been on the books since the late 1990s, and in 2022 was handed $50 million in state funding and $200 million from the federal government.

A change of federal government in 2023 resulted in the $200m being pulled, while the WA government reiterated its pledge to build the road.

Since then the project has progressed only to the planning and approvals stage.

Current State Budget forward estimates do not appear major construction funding beyond planning and design works. This indicates construction on the bypass may not begin until 2030.

An additional potential hurdle is the proposed route would be near the site of the Pinjarra Massacre, one of the bloodiest episodes of violence against WA’s indigenous people.

In 1834, white settlers, police and soldiers killed scores of men, women and children from a local aboriginal tribe.

Despite the frustrating delays, Pinjarra residents continue to demand the bypass be built, with a town referendum in 2017 finding 84 per cent want it constructed. More recent community consultation has found similar levels of support by residents.

Their concerns are echoed by local state MP David Bolt who says the potential dangers will only heighten as the population of Pinjarra grows to a forecast 16,000 people during the next decade.

Truck movements through the town are also expected to increase, driven by the growth of major mining projects, such as the nearby Alcoa Alumina Refinery, one of the world’s largest.

Bolt says the truck drivers strive to take the best care they can driving through the town, and are just as frustrated about the bypass delay.

“Pinjarra is now a growing secondary town centre, with shops, cafes, tourists, many pedestrians and two schools on its main street. With over 800 heavy vehicles now passing through the town each day, this busy area and main street is becoming increasingly dangerous.”

He continues to lobby the state transport minister for the bypass to be built.

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“After years of promises and election commitments, the community deserves a clear answer on when this project will actually be funded and built.”

A spokesperson for WA Main Roads said further investigations and consultations were required before construction of the bypass could progress.

“The project had previously been funded on an 80:20 basis, with the Australian government committing $200 million and the state government $50 million,” the spokesperson said.

Following withdrawal of the Australian government contribution, the state government agreed to continue progressing project development.

“Throughout 2024 and 2025, Main Roads undertook extensive engagement with the local Aboriginal community, the Shire of Murray, landowners, Alcoa and other key stakeholders to better understand the technical, heritage, environmental and social considerations associated with the project.

“The Pinjarra Massacre Site is a significant consideration in this process, and the state government has recently written to the Shire of Murray regarding the formal recognition of the site through an appropriate memorial or educational initiative.”