And while it remains east coast-centric, WA is better represented this year, thanks in part to submissions from the South West Group, a voluntary organisation formed by the Cockburn, East Fremantle, Fremantle, Kwinana, Melville and Rockingham councils.

Executives from these councils got together to identify priorities in June 2018, quantify them in a financial sense, and prepare submissions for IA.

They have succeeded in getting two included on the list for the first time, as “priority initiatives”: Swan River crossing capacity (Fremantle Traffic Bridge) and the Canning Bridge crossing capacity and interchange.

Fremantle Traffic Bridge, which the state government also submitted as a proposal, was listed as a priority initiative, likely to have an impact within the next five years.

IA found that “without significant remedial maintenance, (which will not extend the service life of the structure) closure will be required in the near term."

“This is a result of continuing deterioration of critical timber components and scouring of the bridge supports," the report said.

“Closure of the bridge, without replacement, would substantially increase demand pressure on the Stirling Bridge, which would worsen travel times, reduce the resilience of the road network and impact heavy freight road access to the port.

“The initiative involves addressing the risk of closure for the Fremantle Traffic Bridge. This could be achieved by renewing or replacing the existing bridge, or developing and improving alternative crossings and routes.”

It said the state government next needed to identify initiatives and develop options.

The list also noted Canning Bridge’s bus station was causing congestion, was difficult for pedestrians and cyclists to access, lacked drop-off facilities and toilets, and that improvements to accessibility and amenity would increase public transport use and reduce pressure on the roads. A proponent to take charge was yet to be identified.

The South West Group had brought these issues up in its submission regarding the Canning Bridge Activity centre, proposing a new southern bridge and purpose-built bus station.

“The South West Group is grateful to Infrastructure Australia for their diligence and rigour in assessing our submissions and for recognising that these are serious problems that negatively impact our community on a daily basis,” South West Group chief executive Tom Griffiths said.

"Fremantle Traffic Bridge has been a longstanding worry and it is great to see it recognised as a high priority issue.

“Similarly, the congestion at Canning Bridge is a major problem that costs tens of millions of dollars every year, lost productivity, and countless hours of people's lives stuck in traffic. We're glad to see it recognised by IA as a nationally significant problem and we look forward to working with the state government to develop sustainable and people-focused solutions.”

This year’s list features 121 infrastructure proposals of national significance – the highest number since the Priority List’s inception. The proposals are divided into “projects” and “initiatives”.

WA projects

Projects are advanced proposals that have undergone a full business case assessment. The board positively assessed seven new business cases for the list over the past year. There are now:

• 8 High Priority Projects on the list (“address major problems or opportunities of national significance ... delivery of an effective solution is critical.”)

Of three new High Priority Projects, one WA case was included: the Metronet Yanchep rail line.

“Extending the rail line to this growth area would provide more transport choices for residents and reduce demand on the roads, particularly in the peak periods. The proponent’s stated benefit-cost ratio is 2.6, with a net present value of $1571 million (7 per cent real discount rate),” the report said.

• 10 Priority Projects

Of four new Priority Projects, one WA case was included: the Metronet Thornlie-Cockburn link.

“The project seeks to promote urban renewal along the line, relieve pressure on existing stations and reduce demand on roads. The proponent’s stated benefit-cost ratio is 1.2, with a net present value of $151 million (7 per cent real discount rate).”

The Myalup-Wellington Water Project to address increased salinity in the Wellington Dam catchment and dam, and inefficiency in the water distribution network below, remains on the Priority Project list.

All three of these projects are expected to be delivered within the next five years.

WA initiatives 

Initiatives are proposals that potentially address a nationally significant problem or opportunity, but require further development and rigorous assessment. The timeframes given on these indicate when the problem or opportunity is likely to have "a material impact on our cities and regions".

Of 29 High Priority Initiatives, two were in WA, both congestion-related:

1. Perth CBD to north corridor capacity (impact expected within five years, added to list in 2016)

"In the absence of additional capacity, the northern corridor is likely to become the most congested corridor in Perth, with demand expected to exceed capacity well before 2031. The [2015] Audit estimated that delay costs on the corridor, including the Mitchell Freeway, Marmion Ave/West Coast Highway and Wanneroo Road, would reach $2 billion (2011 prices) by 2031."

IA noted that as well as the Yanchep line extension the government had commenced upgrades along Marmion Avenue and Wanneroo Road and was developing a business case for the proposed Mitchell Freeway extension to Romeo Road.

2. Mitchell and Kwinana freeways upgrade (impact expected within next 10 years, added to list in 2018)

"In the absence of additional capacity, the 2015 Australian Infrastructure Audit projected that the Mitchell Freeway would become the most congested corridor in Australia, with demand expected to exceed capacity well before 2031," the report said.

The proposal was to implement Intelligent Transport System technologies to manage traffic flow on the Kwinana Freeway, maximising the existing capacity of the network and delaying the need for further large-scale investments in the corridor.

Of 74 Priority Initiatives, 11 were in WA.

Five were rated as likely to have impact in the near term:

1. Armadale Road bridge (added 2018)
2. Swan River crossing capacity (newly added 2019)
3. Perth rail network capacity (added 2018)
4. Improve road access to remote WA communities (added 2016)
5. Land transport access between Karratha and Tom Price (newly added 2019)

Two were listed as likely to have impact in the medium term (5-10 years)

1. Bunbury Outer Ring Road (added 2018)
2. Perth Airport New Runway (added 2016)

Four were listed as longer term (10-15 years) or ‘various’ terms

1. Transport connectivity between Morley and Ellenbrook (newly added 2019)
2. Canning Bridge crossing capacity and interchange (added 2018)
3. Perth container terminal capacity and land transport access (added 2016)
4. Tonkin Highway corridor capacity (newly added 2019)