Graham Farmer Freeway
Encyclopedia
The Graham Farmer Freeway is a major part of the metropolitan road infrastructure in Perth
, Western Australia
. It is 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) long and links Rivervale
and East Perth
with West Perth
, bypassing Perth's central business district
. It was named after the Australian rules
footballer, Graham "Polly" Farmer
, who played between 1953 and 1971 in both the West Australian
and Victorian Football Leagues
.
The freeway incorporates Western Australia's only freeway tunnel, the Northbridge Tunnel. The 1.6 kilometre (0.994196378639691 mi) tunnel has two traffic lanes and an emergency stopping lane in each direction, with an escape passageway between the carriageways. The tunnel is colloquially known as the "Polly Pipe", a reference to the freeway's namesake, also humorous because "Poly Pipe" is a colloquial reference to plastic pipes (commonly made from polyethylene
or polyvinyl chloride
materials) used in reticulation and plumbing. Both tunnel portals feature public art installations. At the western end, there is a pictorial history of Northbridge, and at the eastern end, the Aboriginal artist Ron Corbett created images based on indigenous artwork. The transportation of dangerous goods and explosives through the freeway tunnel is prohibited.
The freeway crosses the Swan River
over the 406 metres (1,332 ft), six lane Windan Bridge.
313 million. It has been designed to have a 150 year lifespan, following the Main Roads WA specification.
Stage 1 involved construction of the tunnel and was undertaken by a Clough/Baulderstone
joint venture, was a finalist for the 2001 Australian Construction Achievement Award
.
Stage 2 included the Windan Bridge and nine other traffic and pedestrian bridge structures. This stage won an award from Austroads, the Association of Australian and New Zealand Road Transport and Traffic Authorities.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
. It is 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) long and links Rivervale
Rivervale, Western Australia
Rivervale, near the Swan River in Australia, is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia and 5 km from Perth's central business district.Rivervale was known as Barndon Hill until 1884....
and East Perth
East Perth, Western Australia
East Perth is an inner suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located next to the Perth CBD.Primarily an industrial area in the early twentieth century, it was the location of the East Perth gas works, East Perth Power Station , the East Perth railway yard, and East Perth engine sheds.A considerable...
with West Perth
West Perth, Western Australia
West Perth is an inner suburb of Perth, the capital city of Western Australia. It is part of the inner mixed zone, and has predominantly office blocks which have displaced residential buildings. There is a high proportion of miners and consultants, and particularly medical specialists, compared to...
, bypassing Perth's central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
. It was named after the Australian rules
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
footballer, Graham "Polly" Farmer
Graham Farmer
Graham Vivian "Polly" Farmer, MBE is a retired Australian rules football player and coach. Born in Western Australia, he joined the East Perth Football Club as a ruckman in 1953, where he won several awards and contributed to the team winning three premierships...
, who played between 1953 and 1971 in both the West Australian
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
and Victorian Football Leagues
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
The freeway incorporates Western Australia's only freeway tunnel, the Northbridge Tunnel. The 1.6 kilometre (0.994196378639691 mi) tunnel has two traffic lanes and an emergency stopping lane in each direction, with an escape passageway between the carriageways. The tunnel is colloquially known as the "Polly Pipe", a reference to the freeway's namesake, also humorous because "Poly Pipe" is a colloquial reference to plastic pipes (commonly made from polyethylene
Polyethylene
Polyethylene or polythene is the most widely used plastic, with an annual production of approximately 80 million metric tons...
or polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride
Polyvinyl chloride, commonly abbreviated PVC, is a thermoplastic polymer. It is a vinyl polymer constructed of repeating vinyl groups having one hydrogen replaced by chloride. Polyvinyl chloride is the third most widely produced plastic, after polyethylene and polypropylene. PVC is widely used in...
materials) used in reticulation and plumbing. Both tunnel portals feature public art installations. At the western end, there is a pictorial history of Northbridge, and at the eastern end, the Aboriginal artist Ron Corbett created images based on indigenous artwork. The transportation of dangerous goods and explosives through the freeway tunnel is prohibited.
The freeway crosses the Swan River
Swan River (Western Australia)
The Swan River estuary flows through the city of Perth, in the south west of Western Australia. Its lower reaches are relatively wide and deep, with few constrictions, while the upper reaches are usually quite narrow and shallow....
over the 406 metres (1,332 ft), six lane Windan Bridge.
Construction
The freeway was constructed between 1996 and 2000, and used over 180,000 cubic metres of concrete. The project finished three months early and within budget, costing $Australian dollar
The Australian dollar is the currency of the Commonwealth of Australia, including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands, and Norfolk Island, as well as the independent Pacific Island states of Kiribati, Nauru and Tuvalu...
313 million. It has been designed to have a 150 year lifespan, following the Main Roads WA specification.
Stage 1 involved construction of the tunnel and was undertaken by a Clough/Baulderstone
Valemus
Lend Lease Infrastructure is the second largest construction and engineering specialist business in Australia and a division of Lend Lease Group....
joint venture, was a finalist for the 2001 Australian Construction Achievement Award
Australian Construction Achievement Award
The Australian Construction Achievement Award is the Australian construction industry’s most prestigious award presented annually since 1997....
.
Stage 2 included the Windan Bridge and nine other traffic and pedestrian bridge structures. This stage won an award from Austroads, the Association of Australian and New Zealand Road Transport and Traffic Authorities.
Junctions
| Allocation | Junction | Suburb |
|---|---|---|
 |
Mitchell Freeway Mitchell Freeway Mitchell Freeway is a long freeway in Perth, Western Australia, linking Perth's central business district with its outer northern suburbs. It is allocated Route 2 for its entire length and is named after former state Premier and Governor Sir James Mitchell.... South |
Northbridge Northbridge, Western Australia Northbridge is an inner city suburb of Perth, Western Australia, separated from Perth's central business district by the Fremantle and Joondalup railway lines... |
| Aberdeen Street | Northbridge Northbridge, Western Australia Northbridge is an inner city suburb of Perth, Western Australia, separated from Perth's central business district by the Fremantle and Joondalup railway lines... |
|
 |
Loftus Street | Northbridge Northbridge, Western Australia Northbridge is an inner city suburb of Perth, Western Australia, separated from Perth's central business district by the Fremantle and Joondalup railway lines... and West Leederville West Leederville, Western Australia West Leederville is a suburb northwest of the central business district of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, and is located within the Town of Cambridge Local Government Areas of Western Australia... |
| James Street | Northbridge Northbridge, Western Australia Northbridge is an inner city suburb of Perth, Western Australia, separated from Perth's central business district by the Fremantle and Joondalup railway lines... and West Leederville West Leederville, Western Australia West Leederville is a suburb northwest of the central business district of Perth, the capital of Western Australia, and is located within the Town of Cambridge Local Government Areas of Western Australia... |
|
 |
Lord Street | East Perth East Perth, Western Australia East Perth is an inner suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located next to the Perth CBD.Primarily an industrial area in the early twentieth century, it was the location of the East Perth gas works, East Perth Power Station , the East Perth railway yard, and East Perth engine sheds.A considerable... |
 |
East Parade | East Perth East Perth, Western Australia East Perth is an inner suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located next to the Perth CBD.Primarily an industrial area in the early twentieth century, it was the location of the East Perth gas works, East Perth Power Station , the East Perth railway yard, and East Perth engine sheds.A considerable... |
| Victoria Park Drive | Burswood Burswood, Western Australia Burswood is an inner southeastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia, located immediately across the Swan River from Perth's central business district via both The Causeway and Graham Farmer Freeway... |
|
  |
Great Eastern Highway Great Eastern Highway The Great Eastern Highway is a major road between the Western Australian cities of Perth and Kalgoorlie. It is a key route for vehicles accessing the eastern wheatbelt and the eastern goldfields... |
Rivervale Rivervale, Western Australia Rivervale, near the Swan River in Australia, is a suburb of Perth, Western Australia and 5 km from Perth's central business district.Rivervale was known as Barndon Hill until 1884.... and Lathlain Lathlain, Western Australia Lathlain is an inner south eastern suburb of Perth, Western Australia. Its Local Government Area is the Town of Victoria Park.-History:Lathlain's development commenced in the 1890s when Peet and Co subdivided and sold lots in the "Victoria Park Station Estate" east of the railway station, with... |
See also
- Freeways in AustraliaFreeways in AustraliaThis is a list of freeways and motorways in Australia, sorted by states and territories and their corresponding routes. This list includes toll roads such as the CityLink freeway system in Melbourne. This list has over 70 entries...
- Freeways in Western Australia