Concerns over 'rat running' in Perth's northern suburbs have resurfaced, with the City of Joondalup's Mayor calling for urgent action to tackle current and future congestion and safety issues on major roads in the region.
Mayor Pushes for Traffic Modelling
Mayor Daniel Kingston has formally requested that Main Roads WA undertake new traffic modelling and analysis to identify necessary road upgrades and capacity improvements. He also urged the state agency to consider measures to mitigate congestion-related impacts, including traffic diversion and 'rat running'—a practice where drivers use local distributor roads instead of arterial roads to bypass traffic jams.
The Joondalup Council unanimously supported a motion from Mr Kingston at Tuesday night's ordinary meeting, directing the city to write to Main Roads requesting these assessments.
“There has been a significant amount of concern raised in the community, even pre-dating this motion,” Mr Kingston said. “I think it’s about time we ask Main Roads to undertake this modelling so they can start to look at what are the priorities and we can start to have those discussions with the local members about what are important advocacy topics.”
He emphasised that the issue extends beyond congestion to safety. “As traffic volumes have grown, intersections that used to work are now being perceived as genuinely dangerous at peak times.”
Key Roads Under Scrutiny
Among the roads Mr Kingston believes require urgent attention is Marmion Avenue, where frequent problems have been reported at the intersections with Flinders Avenue and Seacrest Avenue. Ocean Reef Road is another concern, with traffic congestion causing vehicles to bank up from Joondalup Drive to near Wanneroo Road during peak afternoon periods. He also singled out Wanneroo Road, where congestion is diverting traffic onto local distributor roads such as Woodvale Drive.
The timing of this push is critical, given the implementation of the East Wanneroo district structure plan, which will see more than 8,300 hectares developed to accommodate 50,000 new homes for around 150,000 residents over the next 50 years.
“The continued development of the north suburbs and the Perth metropolitan region have increased traffic volumes on significant arterial roads throughout the district,” Mr Kingston stated in his motion. “Future population changes from infill and new land developments will continue to increase pressure on the road network. Assessing existing and projected traffic volumes and congestion levels will hopefully lead to the identification of road upgrades and improvements to address continuing issues raised by the community on state roads.”
Council Support and Next Steps
City of Joondalup officers acknowledged that developments are placing pressure on key roads but stressed that collaborative efforts with State Government agencies are necessary to address these challenges.
“The City of Joondalup is experiencing continued growth and development, including the Ocean Reef Marina redevelopment, ongoing intensification within the Joondalup Strategic Metropolitan Centre, and sustained residential infill across established suburbs,” city officers said. “These changes are increasing demand on State-managed arterial roads and, in some locations, contributing to traffic diversion onto local residential streets. As these arterial roads are under the jurisdiction of Main Roads Western Australia, coordinated planning and analysis are required to ensure future infrastructure investment aligns with growth and transport demand.”
At Mr Kingston’s request, the council also unanimously supported a motion seeking a report on current, planned, and potential improvement options for Trappers Drive between Whitfords Avenue and Woodvale Drive, and Woodvale Drive from Trappers Drive to the City’s boundary. This section of road has been a hotspot for 'rat running' concerns, with residents frequently raising safety and congestion issues since 2021.
“A report on the planned and potential improvement options at these locations will help address the long-term concerns raised by the community and help to evaluate options for external funding opportunities,” Mr Kingston said.
A city director confirmed during Tuesday’s meeting that the city is currently working through a blackspot funding submission for a roundabout to be constructed at the corner of Woodvale Drive and Trappers Drive.
