The International Road Assessment Programme (iRAP) has proudly announced Main Roads Western Australia as a “Rising Star” in the 2024 iRAP Gary Liddle Memorial Trophy in Marrakech today, presented to the world’s best performing road authority/s eliminating high-risk roads.

Presented during the Ten Steps to 2030 for Safer Road Infrastructure Side Event of the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, the perpetual iRAP Trophy honours the lifelong public-sector and transport contribution of the charity’s former Board Chairman Gary Liddle AO who passed away in 2023.

Western Australia’s Tonkin Highway is an 81 kilometre north–south highway and partial freeway in Perth.

Main Roads’ Tonkin Highway Extension and Thomas Road Upgrade project aimed to improve road safety and access for all road users with a federal and state government investment of AUD $1 billion to extend the highway and upgrade Thomas Road.

To validate the safety of the proposed design and demonstrate improvements to the existing network, two iRAP assessments were conducted, one for the existing network and one for the proposed design.

Arup, on behalf of Main Roads, was awarded iRAP Certification in 2023 verifying the design’s achievement of a 5-star iRAP safety rating for pedestrians and bicyclists, a 4-star rating for vehicle occupants and a 3-star rating for motorcyclists.

The results align with UN Target 3 to ensure all new roads adequately account for road safety by meeting a three-star or better rating for all road users by 2030.

In presenting the award, iRAP Global Program Director and Acting CEO Greg Smith said, “Star Rating for Designs is an essential free tool available to all road designers and authorities to help them achieve the minimum 3-star safety rating in their designs before construction begins. We applaud Main Roads’ commitment to achieving 3-star and better in the Tonkin Highway design and, in particular, the fantastic 5-star safety rating for active users. The project and demonstrated innovation in its pursuit of iRAP Certification and the approach to managing horse movements, an important consideration in the local context. The project, and its comprehensive approach to road planning, is an inspiration for other major projects in Australia and the world.”

John Erceg, Managing Director Main Roads WA said, “We are delighted to receive the iRAP Gary Liddle “Rising Star” Trophy recognition for our work on the Tonkin Highway. The Star Rating assessments verified the safety benefits of the proposed design and allowed recommendations to be implemented to improve safety for all road user groups before the commencement of civil works. Main Roads is working to ensure that investments in road infrastructure planning, design and construction align with safe system principles and UN Targets 3 and 4.”

The iRAP Gary Liddle Memorial Trophy was presented to TANROADS and four finalists during the Ten Steps to 2030 for Safer Road Infrastructure Event, a Side Event of the 4th Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety on 17 February 2025. The winners were selected from 12 highly competitive nominations from 11 countries.

For more information:

• On the Trophy and 2024 winners, click here.
• On Main Roads Tonkin Highway Extension and Thomas Road Upgrade project click here.
• Hear Dominic Waterhouse share Arup’s experience obtaining iRAP Certification for MRWA’s Tonkin Highway Extension project, and the value it brought to project partners here.

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Download the full media release

For iRAP:
Judy Williams, Global Programme and Communications Manager
Email:   judy.williams@irap.org
Mob:     +61 400 782 204

For Main Roads:
John Erceg
Managing Director, Main Roads
Email:  john.erceg@mainroads.wa.gov.au
Tel:        +61 8 9323 4508