Plans to widen two northern suburbs sections of Perth's Mitchell Freeway have been indefinitely shelved, with money removed for the projects in last week's WA budget.
The McGowan Government confirmed plans to add an extra southbound lane between Hodges Drive and Hepburn Avenue, as well as between Reid Highway and Erindale Road, had been put on hold.
But $40 million plans to add a traffic lane between Cedric and Vincent streets will go ahead, with that section is due to be completed by 2019.
Ahead of the March state election, the former Barnett government allocated $74 million to upgrade the Hodges Drive to Hepburn Avenue and Reid Highway to Erindale Road sections.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti confirmed the changes had been put on ice.
"The two projects ... cannot proceed until the completion of southbound widening from Cedric Street to Vincent Street," an answer provided by Ms Saffioti to State Parliament stated.
"The projects will be considered as part of future budgetary processes."
Once the Cedric Street to Vincent Street widening is complete, there will be four continuous southbound lanes from Erindale Road to Vincent Street.
"[That] will reduce merging bottlenecks and improve congestion and safety," Ms Saffioti said.
Liberal MP Tjorn Sibma said that would not be adequate to relieve freeway congestion, describing the widening of the other sections as urgent.
"As a result of this, drivers from the northern suburbs will spend more time in traffic and away from their families," Mr Sibma said.
"[Main Roads experts] had advised the previous government it would significantly improve freeway functioning."
The shelved plans are part of a large number of projects the previous government allocated funding for, only to have that money taken away in last week's budget.
Speaking in State Parliament yesterday, Treasurer Ben Wyatt was unapologetic.
"I will continue to ensure that reprioritisation will continue to fund the new government's priorities," Mr Wyatt said.
"The former government may not like that, but that is what we will be doing."
