Cecil Avenue Streetscape

We were lead designers and established the project scope and team in conjunction with the City of Canning. We also prepared an analysis and presented a number of design options for the road and intersection works. PCE led a multi-disciplinary team and coordinated the various works including all civil aspects, power, lighting, communications, smart communities, landscaping and architectural finishes. Stage 1 has been completed, and the design of Stage 2 is now commencing construction.

PCE worked in close liaison with other state agencies including the PTA and Main Roads WA. This related to strategic planning, proposed and future public transport and signalised intersection upgrades. Brad Harris facilitated the project meetings and attended community meetings during the early phases of this significant project.

Project Requirements

• Minimising road reserve widening while meeting the additional transport needs.
• Relocation and upgrade of existing services as part of road widening requirements.
• Presenting a Town Centre environment that allows for safe pedestrian movement and non-motorised transport.
• Incorporation of high-level landscaped elements.

Key Sustainability Outcomes

• Dedicated bus lane incorporated into the road reserve.
• Unique rain garden design to discharge water at the source where possible and reduce dependence on downstream infrastructure and also create a visual water element.
• Extensive mature tree planting in the verge and median to reduce heat sink effects and provide shade for high pedestrian use.
• Smart technologies implemented in lighting and traffic signal pole design to allow for future EV charging, CCTV and Wi-Fi access.
• All lighting LED technology.

Key Challenges/Management Strategies

• The primary constraint when widening existing roads within heavily built-up areas is the protection of existing services. It is critical to understand their location and depth to ensure the proposed works are clear. Where existing services cannot be avoided, and they require relocation, clear planning and forethought is needed to minimise the extent of relocation works.
• PCE were able to design out many of the service conflicts on the Cecil Ave widening works. The only services that required relocation were old and brittle infrastructure that had been installed previously with inadequate cover. Porter utilised new technologies and alternate connections to minimise the works and therefore development costs.

The project timeframe was 2017-2020 and the project value was $11M.