At the southern end of the proposed Fremantle Eastern Bypass, an 8 km east–west road reservation was proclaimed, and became known as Roe Highway stage 8.

Following a change in state governments in September 2008, planning work commenced on an extension of the Roe Highway from Kwinana Freeway to Stock Road.

[27] The state government claims the project is needed to reduce congestion in Perth's south and enhance road safety, and would be required for any future port development in the vicinity.

The necessity is disputed by opponents of the Freight Link, including the opposition Labor party and the Greens;[27] McGowan has called it a "road to nowhere" and "waste of money".

[29] A 2015 report from Infrastructure Australia concluded that, while there would be economic benefit, the project was hurriedly prepared, and detailed assessments were not completed for alternatives.

[30] In 2016, a Senate inquiry unanimously denounced the Freight Link, and suggested the federal government redirect funding to a new outer harbour at Cockburn Sound proposed by the City of Kwinana.

[32] Preliminary site works began on the project during November 2015, which drew protests with many people being given move-on orders preventing them from being in the area.

As well as environmental issues with the extension of Roe Highway,[20] Stephen Marley, president of the Livestock and Rural Transport Association of Western Australia, expressed concern in December 2014 that the cost of the truck toll will be passed on to farmers,[21] and in May 2015, Palmyra residents protested the proposed compulsory acquisition and demolition of their homes to make way for Stage 2 of the link.

[28] The WA Road Transport Association has been critical of the November 2015 decision to postpone stage two of the project, as "Roe 8 alone delivers none of the productivity benefits promised by the full freight link to the port".

[7] The project's environmental assessment by the EPA along with the approval of the development by WA Government Minister Albert Jacob was ruled invalid by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court on 16 December 2015.

[39] A public Senate Committee hearing was held on 23 February 2017, regarding the Roe 8 project's alleged failure to adhere to Federal environmental conditions.

The original route considered was via Stock Road, Leach Highway, and High Street, upgraded with grade-separated interchanges, bypassing fourteen sets of traffic signals.

[4][48] Following community opposition to the plan, which would require residential properties to be compulsorily acquired and the demolition of homes, alternative routes were considered by the government.

[49] In January 2017 Premier Colin Barnett announced a tunnel from Stock Road to High Street in East Fremantle 3 km short of the port, including crossing of the Swan River.

The tunnel plan was revealed to cost at least $5.8b by documents that Main Roads had fought to prevent being released under a Freedom of Information request.