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The West Australian government is seeking funds to fix a crash blackspot in Perth's foothills region that could be booked in next week's federal budget. Transport Minister Dean Nalder told parliament on Thursday that talks continued with his federal counterpart about joint funding for a $45 million full-grade separated interchange at the intersection of Berkshire Road and Roe Highway in Forrestfield.

Mr Nalder said the current intersection layout, which consists of two staggered T-junctions, was substandard, noting that 172 crashes had been reported in the five years to the end of 2013.

"I am very hopeful of achieving a successful state-federal partnership approach to this project that will deliver a safer and more efficient transport solution for all road users and the Forrestfield community," he said.

Mr Nalder said he hoped to announce construction of the interchange "in the next week or two". Separately, WA's opposition transport spokesman Ken Travers said he expected the federal government would honour road transport funding pledges that were originally made by Labor and later matched by the Liberals.

He said the commonwealth had late last year tried to "weasel out" of upgrade works on Great Eastern Highway, Great Northern Highway and North West Coastal Highway, with federal infrastructure minister Warren Truss refusing to guarantee funding in correspondence with WA's then-treasurer and transport minister Troy Buswell.

"But I think they realised there would be so much backlash if they didn't deliver, having promised them before the election, that they then made sure that they incorporated those (in the budget)," Mr Travers told AAP.

Mr Travers said the federal government wanted to be seen as big investors in infrastructure, and would probably offer WA more funding for roads than expected, but its refusal to fund rail was something Premier Colin Barnett should fight.

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