New Fremantle bridge opens, connecting community and marking history

The 500-meter structure, a significant upgrade to the port city’s Swan River crossing, carries a price tag of $596 million, significantly exceeding the original estimate.

The Walyalup Bridge is the first “extra-dosed” bridge constructed in Australia, combining cantilever and cable stay support systems.

Gladys Arundel, 87, was among the first to walk across the new bridge, recalling attending the opening of the previous bridge in 1939. “We were in high school just down the road and they decided we would all walk down here for the opening … it was very exciting,” she said. “I am very thrilled to be repeating history.”

Jan Middleton, who survived a fall from the old bridge 70 years ago, also joined the crowd.

The previous, heritage-listed bridge, aged 86 years, was dismantled progressively as construction of the new bridge proceeded.

The new bridge maintains the same number of traffic lanes but offers wider pedestrian paths and increased clearance for boat traffic.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti praised the project team, community, and local businesses for their patience. “We managed to move people throughout this area with some delays but not anywhere near what people were expecting,” she stated. She described the bridge as an “iconic project” that will be admired for decades.

Ms. Saffioti attributed the cost increase to a redesign aimed at minimizing disruption to traffic. “We attempted a number of solutions … the version before the final version had a complete reconfiguration of all the roads, that would have disrupted traffic for years,” she explained.

The current bridge represents the fifth iteration of Fremantle’s traffic crossing, with the first built by convicts in the mid-1800s and the preceding one opened in 1939. Preserved elements from the old bridge, including timber decking and pylons incorporated into artwork, honor its history.

Concerns about traffic congestion during the closure of the old bridge were largely mitigated through adjusted traffic signals, additional lanes, and enhanced public transport options. Some local businesses reported economic impacts, while others found the disruption less severe than anticipated.

The Cyclists’ Action Group has voiced concerns regarding the bridge’s design, citing a lack of safe crossings for vulnerable road users near Queen Victoria Street.