Fremantle Traffic Bridge: Latest design shows ‘minimal impact’ to surrounding road network

The final “final design” for Fremantle’s replacement traffic bridge could hardly be more different than its predecessors, but it has received wide community support since its unveiling last week.

The design submitted as part of a development application has the contentious new bridge coming full circle to be built exactly where the current bridge is.

Previous iterations that explored building the river-spanning structure alongside the current bridge faced immense scrutiny over the effect the move would have on road networks, nature and existing development on both sides of the river.

“The new design delivers on community aspirations for the bridge to be an iconic entry statement to Fremantle and no longer proposes any changes to the existing road layout, which were opposed by the local community,” the State Government’s announcement last Thursday read.

It will mean traffic chaos for 12 months when construction occurs — in 2025, subject to relevant approvals — but agreeing to build the visually appealing structure atop the current alignment has bought Planning Minister Rita Saffioti a bunch of bouquets from previous protesters.

One community group which has fought for the preservation of the Port City’s road network this week was gushing with its praise for the design which is expected to have “minimal impact” on the existing road configuration.

Save Our Shores Fremantle was established in response to the 2022 concept for the traffic bridge which showed a realignment of Canning Highway to run alongside the Swan River, connecting to East Street.

SOS co-founder Lisa Barnes described that design as having “so many flaws” but was delighted to see most of their concerns had been addressed in the new proposal.

“When we heard that Infrastructure Australia had cut some funding projects and this project hadn’t been cut, we were a bit concerned about what was going to happen,” Ms Barnes said.

“We were really worried about what they (the State Government) were going to put on the table because the other stuff they’ve put out to the community has been absolutely atrocious.

“When this design came out, we were honestly speechless. It was refreshing and it was completely different to anything that had been put forward to the community.

“It’s better than we expected.”

The new traffic bridge will no longer incorporate rail lines, a cost-saving decision Ms Saffioti attributed to Westport planning links.

It will have paths up to 4m wide on both sides for pedestrians and riders.

Like Ms Barnes, Fremantle MP Josh Wilson — who has campaigned for a new bridge since 2016 — expressed his support for the new design.

“When you think that the bridge alignment is essentially the same as the existing bridge, it’s hard to see how from a design point of view there could be a problem with having a bridge in the same location as the one that is there,” Mr Wilson said.

“There’s virtually no additional impact on the cliff and vegetation on the southern side (of the bridge), and it doesn’t change the alignment of the bridge in relation to residential development on the north side.

“So you would like to think that means the approval shouldn’t be a complicated matter.”

Maintaining the alignment also buys Fremantle’s other entry statement — the Containbow — a stay of execution from relocation.

If approved, it would be Australia’s first “extradosed” bridge and would incorporate cantilevers — a projected beam that is supported at one end only — and cable support.

Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk called the submitted version both aesthetic and practical and said getting the design right was vital, while Bicton MLA Lisa O’Malley said it would improve navigational safety for boat and river users.

Works could start as early as July 2024, with a 12-month closure expected later during the main construction period.

Ms Saffioti said lessons learned during this year’s rebuild of the Fitzroy Crossing road bridge in WA’s far north would assist in minimising the closure time during construction.

Consultation on the new design is now open through the Department of Planning, Lands and Heritage.

The future of the crossing has been a contentious matter since 2019 after Infrastructure Australia cited concerns about the 85-year-old timber bridge’s structural integrity.

Historians argued it should be kept in full or in part but the State Government has continually pointed to the cost of maintenance and upkeep as being beyond affordable.

Deciding to build on the existing alignment is one way to end that argument.

The Government said it was considering incorporating old material in the build if possible.