Planning and development continues for the replacement of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge and construction of a new rail bridge.
Community and stakeholder feedback prompted a design review for the southern landing of the new Fremantle Traffic Bridge, leading to a new design concept.
New community space and safer journeys
A new concept plan proposes design and alignment changes to transform this key Fremantle gateway for road, rail, river and path users. Changes include the removal of traffic lights at the Canning Highway intersection with traffic moved to travel under the new bridge. A map of the proposed new alignment is provided to give you an idea of the road alignment.A generous open space in front of the Naval Store is proposed, bringing with it opportunities to recognise local heritage and celebrate the rich cultural history of Walyalup.
Artist Impressions
Improved Journeys
Canning Highway will be realigned from East Street to run under the new Fremantle Traffic Bridge to connect with Beach Street. This will create a generous open space in front of The Naval Store for community benefit. Vehicle access to The Naval Store will be maintained via Tuckfield Street.
The reduction in lanes will also provide extra areas for landscaping and design opportunities, and improved pedestrian crossings.
Traffic surveys show there are currently low traffic volumes travelling over the existing bridge and turning east on to Canning Highway. The new configuration allows traffic to travel south across the new bridge, turn right into James Street and right to access Beach Street and Canning Highway.
Priority will be given to Canning Highway/Beach Street traffic at the new intersection under the bridge. Port vehicles will trigger a signal to allow entry/exit to the port.
Although access will be changed, traffic flows will improve.
Improved Safety
Canning Highway is proposed to be reduced from four lanes to two, west of East Street. Currently, pedestrians cross five traffic lanes with only a small refuge (median island) in place and no other opportunities for safe crossing between East Street and the intersection at Queen Victoria Street.
The proposed changes will mean that there will be fewer lanes to cross and a wider refuge installed, separating the two directions of traffic. An additional pedestrian crossing is also proposed mid-way toward the new traffic bridge.
These improvements will provide much safer crossing opportunities for the community.
New, extra wide paths will improve safety and provide better connections to existing paths and local places of interest.
A dedicated 4 metre wide shared path will be built on the western side of the new bridge to provide a continuous, uninterrupted path to cater for pedestrians and cyclists.
A 3 metre wide shared path will also be built on the eastern side of the new bridge to cater for pedestrians and recreational cyclists. This path will connect along Canning Highway to the foreshore, Cantonment Hill, and the Naval Store.
A map of the proposed new paths (PDF 563 KB) and their connections to local networks is provided to give you an idea of the proposed concept.
The project includes building the next stage of the Fremantle Principal Shared Path (PSP), connecting North Fremantle Train Station to the Swan River. The PSP will be located within the existing rail corridor of the Fremantle line and includes a bridge over Tydeman Road.
The new traffic and rail bridges, along with the removal of the existing traffic bridge, will improve navigational clearances for yachts, boats, emergency services and provide capacity to accommodate larger vessels for future tourism initiatives.
Navigational height of the new road and rail bridges will be 9m, which is 2m higher than the current traffic bridge. This means the existing rail bridge will have the lowest navigational clearance on this stretch of the Swan River with a clearance of approximately 8m.
The existing Fremantle Traffic Bridge has 26 piers in the water, the new bridge will only have three. This means safer and easier navigation for all river users.
- removing the signalised intersection at Canning Highway and Queen Victoria Street
- realigning Canning Highway from East Street to travel down under the new bridge before connecting to Beach Street at a new signalised intersection at Gate 3
- prioritising journeys into Fremantle via Queen Victoria Street while also promoting more direct, free-flowing journeys into the harbour city
- Beach Street east of the bridge to become a cul-de-sac
- construction of a 4m wide standard pedestrian and cyclist path on the western side of the new traffic bridge and a 3 m wide shared path on the eastern side of the new traffic bridge
- higher and wider clearance under the bridge to improve navigational safety for river users
The existing Canning Highway west of East Street will be realigned to create a large open space in front of The Naval Store. This will allow for heritage interpretation opportunities, urban design and community connection.
The concept will now progress to detailed design, with a final bridge design anticipated later in 2022.
The Swan River Crossings Project is one of the most complex and challenging projects undertaken by Main Roads, involving road, rail, port, freight, river, walking, cycling, heritage and environmental considerations.
The project will:
- replace the existing Fremantle Traffic Bridge
- construct a new dedicated passenger rail bridge increasing passenger and freight rail capacity
- provide modern and safe standard pedestrian and cycling infrastructure
increase marine safety and navigational clearances for river users - deliver the next stage of the Fremantle Principal Shared Path (PSP), which will connect North Fremantle Train Station to the Swan River
What's happening now
The Premier and Minister for Transport announced a new concept design for the traffic bridge on 21 August 2022.
We are continuing our engagement with key stakeholders, including local government, buisnesses, residents and community groups.
Experienced local architects and urban designers are developing the architecture, urban and landscape design framework for the bridges and surrounds.
Keenly focused on enhancing and activating the space in front of the Naval Store, a detailed Heritage Interpretation Strategy is being developed to provide the best Aboriginal and European heritage outcomes. Further engagement opportunities will be released in coming months.
Since 2019, we have engaged with the Whadjuk Elders Advisory Group to help us understand the significance of the area to the Whadjuk people and themes and stories that could be interpreted throughout the bridge design.
The Whadjuk Elders have highlighted the importance of minimising the number of piers in the river to maintain flow of water. Removing obstructions (piers) in the river will renew and enhance the long Aboriginal connection to the area, with unimpeded water flow preserving Aboriginal Songlines and Dreaming Stories, while allowing the Spirits to flow along the river out towards Wadjemup (Rottnest Island).
The existing Fremantle Traffic Bridge was the fourth built in the area. As a way of celebrating and recording the heritage of the bridge, we have undertaken a 3D digital capture of the entire bridge and its surrounds and are currently exploring ways to make this readily available to the community, and for generations to come.
STAKEHOLDER AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TIMELINE
April 2019: The Minister for Transport released a media statement New-Fremantle-Traffic-Bridge-funded-in-State-Budget
July 2019: Initial individual meetings held with key stakeholders during August, September, and October to provide a project briefing and identify issues and constraints. More than 100 constraints were identified.
30 October 2019: A key stakeholder workshop was held with representatives from City of Fremantle, Heritage Council, Department of Transport (Urban Mobility, Marine and Safety and Freight, Ports, Aviation and Reform), Fremantle Ports, Office of Government Architect and Westport, Public Transport Authority, Department of Fisheries, Town of East Fremantle, DBCA, DPLH, and WA Port Operations Task Force. The aim was to ensure stakeholders understood the various constraints to assist in mitigating conflicting expectations.
October – December 2020: Whadjuk Working Group and Aboriginal Elders
Cultural context workshops were held to capture stories to use in Aboriginal heritage interpretation.
August – October 2020: Community Online Survey and Community Drop In Sessions
More than 300 people completed an online survey that sought feedback on how people use the current bridge and what outcomes they expected from the project. Three drop-in sessions attracted over 130 people, and several stakeholder briefings were held.
Community Online Survey Outcomes Report
Drop-in session poster - Overview
Drop-in session poster - Heritage, stories and design
October 2020: Community Forum
The first forum explained the project objectives, constraints and the rationale for the bridge alignment to a group of key stakeholders and community members.
Swan River Crossings Alignment Forum Oct 2020 - Presentation (PDF)
Swan River Crossings Alignment Forum Oct 2020 - Summary (PDF)
Previously considered alignment option maps for road and rail bridges (PDF)
November 2020: Community Forum
The second forum of the same stakeholders focused on the various bridge alignment options including options from the City of Fremantle and a detailed explanation of the current traffic bridge condition.
Swan River Crossings Alignment Forum Nov 2020 - Presentation (PDF)
Swan River Crossings Forum Nov 2020 - Summary (PDF)
Swan River Crossings Alignment Forum Nov 2020 - Response to Rail Capacity Concerns and Questions (PDF)
May 2021: Community Forum
This forum of invited stakeholders and community members provided an opportunity to share and discuss the four alignment options under assessment and to promote the future community and stakeholder engagement activities.
Swan River Crossings Alignment Forum May 2021 – Presentation (PDF)
Summary of Alignment Options May 2021 (PDF)
May 2021: Proposed Alignment Options
Four proposed bridge alignment options were released for public comment, using forums, workshops, community pop-ups, materials, face-to-face meetings, and an online visualisation tool which showed the options in 3D.
Almost 1,000 people responded to the survey and feedback was collated and analysed.
Community and Stakeholder Engagement Outcomes – Proposed Bridge Alignment Options - June 2021 (PDF)
Alignment Options Assessment Survey Outcomes Report – June 2021 (PDF)
August 2021: Community Design Consultation
Community design forums and an online design survey gathered input into the bridge design, amenity on the north and southern foreshores, heritage interpretation, and walking and cycling connectivity across the Swan River.
All feedback has been used to influence the project design and placemaking considerations.
Please contact us if you wish to view the recording of our online Community Design Forum.
Latest publications
- Swan River Crossings - Project Update - August 2022 - PDF (446 KB)
- Swan River Crossings - Frequently Asked Questions - PDF (239 KB)
- Swan River Crossings - Alignment Map - PDF (556 KB)
- Swan River Crossings - Design Concept - PSP Alignment map - (564 KB)
Fact Sheets
- Fact Sheet - Fremantle Traffic Bridge Condition - PDF (735 KB)
- Fact Sheet - Heritage - PDF (628 KB)
- Fact Sheet - New travel patterns around Fremantle - PDF (637 KB)
- Fact Sheet - PSP and Shared Path - PDF (428 KB)
- Fact Sheet - River Users and Navigation - PDF (531 KB)
- Fact Sheet - Tuckfield Street - PDF (278 KB)
Construction and project updates
- Project Update - October 2022 (PDF 264KB)
- Project Update - August 2022 (PDF 1.3 MB)
- Project Update - December 2021 - PDF (369 KB)
- Project Update - October 2021 - PDF (209 KB)
- Project Update - August 2021 - Design Inspiration and Online Survey - PDF (341 KB)
- Project Update - August 2021 - Design Forums - PDF (223 KB)
- Project Update - August 2021 - Bridge Alignment Announced - PDF (595 KB)
- Project Update - June 2021 - PDF (203 KB)
- Project Update - May 2021 - PDF (508 KB)
- Project Update - May 2021 - Alignment Options - PDF (13.3MB)
- Project Update - March 2021 - PDF (680 KB)
- Project Update - January 2021 - PDF (1 MB)
- Project Update - August 2020 - PDF (7 MB)
Project information
- Design Inspiration - October 2021 - PDF (6.7 MB)
- Frequently Asked Questions - PDF (196 KB)
- Fremantle Traffic Bridge Preliminary findings regarding bridge condition - PDF (4.0MB)
Videos
- YouTube - Bridge condition
- YouTube - Different levels of inspection
- YouTube - Level 2 inspection
- YouTube - Level 3 inspection
- YouTube - Meet Brendon, a Marine Broker
- YouTube - Meet Mel, a SeaLink Skipper
Media Statements
- Final concept design for Swan River Crossing released - 21 August 2022
- Design phase begins for Swan River Crossings Project - 24 August 2021
- Community informs alignment for Swan River Crossings project - 2 August 2021
- Next phase of community consultation begins for Swan River Crossings Project - 11 May 2021
- Community feedback guides next stage of Swan River Crossings project - 2 February 2021
- Swan River Crossing reaches new milestone - 17 August 2020
- Community feedback sought on Fremantle Traffic Bridge replacement - 6 August 2020
Funding
The project is funded by the State ($140 million) and Commonwealth ($140 million) governments.