Fremantle Traffic Bridge: A Faster Road Back to Normal

There is some welcome news for Fremantle and the freight industry: the new Fremantle Traffic Bridge is now on track to open to road users before the end of 2026, months earlier than originally planned.

The old bridge closed on 1 February, with the closure originally expected to last for up to 12 months. The new bridge was initially scheduled to open in the first half of 2027.

Now, construction is progressing ahead of schedule and the project is reported to be within budget.

For anyone travelling through Fremantle, the closure has been hard to miss. Traffic patterns have changed, freight and commuter routes have had to adapt, and local businesses have worked through the impact of a very different operating environment.

The good news is that the end is now in sight.

The new bridge is taking shape

The old Fremantle Traffic Bridge has now been completely removed from the river, while construction of the replacement has continued alongside the demolition work.

The new bridge's concrete deck is complete, with barriers now being installed between the road and shared paths. Road works, including priming, sealing and asphalting, will soon begin.

All four bridge towers are now fully visible, with scaffolding removed and construction cranes expected to be demobilised later this month.

The new bridge will provide two lanes in each direction, along with wider shared paths for pedestrians and cyclists.

It will also be Australia's first extradosed bridge, combining elements of cantilever and cable-stayed bridge design.

What does it mean for freight?

For the freight industry, the reopening is about more than reducing the daily commute.

Fremantle is an important gateway for Western Australian trade, and the surrounding road network carries freight between the port, warehouses, businesses and distribution facilities across the metropolitan area.

The bridge closure has required transport operators to adjust routes and allow additional time for movements through the area. With alternative crossings carrying additional traffic, road conditions have been less predictable.

An earlier reopening should help restore more normal traffic patterns and provide freight operators with a more direct and reliable connection through Fremantle.

The project has also been delivered alongside an operating port and busy river, making the construction particularly complex.

WA Transport and Major Infrastructure Minister Rita Saffioti described the progress as “remarkable to watch”, highlighting the challenge of removing the old bridge while constructing the new one “on a very busy river close to an operating port.”

A wider river crossing

The project isn't only about the road.

With the old bridge removed, the river now has a wider and safer navigational channel for commercial and recreational users, including ferries.

Four rows of timber from the old bridge have been retained to acknowledge its heritage, while terracing and landscaping works are underway near Beach Street.

The Canning Highway and Queen Victoria Street intersection will also be reinstated following the bridge opening, along with other local intersections that were modified during the closure.

The community has adapted

The closure has also changed the way people travel through Fremantle.

According to Minister Saffioti, weekly boardings at Fremantle Station have increased by around 20 per cent, while parking has increased by 30 per cent. River crossings have also fallen by around one fifth.

“We’ve seen everyone really play their part in making sure that this bridge closure has gone probably smoother than anyone would have expected,” she said.

For freight operators, businesses and commuters who have spent the past several months working around the closure, the prospect of the new bridge opening before the end of the year will be welcome news.

The project represents a significant investment in Fremantle's transport infrastructure and, once complete, should provide a safer, more efficient and more reliable connection for the community and the freight industry for decades to come.

As Saffioti said: “This new bridge will service Fremantle for generations to come.”