State Development panel approves new $280m Fremantle Traffic Bridge

Fremantle is set for a big new entry statement after a controversial replacement traffic bridge was approved by the State’s peak development assessment body. Main Roads wants to build the bridge to replace the heritage-listed link connecting Fremantle and North Fremantle, which had been constructed using timber in 1939. There had been concerns the bridge was at risk of collapse. But the project has also sparked debate about the benefits of a full rebuild or repurposing the heritage structure. The Special Development Assessment Unit — a new planning body created during COVID-19 to speed up decisions — approved a $280 million proposal for the bridge on Thursday afternoon. Greens politician and former Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said the project was “an unworkable traffic nightmare for vehicles coming into and going out of Fremantle”. The Legislative Council member said full traffic modelling on the impacts of closing the bridge for 12 months had not been undertaken. “The final design is also a significant deviation from the original proposal, which recognised the heritage value of the existing bridge and kept it in operation to maintain traffic stability while a new bridge was built alongside it,” Dr Pettitt said. “There is an opportunity being missed here to create a new mixed use highline on the old bridge that both preserves Freo’s heritage values and encourages alternate modes of transport. Main Roads has said the route was chosen to minimise impact on nearby residents, would deliver value for money and avoid impacting road users and the port. The State’s heritage database said a bridge was first built at the site in 1866, and was replaced three times. There are two further crossings nearby — a rail bridge to the west, and a bridge carrying Stirling Highway to the east. The State and Federal Governments first pledged cash for the project in April 2019.