A tale of two bridges
CONSTRUCTION of two new bridges across the Swan River will begin this year as part of a $230 million project to build a dedicated Fremantle freight rail line and replace the historic traffic bridge opened in 1939.
The third and final Swan River Crossings forum at the Esplanade yesterday discussed alignment options (pictured here) which will have a major impact on people visiting the port city for the next two years.
A StreetWise source said the meeting chaired by former Westport chair Nicole Lockwood was a pre-determined outcome to build a new bridge east of the existing traffic bridge that would bring it to within 11m of residential properties in North Fremantle: “It was the easiest and cheapest option possible.”
The source said about 50 people attended the forum including Westport taskforce members Tim Collins and Justyna Mace; Curtin University Sustainability Professor Peter Newman, Fremantle Shipping News blogger Michael Barker; Fremantle acting mayor Andrew Sullivan; and Fremantle Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Danicia Quinlan.
The source said the writing was on the wall: “Main Roads said progress was unavoidable. The old bridge is going once they finalise the alignment. It wants a dedicated freight line built at the same time west of the existing passenger line currently shared with Fremantle Ports, which wants a separate line.”
He said the Fremantle Chamber of Commerce raised its concerns over the impact the bridge construction would have on local businesses.
“The Chamber made the strongest points,” he said. “It’s hard enough for businesses now. The replacement of the old bridge will also have an impact on people travelling to and from Fremantle. The Stirling Highway bridge will be congested for at a least a couple of years, and it’s bad now.”
He said Main Roads explained the project would put more people on public transport after COVID-19 forced people to travel in their own vehicles. The deteriorating traffic bridge carries at least 24,000 vehicles a day and is congested at most times.
Cr Sullivan offered the City’s preference to push the new bridge west as part of a ‘spiritual journey’ across the Swan, which the StreetWise source said went down like a lead balloon: “His vision was 30,000 residents would move into North Fremantle once the cargo terminal moved.”
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said a construction team working with Main Roads has been considering four potential bridge alignment options and will continue to assess the design, construction approach, environmental and heritage requirements and value for money of each.
“While the initial proposal placed a traffic bridge to the east of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge, in direct response to community feedback, alternative locations are now being assessed including building between the existing road and rail bridges.
“Community and stakeholder feedback will inform the final assessment of the options by the construction team.”
The Swan River Crossings Project is jointly funded by the State and Federal governments, each contributing $115 million. Fremantle MLA Simone McGurk said replacing the traffic bridge will put an end to expensive patch ups while offering new opportunities to integrate community ideas into the new design and heritage interpretation: “We recognise the importance of this project to Freo locals, so facilitating informed and meaningful community input on the new structure is essential.”
The StreetWise source questioned the inclusion of several people on the stakeholder list including Fremantle Shipping News which has published on the subject since 2020 without having declared to readers it is a member of the forum.
Ms Lockwood is mentioned in a 2019 parliamentary submission outlining her role in engineering the appointment of her friend as CEO at the City of Karratha when she was mayor in 2011-2012.
Details at www.streetwisemedia.com.au/westport-chair-engineered-council-friendly-ceo.
