Swan River Crossings Fremantle Traffic Bridge

Swan River Crossings

Fremantle Traffic Bridge

Figure 1: Aerial view of the bridge.

New Bridge Name Announced

Walyalup Bridge has been unveiled as the official name for the new Fremantle Traffic Bridge, opening a new chapter for one of Western Australia's most important and historic river crossings. The bridge adopts Walyalup, the Aboriginal name for Fremantle. It echoes the rich heritage, history and cultural significance of the area, recognising the long-standing importance of this river crossing to the local community and Traditional Owners. 

Heritage and culture have been embedded within the design of the new crossing, with storytelling incorporated through architecture and urban landscape design, public art, feature lighting, signage and wayfinding.

A series of fact sheets has been released reflecting community values and the design vision for new bridge connecting people and places while providing the next chapter in the story of the crossing in this location.

Four storylines will reinforce the place and heritage through the Country, Connection and Community themes – Engineering, Crossing, Passage and River. These will be showcased via pause points with signage, public art installations and the bridge's feature lighting. Click here to read the fact sheets under project publications.

Figure 2: Lighting trial underway.

Construction Update

Finishing works are underway to have the bridge ready for traffic on the 1 November 2026. The paths on both sides of the bridge, line marking, asphalt and kerbing are all complete.

Finishing works for this week include landscaping and final adjustments to the open spaces on both sides of the new bridge.Beach Street will re-open to vehicles after the new bridge is open to traffic. The exact date of this opening will be confirmed at a later date.

Figure 3: Line marking and asphalt complete on bridge deck.

Figure 4: Landscaping underway on the south-east.

Community Festival – 1 November 2026

The opening of Walyalup Bridge is planned for Sunday 1 November 2026. The community is invited to walk across the bridge before it officially opens to traffic to mark the historic occasion.

Join us for a free family-friendly festival from 9am to 1pm with a sausage sizzle, activities and entertainment.

We are encouraging the community to walk, ride or take public transport to the celebration as there is no event parking. To help us plan catering, transport and festival activities, please register via this link.

Road Network Changes

Once the new bridge opens, the network modifications implemented to help support traffic flow during the bridge closure will be removed.

Removal of the temporary traffic management on Stirling Highway, Tydeman Road and Queen Victoria Street (northern side of the bridge) will be undertaken on 1 November prior to the bridge opening for traffic.

Significant works are required to reinstate the east and west movements on Canning Highway across Stirling Highway and will result in three consecutive weekend closures in November from Friday night to Monday morning.

More information on timings will be sent out to project subscribers via our Roadworks Updates.

Further Information

Click here to learn more about the Project. 

For enquiries, please phone 138 138 or email enquiries@mainroads.wa.gov.au.