en.Wedoany.com Reported - On August 9, the Australian Federal Government and the Western Australian State Government confirmed that construction of the new A$430 million Fremantle Traffic Bridge is ahead of schedule, with full opening to road users expected by the end of 2026, earlier than the original timeline of the first half of 2027. The old traffic bridge was closed on February 1, and the project remains under construction, with the specific opening date yet to be announced.

Demolition of the old bridge has now been completed, and all concrete deck pours for the new bridge are finished. Installation of separation barriers between vehicle lanes and pedestrian/cycling paths is currently underway. The construction team's next steps include applying the deck primer, sealing layer, and asphalt paving. Scaffolding on all four bridge towers has been removed, and cranes on both banks are scheduled to be withdrawn within August. The terraced retaining wall and public spaces on the south bank, along with the road connection works on the north bank, are progressing in parallel.

The project is jointly funded by the Australian Federal Government and the Western Australian State Government, each contributing A$215 million. The new bridge will be Australia's first low-tower cable-stayed bridge, featuring a cantilever structure combined with stay cables, providing four bidirectional vehicle lanes and widened shared pedestrian and cycling paths. After the removal of the old bridge's underwater pile foundations, the navigable waterway space will be expanded, facilitating the passage of ferries and other commercial and recreational vessels. Once the bridge opens, surrounding road intersections adjusted during construction will be progressively restored.