New Bridge PR Push Hots Up

Many Freo locals haven’t been and still aren’t all that enamoured of the proposed new traffic bridge across the Derbarl Yerrigan which is intended to replace the old, heritage-listed traffic bridge.

We’ve been covering the old bridge/new bridge debate for some years now. Here’s a flavour of it, if you are new to the debate.

The latest Main Roads/Alliance proposal sees a new bridge on a better alignment than the old one, landing on the southern side of the river a little further west than the current bridge, but with a number of results a range of Freo folk aren’t all that happy with.

The community issues arise from these artists impression of what’s proposed.

* For a start, the old bridge completely goes and will be recalled only in memory, perhaps with some interpretive sculptures incorporating, perhaps, a relic or two from the old bridge.

* Then a lot of motorists dislike the fact that the new road alignment off the new bridge going south into Freo along Queen Victoria Street completely eliminates the ability of a motorist to turn left at Canning Highway, as you can do presently, affecting your drive into East Fremantle in the George Street/Richmond area. Instead, on this new proposal, motorists wanting to drive, say, to and from the Freo beaches at Sandtrax, Port and Leighton, from and to this part of East Freo will have to negotiate Stirling Bridge, an arguably slower, more traffic-congested route, to get to destinations like George Street.

* And then there’s, what many people think, will be a loss of usable public open space, not a gain as the planning documents trumpet, between Naval Store and the river once the new Canning Highway alignment is rerouted closer to the river, with all its engineering, and existing Beach Street east of the bridges is made a No-through road.

* And there’s the loss of the iconic drive, in and out of Freo, along Beach Street along the river to East Fremantle and beyond.

Fremantle Council are soon to consider the challenges raised by the Main Roads/Alliance traffic plans.

One option would appear to be to leave the Canning Highway alignment as is, joining it into Queen Victoria Street and into Freo that way, and possibly including the capacity for traffic going south over the bridge to turn left and on to East Freo as you can presently do.

Another option would be to run the Canning Highway on its existing alignment but taking it under the new bridge joining up with Beach Street on the western side. The advantage of this option is that it retains the existing POS down to the river on the eastern side of the bridges. It doesn’t however enable a left turn off the new bridge to East Freo.

How to make everyone happy?

Well it seems Main Roads/The Alliance are quite convinced their current plans are just the ticket. Here’s what they say in their latest PR emailed out Friday.

‘Swan River Crossings Project

The Swan River Crossings Project will improve safety for road and river users, improve traffic flows and increase connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians north and south of the Swan River in Fremantle. The project will ensure connection to existing PSP networks and construct Stage 4 of the Fremantle PSP, but it will also incorporate future connections for Stage 5 of the Fremantle PSP.

Our design offers a unique opportunity to provide an extra 5,000 square metres of public open space. Less pavement achieves the community’s desire for more open spaces and considered urban design.

This new area will link to Fremantle’s other waterfront precincts as they undergo a major redevelopment over coming years. The focus is to protect and enhance the visual and physical connection between Cantonment Hill and the Swan River, creating a new landscaped gateway to Fremantle.

Planting

Restoration planting will support habitat creation, improve the biodiversity and ecological value of the river edge and re-connect Cantonment Hill to the Swan River.
Retaining mature trees where possible and replanting local tree species that reflect the riverine environment and the Fremantle hinterland character will enhance the urban canopy in the area.

Recreation and Cultural Opportunities

Some of the opportunities the area offers include:
New public art, heritage interpretation and feature lighting to support evening activities. This includes more cultural and historic heritage elements for people to experience.
Recreational opportunities with better paths for walking, cycling, rest and contemplation.
Standalone and integrated interpretive works offering opportunities for local creatives across diverse platforms to reflect the nuanced and highly storied nature of the site.
Opportunities to better connect the streetscape level to the river foreshore with clear and improved pedestrian connections.

A new public pathway across the river linking directly to North Fremantle with expansive views across the Swan River and the surrounding landscape.
Potential for community events.

Community Pop Ups

If you are in the Fremantle CBD or East Fremantle and have a question about the project, why not pop in and visit us at one of our pop ups.

We will be at the Fremantle Visitors Centre, Walyalup Koort, 155 High Street, Fremantle on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays throughout October from 10am until 2 pm.’

You might want to pop in and pass on your thoughts.

You will also be interested to learn that the Mayor of the City of Fremantle has received a petition dated 11 October 2022 calling for a Special Meeting of Electors to discuss the Main Roads Western Australia $280m Swan River Crossings Project – a Special Meeting of Electors has been scheduled for 14 November 2022 (date, time & venue details to be confirmed).

Residents & Ratepayers can also attend the City of Fremantle Ordinary Council Meeting this Wednesday 26 October 2022 at 6.00pm if they wish to comment on the Officer’s & Committee’s Recommendations before the special electors meeting.

* By Michael Barker, Editor, Fremantle Shipping News

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