Parry St Pedestrian Overpass Plummets

Can you believe it, it’s nearly 2 years since we reported to you on the closure of the Parry Street pedestrian overpass? It’s the pedestrian bridge that links the Fremantle Passenger Terminal and passengers who arrive there most directly with the Freo CBD.

Credit Jean Hudson

At the time of its closure, the Public Transit Authority that controls the overpass railway precinct said –

Following inspection of the Parry Street pedestrian overpass the PTA, in consultation with Fremantle Ports, made the decision to close the bridge in July 2022 to manage known structural risks and allow for further structural investigations.

In early May this year, when we inquired of the PTA as to what was happening, we received this response –

The PTA’s long-term planning for the area has begun, in collaboration with the Department of Planning Lands and Heritage, Fremantle Ports, the City of Fremantle, and other relevant stakeholders. The PTA is leading investigations into future potential crossing points across the rail, in consideration of broader plans for the area and future community needs.

Community inputs have already been gathered and shared with the PTA by stakeholders who are developing plans for the area. As this is long-term planning work in its early phases, the PTA will perform consultation as required at a subsequent planning stage.

Then late July, the PTA announced it had decided to demolish the overpass, saying –

Works to demolish the Parry Street footbridge in Fremantle, will begin on Monday 5 August 2024 with the project expected to be complete by Thursday 8 August.

The Parry Street footbridge has been closed since mid-2022 after structural assessments determined that the bridge is unsafe for use.

Pedestrians can continue to cross over the rail at Fremantle Station and Peter Hughes Dr. Crossing at these points does not add any additional distance to travel for those people heading to or from Fremantle. Wayfinding signage is in place in the area to direct pedestrians to these crossing points.

The PTA is currently undertaking long-term planning for the area to identify optimal connection points over the rail that will service the community well into the future.

As you can see, nothing is said by the PTA about a replacement overpass and, indeed, the PTA have less than subtly suggested none is needed. The claim is made that the other crossing points do not add any ‘additional distance to travel for those people heading to or from Fremantle’. Whether that’s meant to include cruise ship passengers arriving and leaving Fremantle via the Passenger Terminal or persons attending events at the Passenger Terminal is both unclear and unlikely. We await clarification from the powers that be.

Credit Jean Hudson

As we also reported not so long ago, Captain Munchies, the much loved hamburger joint which has been closed a good while now, and the homeless open living spaces around it, are also going in the process. However, the construction of a ‘shelter’ to accomodate charity workers and the provision of services to homeless folk has been supported by the City of Fremantle who are negotiating a lease of that space from the PTA for that purpose.

Prep for the demolition of the overpass commenced yesterday. Then today the big cranes arrived! Here’s some of the action, as photographed by Jean Hudson.