Bus Lane Only Confusion on Day 1

The new Bus Only lane, east-west at the Canning Highway/Stirling Highway intersection on the south side of Stirling Bridge, has (predictably) confused motorists big time on the first working day after the new traffic rules came into play following the closure of The Fremantle Traffic Bridge yesterday.

In this photograph, taken this morning, the lane coloured red is only for buses to travel in and through the intersection on Canning Highway. Other vehicles are required to turn left or right when they approach the intersection near Stirling Bridge.

Obviously, there are some teething problems and some drivers seem blissfully unaware of the road traffic changes despite months and months of advice from Main Roads WA and various news outlets, including Fremantle Shipping News about the changes at this intersection.

We are advised by Main Roads WA today that they are ‘monitoring closely’.

Here’s a recently publicised diagram showing how things are meant to work at this intersection. Travelling east on Canning Highway out of Freo, there are two dedicated lanes taking cars left onto Stirling Bridge. There is also one right hand lane for turning south into Stirling Highway. And coming west on Canning Highway, again there are right turn lanes into the Stirling Bridge and a left lane south into Stirling Highway.

You can’t drive straight through the intersection. Well, you’re not meant to!

Watch this space!

Update from a reader: Even greater confusion than what we thought. FSN is advised car drivers are still turning right onto Canning Hwy (east) off Stirling Highway (heading North) despite no turn right signs, and causing total gridlock.

And here are some recent FSN Facebook page comments!