Main Roads WA Week 4 Report After Old Bridge Closure

We are a bit late in bringing this to you all. We are now well into Week 5. Apologies. Not Main Road’s fault. Blame the long weekend and our Editor’s absence from the editorial desk!

In compiling this report the hardworking folk at MRWA remind us to note when wondering how well things are going –

Travel time measures, rather than raw vehicle numbers on the road, provide a more accurate understanding of how the network is operating. Additionally, vehicle numbers change every day, which is why MRWA report generally on the network performance in travel times.
Importantly, the network is generally operating without significant congestion.
On Thursday 26 February AM peak for example:
- Two-way traffic volumes across Stirling Bridge increased 30% (6,900 vehicles in March 2024) to 9,000 vehicles.
- Two-way traffic volumes across Stirling bridge are down 17% compared to the volume carried on both bridges – Stirling and the Old Traffic Bridge – combined (10,900 vehicles in March 2024).
- Congestion across the network was high, with queues in the northbound direction on Stirling Hwy approaches to both Marmion St and High St intersections.
- This resulted in travel time delays of approximately 5 mins from Carrington St, Palmyra to Wellington St, Mosman Park intersections in northbound direction, compared to the baseline (March 2024).
On Wednesday 25 February in the peak PM, there were travel time delays of approximately 8 mins from Wellington St to Carrington St intersection in the southbound direction, compared to the baseline.
However, the network is coping with these traffic increases.
Traffic volumes on parts of Marmion Street and High Street have increased, as these are the primary alternate routes to Canning Highway for people accessing Fremantle. These increases were anticipated and planned for prior to closure, with signal changes implemented at the Marmion Street / Stirling Highway intersection and the introduction of metering at the High Street / Stirling Highway roundabout. While there is some congestion on these routes during peak hour, travel time delays are not excessive. This gives an indication that people are still travelling to and from Fremantle without experiencing significant delays.