New Fitzroy River Bridge taking shape

THE New Fitzroy River Bridge in northern WA –touted to be about six times stronger than its predecessor –is starting to take shape.

The bridge will be almost 100 metres longer than the old bridge and will include two lanes and a shared path for pedestrians and cyclists.

The first sections of deck for the bridge are on track to be installed next month.

Using an innovative engineering method, a launch pad is currently being assembled on the western side of the river from which the bridge deck will be moved into place to connect with the opposite side of the river.

Launching the bridge deck in increments will mean construction should not be affected by rising water levels during the next wet season –so the bridge can be completed even if the river is flowing.

“Construction of the New Fitzroy River Bridge continues to make excellent progress, despite unseasonal heavy rainfall in late June, which required both the project’s construction causeway and the temporary crossings to close,” said WA Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti.

“From early next month, the community will start to see the segments of the new bridge taking shape, just nine months after the devastation of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie. This is an outstanding outcome and I thank all those involved in our efforts to reconnect the Kimberley.”

Saffioti says the project is well on track to be completed within the next 12 months.

“But we’re doing everything we can to have traffic moving across the new bridge as soon as possible,” she added.

Since early June, work has been continuing to drive 34 piles into the riverbed to support the new bridge. Pile caps are currently being constructed on top of each set of piles to enable the columns to be put into place. Installation of the columns will commence progressively after the completion of the respective pile-caps.

Reconstruction works will also include the adjoining sections of the Great Northern Highway, which were severely eroded by flooding.

WORKS to improve safety at 57 dangerous crash sites across Victoria will begin in 2023-24, with the Australian Government committing $25.6 million to address local black spots.

The long-running Black Spot Program funds safety measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts at locations where a number of serious crashes have occurred, or are at risk of occurring.

Black Spot Consultative

Panels provide the opportunity for stakeholders to have a say in the project selection process, and ensure nominations of the highest priority and importance to local communities are recommended for approval.

The Victorian review panel includes representatives from the Municipal Association of Victoria, Royal Automobile Club of Victoria, Victorian Transport Association, Victori- an Police Service, Road Safety Victoria, Traffic Management Association of Australia, and the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning.

“We are continuing to provide $110 million per year under the Black Spot Program to work with state, territory and local governments to improve road safety across Australia,” said Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Carol Brown.

Receiving the biggest slice of the funding is Sloane Street at the Western Highway to Patrick Street in Stawell, with close to $2 million being used to construct two roundabouts, and install central median and kerb outstands with upgraded signage and pavement markings.

Other projects include $1.69 million for Axe Creek Road, Axe Creek for delineation upgrades, shoulders and bellmouth sealing at high-risk curves with safety barriers at culvert crossings; $1.45 million at Orrvale Road, Orrvale for works that include replacing a cross intersection with a roundabout with splitter islands, linemarking, retro-reflective pavement markers and lighting; and $1.34 million at the intersection of Twentieth Street and Deakin Avenue, which will receive a full intersection upgrade.

Victorian Minister for

Roads and Road Safety Melissa Horne added, “We welcome this significant investment as a key part of making sure our roads are safer for all road users. It will allow us to provide key road safety upgrades across our state.

“The Black Spot Program strongly aligns with Victoria’s road safety strategy and will help us achieve our goal of zero lives lost on Victorian roads by 2050.”

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