Traffic has begun flowing across the newly duplicated Mandurah Estuary Bridge, marking a major milestone in the delivery of one of Western Australia’s most significant regional road upgrades.
From today, westbound traffic will permanently switch onto the new two-lane bridge on the southern side of the existing crossing, immediately easing congestion for more than 33,000 vehicles that use the Mandurah Estuary Bridge every day. The duplication is designed to improve safety, reliability and travel times for commuters, freight and local businesses across Mandurah and Dawesville.
Premier Roger Cook said the project reflected the Government’s focus on delivering high-quality transport infrastructure across regional Western Australia.
“This is an exciting day for the people of Mandurah with tens of thousands of commuters able to access the newly duplicated estuary bridge, helping them get to where they need to go quicker and giving them more time in their day,” Cook said.
The existing bridge will continue to carry eastbound traffic on a single lane while resurfacing and maintenance work are completed, with traffic scheduled to shift to two lanes permanently in early March. The overall project remains on track for completion by the end of March.
Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said the duplication delivered both safety and capacity benefits.
“By doubling the capacity of this crossing and providing an accessible shared path for pedestrians and cyclists, we are making this important route much safer for the more than 33,000 people who use this bridge every single day,” King said.
Beyond increasing road capacity, the project includes a suite of improvements aimed at supporting long-term network performance and community amenity. These include a new four-metre-wide shared path beneath the westbound bridge, upgrades to the existing path under the original bridge, a universally accessible fishing platform, three kilometres of noise and amenity walls, feature lighting and new yarning circles on both foreshores.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said opening the new bridge would immediately improve daily travel.
“Opening the new Mandurah Estuary Bridge to traffic is a huge moment for the people of Mandurah and Dawesville. It will really start to make a difference to the daily commute,” Saffioti said.
“Importantly, this project will significantly improve travel times for locals and boost safety for the thousands of people using this bridge every day,” she said.
Regional Development Minister Stephen Dawson said the duplication positioned the Peel region well for future growth.
“This project not only addresses current transport needs by easing congestion and improving safety, but also puts Mandurah and its surrounds in a great position for future growth,” Dawson said.
Peel Minister Jessica Stojkovski highlighted the project’s economic impact during construction.
“This project has also generated an additional 500 jobs throughout the construction process, supporting the local economy,” Stojkovski said.
Once fully complete, the $148.8 million project will deliver a more resilient and efficient crossing of the Mandurah Estuary, strengthening a vital link for commuters, local industry and freight moving through the Peel region.