Traffic has been flowing across the new Stephenson Avenue bridge for several days, marking a major milestone in Perth’s northern suburbs road network and ushering in a period of adjustment for drivers around Innaloo and Stirling.
The opening of the bridge and new freeway ramps has delivered the first full east–west connection between Scarborough Beach Road and Cedric Street, changing how traffic moves through the area and easing pressure on some of the network’s busiest interchanges.
The Stephenson Avenue extension has introduced new northbound and southbound off-ramps connecting directly to the Mitchell Freeway, coinciding with the permanent closure of the Cedric Street northbound off-ramp. These changes are already redistributing traffic away from Cedric Street and toward the new interchange.
Temporary closures remain in place along Cedric Street westbound between Stephenson Avenue and Ellen Stirling Boulevard, with finishing works expected to continue into the first half of 2026. Bus access is being maintained, while general traffic is being detoured.
Further changes are still to come, including a temporary closure of the Cedric Street northbound on-ramp from early 2026 and the opening of a new local road connection via Catspaw Road. Drivers are being urged to allow extra travel time while traffic patterns continue to settle.
Beyond general traffic, the project is also delivering staged upgrades to active transport infrastructure. New shared paths and local road connections are opening progressively, with a new Principal Shared Path between Civic Place and Telford Crescent scheduled for completion in 2026.
Public transport capacity in the Stirling city centre is also being expanded, with the Stirling Bus Interchange upgraded from an 18-stand facility to 29 stands, supporting stronger connections as development accelerates around the precinct.
Transport Minister Rita Saffioti says the project is designed to support growth in Perth’s northern suburbs.
“As Perth’s northern suburbs continue to grow, projects like the Stephenson Avenue extension are helping to improve connectivity and further activate key hubs in the Stirling city centre,” Saffioti says.
“Opening the new Stephenson Avenue northbound and southbound off-ramps to traffic will also improve traffic flows in the area by moving traffic off the busy Cedric Street interchange.”
Local representatives say the project is already reshaping how people and businesses move through the area.
“The Stephenson Avenue extension project is transforming the Stirling city centre and unlocking housing development opportunities in this growing part of Perth,” Balcatta MLA David Michael says.
“These upgrades will provide a vital new connection from Cedric Street to Scarborough Beach Road, delivering smoother travel across the road network for our community,” Scarborough MLA Stuart Aubrey says.
The Western Australian and Australian governments jointly fund the Stephenson Avenue extension and have engaged nearly 400 local businesses during construction, including 19 Aboriginal enterprises.