Fremantle's Walyalup Bridge opens months ahead of schedule

Fremantle’s new Swan River road crossing, officially named Walyalup Bridge, opened on Sunday 1 November, months ahead of schedule, according to the WA Government. Main Roads WA ran a community walk across the bridge from 9am to 1pm, then closed it again before opening it to traffic later that night. For Fremantle agents and developers, the opening ends a closure that forced temporary road network changes across the port city from 1 February 2026.

Why it matters

The bridge replaces the old Fremantle Traffic Bridge, built in 1939, at the point where the Swan River meets Fremantle Harbour. The state says bridges have stood at the site since 1866. The project was jointly funded by the Albanese and Cook Labor governments.

Main Roads says the temporary network changes made before the closure will now be lifted. That includes access to and from Fremantle via Canning Highway, which had been closed to east-west traffic at Stirling Highway to keep traffic moving during the works. For anyone selling or building near the crossing, normal road access is the practical change.

The closure had pushed the state into a set of stopgap measures. These included additional train and bus services, extra free parking bays for SmartRider users and cheaper public transport through a new flat fare. Pedestrians and cyclists used a temporary detour via existing footpaths and Stirling Bridge for several months.

The numbers

The government describes the structure as Australia’s first extradosed bridge, combining cantilevers with cable stay supports. It carries two traffic lanes in each direction plus new, wider shared paths for pedestrians and cyclists.

The name was announced in a joint statement on 25 October. Walyalup is the traditional Whadjuk Noongar name for Fremantle, and comes from walyo, the Noongar word for the woylie. Heritage and culture are built into the design through public art, feature lighting, signage and wayfinding.

Neither the government statement nor the Main Roads project page gives a project cost, so none is run here.

What’s next

Main Roads says finishing works will continue on the bridge and the surrounding area after the opening. The feature lighting program, which began testing in mid-September, will be finalised during that period. The opening adds to a busy stretch for Fremantle, where Megara’s Serai apartment project in North Fremantle reached construction completion in October.