Century-old bridge gets $9.1m replacement

The 105-year-old Third Avenue Bridge in the Perth suburb of Mount Lawley will be demolished and replaced, improving safety and efficiency on the local road and rail network.

Western Australian Transport Minister Dean Nalder announced in a statement that BMD Constructions Pty Ltd had been awarded the $9.1 million contract to demolish and replace the old timber bridge with a modern steel and concrete structure.

“Replacing this century-old bridge with a new, contemporary structure will not only ensure it meets current safety standards, but will improve traffic flow during peak periods,” Mr. Nalder said in the statement.

The project includes a 20-metre bridge, which can cater to a higher load capacity; a second lane on the bridge eastbound; realignment of the cycle and pedestrian path through a 30-metre underpass closer to Whatley Crescent; and a new footpath linking Railway Parade and Whatley Crescent.

The new bridge is the final stage of a $22 million project funded by the State Government to improve safety and efficiency on the local road and rail network. The project began with the replacement of Seventh Avenue Bridge in Maylands, which opened to traffic in May 2015.

The project will take about eight months to complete and will create 15 local jobs.