Construction underway on WA's new Hotham River Bridge

Construction underway on WA’s new Hotham River Bridge

Map of the Albany Highway – Kelmscott to Williams Pavement Rehabilitation and Hotham River Bridge Replacement project. Image: WA Government.

Construction is underway on a new Hotham River Bridge near Crossman in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt region, with works being delivered by BMD Construction.

The $15.2 million bridge replacement is part of the $25 million Albany Highway – Kelmscott to Williams Pavement Rehabilitation and Hotham River Bridge Replacement project, which aims to rehabilitate the pavement on 29 kilometres over various sections between Kelmscott and Williams.

The project is jointly funded by the Australian and Western Australian Governments on an 80:20 basis.

The existing bridge, which was built in 1928, is now no longer serviceable and will be closed when the new structure is complete. A new 88-metre-long concrete structure, designed to current width and barrier standards, will replace the old bridge.

The new bridge will accommodate one traffic lane in each direction and will be constructed approximately 30 metres to the east of the existing bridge.

WA Minister for Transport and Planning Rita Saffioti said the project would improve road safety.

“Albany Highway is a key distributer road in our Wheatbelt region and this bridge alone accommodates almost 3,000 vehicles per day, 19 per cent of which are heavy vehicles,” Minister Saffioti said.

“We are continuing to deliver major regional road improvements throughout WA, in particular through our Regional Road Safety Program that will upgrade 7,000 kilometres of roads.”

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Barnaby Joyce said the Australian Government was partnering with the Western Australian Government to fast-track regional, shovel-ready projects.

“Infrastructure projects such as this one get money flowing into jobs and businesses, strengthening the economy and making roads safer,” the Deputy Prime Minister said.

“We are continuing to roll out major projects nationwide under our $110 billion infrastructure investment plan, which is laying the foundations for recovery on the other side of COVID-19.”

About 1,700 cubic metres of concrete and 600 tonnes of steel will be used to build the new bridge, which is expected to support about 100 local jobs.