Work underway on Perth's new Redcliffe bridge - Roads & Infrastructure Magazine

Work underway on Perth’s new Redcliffe bridge

Tonkin Gap Project. Image courtesy of Main Roads WA.

The new Redcliffe bridge is shaping up across Perth’s Swan River, forming a key part of the Tonkin Gap Project.

The Tonkin Gap project is being delivered by the Tonkin Gap alliance, comprised of BMD, Georgiou Group, WA Limestone, BG&E and GHD.

As part of the project, the alliance is modifying the existing Redcliffe bridge to accomodate eight lanes, while building a new western bridge with two additional lanes.

Two bridge segments for the new bridge have recently been launched, with preparation well underway for the third segment launch.

A total of 17 bridge segments will be constructed on site and incrementally launched across the Swan River from the south-west side of Redcliffe Bridge, with each bridge segment to move up to 18 metres every two to three weeks.

When complete, the bridges will each have six lanes of traffic with four additional lanes for commuters to get to and from Great Eastern Highway. These upgrades are anticipated to save commuters up to six minutes during morning peak and up to 11 minutes in the afternoon.

The construction method, also used on the Mandurah Bridge and the Mount Henry Bridge, will minimise the impact to the Swan River and surrounds.

The Redcliffe bridge upgrade is part of the broader Tonkin Gap Project, with total contract cost estimated to be $400 million. The project is upgrading the Tonkin Highway with additional lanes, new interchanges, bridges and a shared path between Collier Road and Dunreath Drive.

Widening Tonkin Highway is also on track with the construction of new bridge footings, piers and abutments for four new bridges over Railway Parade and Guildford Road.

Sixty bridge beams, made locally in Georgiou Group’s precast facility in Hazelmere, will be installed over the next year – the biggest being 35 metres long and weighing 135 tonnes.

This October, 18 beams will be installed on the eastern Railway Parade Bridge.

When Railway Parade and Guildford Road bridge works are complete, traffic will be shifted onto the new lanes and bridges, improving traffic flow, safety and road geometry.

Work continues on the Great Eastern Highway upgrades with a new loop ramp to be built providing free-flowing access for commuters travelling north on Tonkin Highway.

The project is also delivering enabling works for the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line, with major piling works underway on the southern dive structure.

The project is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and State Governments.