Mandurah MP David Templeman has revealed new details about the the city’s soon-to-be opened traffic bridge, announcing the structure will be lit up at night with vibrant colours thanks to an innovative lighting display.
While inspecting the bridge with Transport Minister Rita Saffioti on Monday morning, Mr Templeman said there would also be room on the bridge to host market stalls during special events.
Mr Templeman said the bridge would be completed and fully open to traffic and pedestrians within the next few months.
“Like a few thousand locals, I had the opportunity to walk over the old Mandurah traffic bridge for the last time with my family on Sunday and I was struck by how many people had their own personal stories about the old bridge and were reminiscing about what it meant to them,” he said.
Mr Templeman and Ms Saffioti paid tribute to the $51 million structure’s engineers, designers and construction workers.
When the bridge opens, it will carry four lanes of vehicle traffic and have a north facing, 5 metre wide pedestrian walkway connecting the eastern foreshore with the western foreshore.
Mr Templeman said he would be organising for a local person who was born in 1953 (the year the ld Traffic Bridge was opened) and a local primary school student to be on board the first car to cross the new bridge over the next few weeks.
He said the new bridge would be partially opened to two lanes of traffic early next month to allow the final alignment works to be completed before the bridge is fully operational later this year.
“The new bridge will allow pedestrians to enjoy the north facing façade via the pedestrian walkway which will also have the capacity to host market stalls, etc., during special events,” Mr Templeman said.
“The new bridge will also have innovative lighting components which will allow it to be lit up at night in various colours.
“So when my beloved Fremantle Dockers win their first Grand Final the bridge will be able to be lit up in a sea of purple.”