The Albanese and Cook Labor Governments have today confirmed that the new Fremantle Traffic Bridge will open ahead of schedule on 1 November 2026.
A community celebration will be held on Sunday, 1 November to mark the historic milestone, with attendees able to walk across the new bridge before it officially opens to traffic later that evening.
The old Fremantle Traffic Bridge was closed on 1 February 2026, with the closure originally expected to continue for up to 12 months and the new bridge earmarked to open in the first half of 2027.
Despite a challenging construction environment, an innovative method for fast-tracked construction has enabled an early opening.
Ahead of the opening, work is continuing to complete the road across the new bridge, with terracing and landscaping works progressing on the southern side of the bridge adjacent to Beach Street.
Opening the new gateway to Fremantle in November will improve connectivity to the port city ahead of summer and the Christmas trading period, supporting local businesses and visitation.
Finishing works will continue on the bridge and surrounding areas after the opening, with the bridge’s lighting to be finalised during that time.
This innovative and unique program of architectural and feature lighting, funded by the WA Government, will celebrate stories of the crossing that date back thousands of years, recognising the historical, cultural and spiritual significance of the area.
Community members will get a sneak peek of the lighting with testing planned to start in mid-September.
Following the bridge opening, the temporary road network changes made prior to the bridge closure will be removed, including access to and from Fremantle via Canning Highway and other initiatives that helped keep the network flowing during the closure.
