The Fitzroy River bridge, a crucial transport link in Western Australia’s north destroyed by the state’s worst flood earlier this year, will reopen next month.
Key points:
- The Fitzroy River bridge set to reopen on December 10, six months ahead of schedule
- The past iteration was decimated by Western Australia’s worst-ever flood in January
- A crucial transport link, the bridge links the West and East Kimberley regions
Central Kimberley Communities were inundated in January following Ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie, with record flooding displacing more than 300 people.
The floods smashed the Fitzroy River bridge, the only transport link connecting west and east Kimberley.
Main Roads WA confirmed on Thursday that the rebuilt bridge would reopen on Sunday, December 10.
The new-and-improved bridge will be 100 metres longer at 270 metres and carry dual lanes.
The piles supporting the bridge have also been driven to a depth of 40m, compared with 15m for the previous piles.
Work to reopen the bridge has been completed ahead of schedule and before wet season downpours that swell the Fitzroy River.
A Main Roads WA spokesperson said the re-opening would provide assurance to the community, freight industry and tourism operators.
“While an early start to the wet season is not currently forecast, should river levels rise substantially the new bridge can be opened at short notice,” they said.
The rebuild was funded by the state and federal governments, with Fitzroy Crossing locals upskilled to fast-track the process.