The collapsed walkway in Perth. Photo: David Baylis
Camera IconThe collapsed walkway in Perth. Photo: David Baylis Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Engineer examines collapsed CBD walkway

AAPEastern Reporter

AN engineer is examining the remains of a collapsed nine-year-old footbridge that linked two buildings in Perth’s CBD as authorities seek to rule out the possibility that other structures may also be vulnerable.

The bridge, linking the Alluvion building to Westralia Square, crumbled on Monday afternoon and witnesses described it as sounding like an earthquake.

No one was hurt because the area had already been cordoned off when cracks were noticed in the morning.

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Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety building compliance director Sandy Randall told reporters on Tuesday that an engineer was looking at the plans and what was left of the structure.

“What we are mostly concerned about is that there is nothing there that is perhaps systemic in nature and we want to rule out the possibility that other structures might be vulnerable,” she said.

“It’s very, very unlikely. We just want to rule it out as soon as possible.”

Ms Randall said structures should last a lot longer than nine years.

“You would expect a structure of that nature to withstand the test of time and I think nine years is probably indicative that there’s been some sort of a failure in the engineering or construction somewhere,” she said.

Thousands of people had used the walkway every day.