FOUR traffic lanes are now open across the Mandurah Bridge.
Two vintage cars carried Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and Mandurah MLA David Templeman to the centre of the bridge this morning where they cut the ribbon to open the two new lanes.
Road works are now complete on the $51.8 million bridge.
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READ NOWSchool children from Mandurah and Greenfields primary schools who wrote about the significance of the bridge were among the first to cross on the new lanes.
The bridge was opened to two lanes of traffic in September.
The official opening will be held early next year with a community event.
Ms Saffioti said completion before Christmas boosted traffic access to shopping and cafe precincts and thanked the community for their patience during construction.
Mr Templeman said it was fantastic to involve young members of the community in the opening, travelling across the bridge before the new lanes were opened.
Dawesville MLA Zak Kirkup said the vision and legacy of the previous Liberal Government completely transformed getting in and out of the city from Halls Head.
“Now its time for the Government to finish the job and build a new Estuary Bridge to ease congestion on Mandurah-Old Coast Road,’’ he said.
The new bridge was built in 13 segments on the western foreshore by Georgiou Group and barged across the estuary over many months from a specially constructed concrete casting bed.
Demolition of the old bridge is about 60 per cent complete and due to be finished by January.
Works to complete paths, feature boardwalks beneath the bridge and landscaping will continue until February.
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