Road works in preparation for replacing the now-closed Hamilton Road bridge this week.
Camera IconRoad works in preparation for replacing the now-closed Hamilton Road bridge this week. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

West Leederville bridge third-last to be replaced on the Fremantle line

Jon BassettWestern Suburbs Weekly

PERTH’S third-last wooden railway bridge at Hamilton Road, West Leederville is now closed for its demolition and replacement from next month.

“The bridge will be removed, with additional detours on the weekend of March 15 to March 18,” a Main Roads spokeswoman said.

The new $8 million bridge is part of proposed replacements of the four Edwardian-era built wood bridges over the Perth-Fremantle railway line.

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Last October, a new $11m concrete bridge replaced the old structure over the line at Ashton Avenue Claremont.

However, despite being unbudgeted, plans for a new Congdon Street bridge in Swanbourne 1.5km west, sparked an often rowdy public meeting last year.

Main Roads wanted residents’ views on a preferred design from Saladin to Windsor streets over the west end of the Swanbourne Railway station.

The spokeswoman said 180 people’s comments, including some on pedestrian and cyclist access, local traffic flows and any new bridge’s impact on nearby shops, were still being discussed with the Public Transport Authority and councils for an update mid-year.

Cottesloe’s Eric Street bridge could be the last of the four, and planning continues on that potential project.

At Hamilton Street, road works are being conducted for altered traffic during that rebuild, expected to finish in September.

Detours will operate along Subiaco Road, the east end of Thomas Road, Haydn Bunton Drive and the west end of Roberts Road.

The spokeswoman said new bridge beams installed on a weekend in late June would need detours at Railway Parade and Railway Road will be partially blocked for traffic management at all other times.

“Speed limits through the area, including Subiaco Road, have been reduced to 40kmh for the duration of the project, and we are looking at further reducing the speed along Subiaco Road to 30kmh, as this was suggested by both the Department of Transport and the City of Subiaco,” she said.