Traffic is now flowing over part of the new Ranford Road Bridge being built for the METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link.
The switch means traffic is now flowing on two lanes in each direction and using an upgraded section of Ranford Road, between Livingstone Drive and Bannister Road, Canning Vale.
Switching traffic to the new bridge allows demolition of the old bridge to begin, clearing the way for the final part of the new Ranford Road Bridge to be built and completed by 2023.
When completed, the new Ranford Road Bridge will be higher and longer than the original with six general traffic lanes (three in each direction), plus a dedicated bus lane and shared path for pedestrians and cyclists on each side.
It will cater for an estimated average annual two-way traffic flow of 43,000 vehicles a day.
The new bridge is at the forefront of Australian engineering technology and features some of the largest precast concrete tee-roff beams ever built in Australia. Locally made in Hazelmere, seven of the ten 50m beams were installed in May this year. The final three beams will be installed next year.
When the 17.5km Thornlie-Cockburn Link is complete in 2024, passengers using Ranford Road Station will be able to travel to Perth in about 29 minutes.
To allow the Thornlie and Cockburn station connections to happen, the existing Mandurah Line tracks will be shifted further apart during a shutdown from December 26 to January 14.
This will allow the new Thornlie-Cockburn Line tracks to be built in between them.
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"The METRONET Thornlie-Cockburn Link supports around 1680 Western Australian jobs, and these works are just one example of the ways our projects support local workers and manufacturers in WA.
"Not only are we creating new train stations, bridges and local jobs, we're also leading the nation in new, more innovative, bigger and better manufacturing processes.
"Ranford Road Bridge will be a game changer for this area, future-proofing the road network ahead of a projected increase in demand for access to surrounding businesses, industrial areas and of course the future Thornlie-Cockburn Link train station at Ranford Road."
As stated by Jandakot MLA Yaz Mubarakai:
"This an exciting milestone in the Thornlie-Cockburn Link project, and for the thousands of commuters that drive over the Ranford Road Bridge every day.
"The bridge is not only higher and longer than the original, to ensure trains on the new Thornlie-Cockburn Link can pass underneath, it will have three lanes going each direction, as well as a dedicated bus lane.
"The switch over traffic means works can now begin to demolish the old bridge, which is critical for final works to begin on the new bridge, which is due to be completed in 2023.
"I am thrilled with Minister Saffioti's decision to prioritise a four lane road through the upgrades to Ranford Road Bridge. This will future proof the road for many years to come."
As stated by Southern River MLA Terry Healy:
"The Thornlie-Cockburn Link is a game changer for people living in Perth's southern suburbs, and will better connect our city from east to west.
"The new Ranford Road Bridge is a critical part of the overall Thornlie-Cockburn Link project and having traffic switch over is a really critical milestone.
"Now that traffic has switched over, demolition of the old bridge can begin, which will is essential to the delivery of the project."
