By Alex Condon
Destroyed by Western Australia’s worst ever floods in January, the new Fitzroy River Bridge in the Kimberley region has been completed six months ahead of schedule.
On Sunday, Premier Roger Cook – accompanied by local Indigenous community members and state and federal MPs – officially reopened the bridge, restoring a crucial transport link for the region.
The new bridge’s reconstruction was jointly funded by the federal and WA governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) and more than 240 locals were employed on the project and 26 Aboriginal-owned businesses were awarded contracts associated with the project.
Cook thanked the local workers for their unprecedented efforts - with construction only beginning in May and beset by continued bad weather.
“Losing the Fitzroy River Bridge in January’s devastating floods was a massive blow to communities in the Kimberley, who rely on this vital artery for freight, transport and connection,” he said.
“Today’s bridge opening is a testament to the strength and resilience of the local community, and the 240 local workers who delivered the transformational project.
Divina D’Anna, Roger Cook, Rita Saffioti and Madeleine King join locals in reopening the bridge.
“Crews have battled extreme temperatures and unseasonal rain to rebuild the bridge in record time, providing communities with a sense of security for the upcoming wet season.”
Also cutting the ribbon were Deputy Premier and Minister for Transport Rita Saffioti, Federal Minister for Northern Australia Madeleine King and Kimberley state MP Divina D’Anna.
The new bridge is six times stronger than the old bridge and contains twice the number of steel and concrete piles, which were driven twice as deep into the riverbed.
It is also significantly longer than the old bridge and has a lane in each direction, ensuring the bridge will be more resilient to flood events in the future.
The bridge now restores a vital crossing on the Great Northern Highway after it was destroyed in the one-in-100-year January floods that devastated many communities and businesses in the region.