New $100m causeway bridge to become WA’s latest ‘digital canvas’ to promote state tourism

A one-kilometre $100 million pedestrian and cycling bridge over the Swan River has been billed as a “digital canvas” that will promote WA to the world. Premier Roger Cook on Sunday unveiled the new lighting and visual elements that will be part of the six-metre wide causeway bridge, with the first of its 16 pieces already in place. The structure will extend from the Victoria Park foreshore to Heirisson Island and then across to the CBD at Point Fraser. The Government is also considering adding a ferry stop next to the bridge. But the bridge’s biggest selling point will be its stay cables, measuring between 17 and 94 metres, that can be lit up. “(These) will allow images of iconic Swan River scenes to really light up this whole scenery,” Mr Cook said. “The bridge itself is going to become a digital canvas for a whole range of messages, images and moving images. This is about to become a new iconic lighting and visual design for this project.” More than 3000 cyclists and pedestrians are projected to cross the causeway daily, with the bridge expected to be used to promote special events in coordination with Matagarup Bridge. The bridge’s 16 pieces — developed at Henderson by Civmec — are between 22 and 42ms long and up to 57m tall and will be put in place by mid-2024, with the bridge expected to be complete by the end of the year. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the bridge was about more than getting from A to B and would spur housing development and tourism activity. Ms Saffioti vowed it would not be used for commercial advertising that would bring in Government revenue or for political advertising. “This is about creating an iconic project that will appeal to the community and to tourists,” she said. The minister said the current budget was $100M, with the cost split between the State and Federal Governments. Ms Saffioti said the project included landscaping at both ends and recognition of traditional owners on the island. “When you see the design and see the vegetation, you notice that from this point (at Victoria Park), all the way through to Point Fraser — there is significant vegetation, significant new facilities for the public,” she said. Two pylons representing digging sticks and one representing a boomerang will be part of the bridge design.