Green light for traffic on Ranford Road Bridge
Traffic congestion along Ranford Road has improved significantly with the new Ranford Bridge officially completed and all lanes opened to traffic today.
The new Ranford Road Bridge is 1.2 metres higher, 15 metres longer and significantly wider - including six general traffic lanes (three in each direction), plus a dedicated bus lane and shared path for pedestrians and cyclists on each side.
The original bridge had only two lanes in each direction with the new bridge expected to cater for an estimated average two-way traffic flow of 43,000 vehicles a day.
The significantly enhanced bridge has been delivered as part of the Thornlie-Cockburn Link project, with the old bridge too low to support the new passenger rail below.
The new bridge is a significant structure, consisting of:
154 piles, between eight and 17 metres deep;
10 beams each weighing 197 tonnes;
140,000 kilograms of reinforcing steel; and
730 cubic metres of concrete.
The staged approach to bridge construction has meant traffic lanes could be maintained while the old bridge was demolished, and new bridge built.
The completion of the new Ranford Road Bridge comes as works on the 17.5-kilometre Thornlie-Cockburn Link continue to surge ahead, with the project remaining on track for completion in 2025.
The project will deliver the first east-west rail link between the Mandurah and Armadale Line, with two new stations built at Ranford Road and Nicholson Road.
Structural steel is now in place for the entry buildings for both stations, while bus canopies have also been built. Nicholson Road Station has also recently had a 27-tonne lift shaft, which will house the lifts that will carry passengers between the entry building and concourse.
Once complete, the Ranford Road Station and Nicholson Road Station will offer passengers a 29-minute and 26-minute journey to the city respectively.
The $1.352 billion Thornlie-Cockburn Link project is jointly funded by the WA State Government and the Australian Government.