Last step to reconnect Perth and Northbridge under way

A consortium led by Brookfield Multiplex will start work on sinking the Wellington Street Bus Station, an essential part of the Perth City Link project, early next year.

Acting Transport Minister Mike Nahan has revealed the City Busport Alliance (Brookfield Multiplex and BG&E) had won a tender to partner with the Public Transport Authority to build a new state-of-the-art underground bus station in Perth.

“The $249million project is the second stage of the visionary Perth City Link project, which is reconnecting Northbridge with the CBD,” Dr Nahan said.

“The Perth City Link project, through the sinking of the Fremantle Line earlier this year and now the Wellington Street Bus Station, is the final frontier in changing the face of Perth.

“This project is fundamentally transforming our capital - the Wellington Street Bus Station opened in 1973 and will be the last established building on the Perth City Link site to be demolished.

“When the 40-year-old structure comes down early next year and works starts on the underground bus station, the people of Perth will have an unrestricted view from one side of the site to the other for the first time in decades.”

The Acting Minister said the project would deliver Perth commuters one of the world’s most modern and sophisticated bus stations and by moving its operations underground, it would allow the key thoroughfares of King and Queen streets to reconnect Perth to Northbridge.

“By 2031, it is estimated that about 25,000 passengers will be using the new busport each day, with more than 220 bus movements an hour at peak times,” Dr Nahan said.

Construction of a temporary bus station for passengers is already under way on the Roe Street side of the site and a second temporary bus station will also be built on Wellington Street.

The bus component is being funded by the State Government ($237million) and the City of Perth ($12million).