Riders, runners, walkers and rollers streamed across the Boorloo Bride this morning, as ‘first crossers’ piled under the Bridge’s Noongar-inspired, giant weathered steel boomerang and digging stick piers.

When landscaping of surrounding areas is complete, 100,000 plants, shrubs and trees will have been planted, much indigenous art and sculpture installed, and leisure and communing areas built that will transform the area, as Deputy Premier and Transport Minister, Rita Saffioti MLA said this morning.

“Already we’ve seen incredible feedback from the community,” Minister Saffioti said.

“The Bridge will really open up this part of the city and will create new links into Victoria Park and the south east suburbs and ideally we’ll see thousands of people using this every day. It was a difficult bridge to deliver but from an engineering point of view it is spectacular.”

Faster, safer, healthier

WestCycle CEO Wayne Bradshaw joined Federal Members Patrick Gorman MP and Zaneta Mascarenhas MP, State Members Hannah Beazley MLA and John Carey and other dignitaries at the opening.

He said the Bridge was a world-class addition to Perth’s separated path network.

“We congratulate the State and Federal governments on this incredible project. It really does set a benchmark for bike riding and transport facilities.”

Bradshaw added: “In terms of shaving off time it will certainly be a benefit because it is a smooth clear run and you don’t have to worry about crashing into someone going across a narrow, 1 metre path [of the old Causeway Bridge.]”

Mascarenhas, formerly a regular cargo bike rider into the city with her young children, said the Bridge meant faster, safer trips and promoted cycling and all the health benefits that came with it.

“You overtake all the traffic and you get your exercise and you feel so fresh for the work day,” the Member for Swan enthused.

On building bridges – and building bridges…

Causeway Link Alliance director Niall O Lionaird paid tribute to the consultative approach that had defined the project from day one – and the many “technical challenges” Alliance engineers had to overcome including using some of the biggest cranes in the world.

“There were some very serious, heavy lifts…a lot of works over water which is always challenging but with good engineering and a good team you get through it,” he said.

The Alliance, which last year won a Cycling Luminaries award for its consultative approach, had engaged, “with as broad a range of stakeholders as early as possible.”

“This included WestCycle and all the LGAs (local government authorities), the Matagarup Elders Group, the local community and all the other stakeholders to make sure their voices were heard and where possible we could implement their wishlist into the design and into construction.”

The Bridge has cost $105 million plus $85 million in landscaping and surrounding area construction and development.

Find out more about the Boorloo Bridge here.