October DealsAmazon USOctober deal check: compare before you payAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.Check DealsClean PCRecommendedOne scan can reveal what keeps slowing WindowsLook for cleanup and repair opportunities.Run ScanOctober DealsAmazon USDeal season is back - check today's better picksAmazon US: current deals, useful picks and tech finds.See Picks×
Skip to content
CarCodyAdvertise
Service recordThe Garage

Fremantle Traffic Bridge closure: what changed and what was done to ease traffic

The Fremantle Traffic Bridge closed in February 2026. Here’s what Brad Pettitt called for, what governments announced, and what is known about the replacement’s expected opening.
Entry765 Date Time4 min MechanicCarCody Team
Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.

The Fremantle Traffic Bridge closed on 1 February 2026, and the replacement is expected to open on 1 November 2026, according to the WA and Federal Governments. Before the closure, Greens WA leader and former Fremantle mayor Brad Pettitt urged the State Government to do more than add school buses. Governments later announced a wider transport and traffic-management package, but the available sources do not establish how much it reduced congestion after the bridge closed.

Why Brad Pettitt called for faster action

In a PerthNow report published on 3 October 2025, Pettitt described school-specific bus services announced shortly beforehand as “a good, very small first step”. He argued that the response needed to match the scale of the disruption expected from the bridge closure.

His suggestions included a free transit zone, extra trains, free travel on the Fremantle Line, shifting more trucks off the road during peak periods and adding bike lanes. He warned that traffic could worsen and cause gridlock; those were his forecasts, not a measured description of what later happened. He told PerthNow: “I hope this is merely the start but there frankly needs to be dozens of announcements of that scale to actually touch the sides of this problem.” Read the PerthNow report.

The report also included one commuter’s account of a 90-minute trip from Nedlands to White Gum Valley. That anecdote should not be taken as a typical journey time or a general measure of traffic.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
#1 Best Overall
VEVOR Adjustable Traffic Delineator Post Cones, 6 Pack, Traffic Safety Delineator Barrier with Fillable Base 8FT Chain, for Traffic Control Warning Parking Lot Construction Caution Roads, Yellow&Black
  • High-quality & Sturdy Materials:Vevor adjustable traffic delineator post from top-quality PP (Polypropylene) material,these are built to withstand harsh sunlight without fading and maintain their vibrant color whether it's scorching hot summers or freezing cold winters. They reduce the need for frequent replacements and safeguard traffic safety for the long haul!
  • Stable Fillable Base: The base of delineator post is fillable base design. It can be filled with water or sand to increase weight and keep it more stable. The delinearcator base can weigh up to 8.8 pounds when filled with water and up to 12 pounds when filled with sand.
  • Easy to Install: Vevor adjustable traffic delineator post and base have a simple connecting buckle construction, it can be assembled without tools and disassembled very easily. Save storage space and convenient to carry and transport.
  • Height Adjustable: Vevor adjustable traffic delineator post is assembled from 3 black and yellow tubes, and different numbers of tubes can be assembled to meet different needs.
  • Multiple Uses: The delineators post is perfect for outdoors as portable parking barriers, construction sites, driver training, camping and driveway warning signs.

What changed when the bridge closed

The Fremantle Traffic Bridge closed on 1 February 2026 so work could proceed on its replacement. Main Roads Western Australia identifies Stirling Highway as a key freight route carrying around 38,000 vehicles a day. Its project information forecast that the closure would redirect an additional 24,000 vehicles from Queen Victoria Street to Stirling Highway, putting pressure on nearby intersections. These are agency traffic-context and forecast figures, not counts of vehicles observed after closure. See Main Roads’ project information.

In December 2025, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti acknowledged the likely effect on the road network and travel times, saying: “Closure of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge is essential to complete the new bridge, but we recognise it will have an impact on the local road network and people’s travel times.” Read the WA Government statement.

Rank #2
RoadHero 42 Inch Orange Traffic Delineator Post Cones with Base, 6 Pack
  • Sturdy Material: These traffic posts are made of impact proof material, suitable for long-term outdoor use
  • Weighted Base: The total weight of the post and heavy-duty rubber base weighs about 7lbs and keeps the large traffic cones in place where you place them
  • Highly Visible And Tall Enough: Our large 42-inch safety post has a suitable height for drivers to see, the bright orange color and 4-inch reflective tape are visible during day and night
  • Portable And Easy To Store: The orange cones and removable rubber base are two separate parts for easy to assemble and store, and the handle on the top of the pole for easy movement and carrying
  • Wide Range Of Uses: Can be used for traffic control, parking lots, parking practices, garages, road construction sites, blocked off the street

What transport and traffic measures were announced

The WA Government’s October 2025 package covered public transport, access to Fremantle, monitoring and incident response. The measures below describe what was announced; they do not demonstrate that congestion was eliminated.

Area Announced measure What it was intended to address
Train capacity Two additional services in both the morning and afternoon peaks, and free trains on the Fremantle Line. Provide more peak-period capacity and encourage travel by train.
Bus services Additional buses supporting routes 107, 998 and 999, alongside school-bus special services. Support local and school travel during the disruption.
Local access and parking A free bus-travel zone on South Terrace between Douro Road and Fremantle Station for eligible SmartRider users; around 100 additional parking bays at Fremantle Station, free for train users with SmartRider. Make it easier to reach local destinations by bus and to transfer to trains.
Network operations Additional transit officers, variable message signs, incident-response teams and temporary road modifications. Support passenger information, incident response and traffic flow management.
Monitoring 18 new cameras and Bluetooth monitoring devices. Monitor traffic conditions and help inform network management.

The government said more than 1,200 people responded to its survey, with about one-third saying they planned to use public transport more often. It also reported that 85 per cent of Fremantle public-transport patrons travelled at least two zones. Those survey and patron figures informed the government’s planning; they are not evidence of actual changes in travel behaviour after closure. Read the October 2025 package announcement.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Rank #3
Polycade Traffic Barrier, 16-1/2inW
  • Price For: Each Item: Polycade Traffic Barrier Material: Plastic Height: 24-1/2" Color: Orange Storage Size Width: 16-1/2" Storage Size Length: 58-1/4" Weight: 35 lb. Width: 16-1/2" Length: 58-1/4" Country of Origin (subject to change): United States

A later government update said 15 intersections had been modified and 18 monitoring devices were planned. These figures describe implementation and plans reported by the government, rather than a measured congestion outcome. See the government’s traffic-bridge update.

Were the warnings of traffic chaos borne out?

The cited government and Main Roads material explains the expected pressure on surrounding roads and the response put in place. It does not provide independently measured post-closure congestion or travel-time results. So it is not possible on this evidence to say whether gridlock occurred, how much journey times changed, or which individual measure made the greatest difference.

Rank #4
Alpine Commercial Safety Barriers, 13 Foot Expandable Mobile Barricade System - Folding Portable Barrier, Traffic Barricade Fence, Plastic Barricade for Construction, Traffic Control, Driveway Gate
  • ANSI- and OSHA-Compliant: Our Bilingual, High visibility safety sign meets the rules ensuring safety and regulatory compliance for indoor and outdoor use.
  • Expandable & Retractable for Maximum Flexibility: Adjusts to fit different spaces, ideal for driveways, traffic zones, and event crowd control.
  • Heavy-Duty & Weather-Resistant: Built with durable materials, designed to withstand outdoor conditions in construction sites, warehouses, and parking lots.
  • Perfect for Home & Commercial Use: Use it as a driveway barrier to protect kids and pets or for professional safety control at work sites and venues.
  • Quick & Easy Setup: Expands and collapses effortlessly, making it a practical solution for instant safety wherever needed.

The proposals and package also addressed different parts of the problem: reducing peak-hour car demand, adding public-transport capacity, improving access around Fremantle, managing incidents and monitoring traffic. The sources establish what Pettitt proposed and what government announced or reported, but do not compare the measures’ effects.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

When is the replacement bridge due to open?

On 13 September 2026, the WA and Federal Governments said the replacement bridge was expected to open on 1 November 2026, ahead of the original schedule. As of 8 October 2026, that date was still in the future. The governments said temporary road-network changes would be removed after the new bridge opens. Read the opening-date announcement.

Special offer. See more information about Outbyte and uninstall instructions. Please review EULA and Privacy policy.
Best Value
RELIANCER Expandable 8.46ft Safety Barricade,Retractable Security Barrier Water Filled Weighted Base,Adjustable Traffic Barricades,Outdoor Crowd Control Barriers,Driveway Isolation Gate,Garden Fence
  • Robust But Lightweight HDPE Material:Our safety barricade is made of high-density polyethylene which is impact-resistant,corrosion resistant,weather resistant,it is built to withstand toughest weather and extreme temperature,adapt to all harsh environments conditions,such as extremely hot or severely cold,cloudy,rainy and snowy,and foggy days!Ideal for long-term outdoor use without fading or rusting.Super firm rivet joint makes the safety fence stronger and more stable,not falling apart easily
  • Retractable Safety Barrier:Our accordion-style fence gate is easy to expand from a compact size of 8.5" to an impressive length of 101.6",which can be used in narrow or wide areas,provides versatility in various settings,offers super flexibility in adjusting its length to meet your specific needs.Several barricades can be used together to achieve a larger area to meet your personalized requirements,also can be compatible with other security units for additional security
  • Space-saving Storage & Convenient Transport:This foldable barricade gate can retract to 8.5" compact size when not in use,which is easy to fit in your car trunk without taking up storage space.Weighs only 7.2lbs,ultra-light design and molded-in round handles on the top enable you to easily move the barricade system from one area to another.The rounded handles also allow you to hang warning tapes,warning flags or plastic barrier chains to link 2 or more barricade to create arbitrary lengths
  • High-visibility Reflective Strips & Vibrant Color:Highly visible yellow color make our traffic barricade more eye-catching that won’t go unnoticed even from a distance;Red and silver high-visibility reflective tapes on the security barrier enhance the visibility in the dark,make it highly noticeable even in low-light conditions or at night,which signals an effective visual warning to drivers and pedestrians,guiding them away from potential hazards or restricted areas,in order to ensure maximum safety
  • Weighted Base:Our crowd control barricade comes with large and hollow bases which can be be filled with sand or water to add extra weight,so as to increase stability and wind resistance,prevent falling over even in high-traffic areas or being blown over by the wind!Whether indoors or outdoors,any place that needs temporary isolation,crowd control or guidance,such as driveway,warehouse,garage,parking lots,construction site,factory,shopping mall,etc,our expandable security gate will fit your needs

How to check travel options while the bridge is closed

Main Roads lists Stirling Highway as the road route between Fremantle and North Fremantle during the closure. It also provides project detour information, including information relevant to bus routes and path users. For a particular trip, check current Main Roads, Transport WA and Transperth updates rather than relying on a general journey-time estimate. The government’s guidance encourages public transport, carpooling, and walking, wheeling or riding for some or all of a journey where practical. Check Main Roads’ current project information.

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

More from the Garage

  1. Entry001Date09 OCT 26Time3 minWhich Brake Pad Should You Buy From RockAuto or Elsewhere?Section: Blog
  2. Entry002Date09 OCT 26Time5 minThe Pros and Cons of Touchless Car Wash SystemsSection: Blog
  3. Entry003Date09 OCT 26Time3 minCan a Trickle Charger or Battery Tender Properly Charge a Car Battery?Section: Blog

Thanks for visiting Carcody

Carcody.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.co

Recommended PC Tool
Recommended PC Tool
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?Free scan - under a minute
Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?Free driver scan

Two free Windows tools

One Free Minute Could Fix That PC

Before you go - each of these free tools takes about a minute and tackles what quietly slows a Windows PC down.

Special offer. View Outbyte info, uninstall instructions, EULA, and Privacy Policy.