Construction to replace the aged Nangetty-Walkaway Road Bridge is now underway in the City of Greater Geraldton.
Following regular infrastructure audits undertaken in early 2021, concerns were raised about the aged Bridge’s capacity to carry heavy haulage vehicles up to RAV7.
To ensure this critical freight route could remain open to the transport industry the speed limit on the Bridge was reduced to 60km/h in July 2021 before replacement works commenced in January 2025.
City of Greater Geraldton Mayor Jerry Clune said the 60-year-old Bridge must be replaced to meet the current needs of the transport industry.
“Since the Bridge was constructed in 1964 the transport industry has changed with 36.5meters long RAV7 (Restricted Access Vehicles) road trains now commonplace on regional roads,” he said.
“Although the old Bridge wasn’t engineered for the loads these vehicles carry, the new bridge will ensure this important link in our transport network is available for many years to come.
“Many freight operations including the grain-harvest, lime-sand and sand mining industries use the Nangetty-Walkaway Road to access the commercial and industrial areas of the City and Port via the Geraldton-Mount Magnet Road.”
The almost $9 million project is joint funded by the Australian Government committing more than $4.5 million under the new Safer Local Roads and Infrastructure Program (formerly the Bridges Renewal Program), the State Government for providing $1 million with the City contributing the remaining funds.
The estimated date of project completion is August 2025.
