Born on Fremantle’s old bridge, 89-year-old Maureen Smith takes first ‘surreal’ steps on new Walyalup Bridge

More than 15,000 people descended on Fremantle’s new Walyalup Bridge on Sunday to be among the first to walk across the highly-anticipated river crossing — but for one local, the occasion was particularly meaningful.

Maureen Smith was born on the old Fremantle Traffic Bridge on July 31, 1937, almost nine decades ago, after her father was forced to deliver her himself in the family car, a T-model Ford, as her parents attempted to make their way to Hillcrest Maternity Hospital.

The 89-year-old described the opening of the “modern” bridge as “surreal”.

“It’ll put Fremantle on the map and it’s just an amazing looking bridge,” she said.

“I felt a bit sad when the old bridge came down because I used to go to work across the bridge every day.”

After an entire lifetime of watching her port city transform, Ms Smith has now lived to see the new bridge open at the exact place where her life began.

She was among the thousands locals, families, visitors and cyclists who took advantage of the spring weather and the opportunity to walk across the new bridge before it opened on Sunday evening.

Ms Smith said she believed the new structure would become a defining feature of the city.

“You often see beautiful bridges that designate the city that they’re in, and this will be the focal,” she said.

Ms Smith was excited about the bridge’s new lighting features, which she said would make it even more spectacular at night.

“When it’s lit at night, it’ll look magic,” she said.

“It’s really modern. You’ve got to move with the times, right?”

The officially opening, which was originally scheduled for February, will restore the connection to the port city before the busy summer and school holiday period begins.

The $596 million project, which was originally given a price tag of $230 million, replaced the old timber Fremantle Traffic Bridge that had been in place for the last 86 years before it closure of February 1.

The new bridge as two traffic lanes in each direction and shared paths up to 4m on each side, with the design aiming to make it safer for motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to get around Fremantle.

Acting Premier and Transport Minister Rita Saffioti described the project as a “once-in-a-generation piece of infrastructure” with the early completion being an “incredible achievement” for everyone involved.

“From motorists, pedestrians and cyclists to the ferries and boats below, this new bridge will make the journey safer and smoother for everyone,” she said.

The bridge is named after the traditional Whadjuk Noongar name for Fremantle, Walyalup Bridge is Australia’s first and only extradosed bridge, combining cantilever and cable-stay engineering.

Its design also includes features parts from the 1939 bridge, which was given a 40-year design life, including the brass lantern orbs and wooden piles, alongside public art, landscaping and interpretive signage.

The bridge will also have a new lighting program.

“We’re finalising the dynamic lighting over the next few weeks, so we’ll continue to see some minor works,” Ms Saffioti said.

“But as we said, the majority of the works are done.”

Federal Member for Fremantle Josh Wilson said the bridge was the most significant investment in new infrastructure in Fremantle in his lifetime.

“Walyalup Bridge is a brilliant addition to our working port, with a name and design that shape Fremantle’s future by respecting its deep cultural and industrial heritage,” he said.

The project created about 1400 jobs and invested more than $13million in 34 Aboriginal-owned businesses.

Finishing works and lighting tests will continue in the coming weeks.

Transperth has also introduced four new bus routes, including route 996, which will travel across the bridge, which aims to improve the connection between Fremantle, Claremont and Stirling.