Toodyay’s Duke Street footbridge will be reopened later in 2019 after a $145,000 upgrade funded by the WA Government.
The bridge, which spans the freight railway line near Toodyay Station, was closed in May 2018 due to safety concerns.
While the footbridge was not the only way to cross the tracks, the Shire of Toodyay expressed concerns to the Public Transport Authority (PTA) about the bridge closure limiting access for local pedestrians.
The Public Transport Authority has been working closely with the Shire to form an agreement – the PTA will repair the bridge to a sufficient standard, and then hand control of it to local government.
This Memorandum of Understanding has now been signed and works can now go ahead.
Depending on the weather and subject to required rail safety approvals by freight rail operator Arc Infrastructure, work should begin in September 2019.
The works will repair critical parts of the bridge, including replacing parts of the pier columns, repairing mesh inserts on the handrails and broken railings and replacing degraded parts of the bridge decking.
The PTA has also made repairs to the existing at-grade crossing at the station and plan to install a new crossing further to the west, which will be compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act and have improved sightlines.
Source: WA Government