New Fitzroy River Bridge will be open by the end of the year, meaning East Kimberley prepared for wet season

The new Fitzroy River Bridge will be open by the end of the year six months ahead of schedule, Main Roads announced on Wednesday. The announcement means the East Kimberley will not have to face another wet season when they could be cut-off by sealed road from the rest of the state. Rumours that the bridge would open early were rife in the community as construction workers launched the bridge deck last month at an astonishingly rapid rate. In a statement Main Roads wrote the early opening would, “provide assurance to the local community and freight industry ahead of the next wet season.” “Construction of the New Fitzroy River Bridge project is progressing at a rapid rate with the entire bridge deck now substantively complete. “Works are now underway on the deck surfacing and safety barriers, as well as road construction works on both bridge approaches. “Main Roads will continue to keep the local community and freight industry updated on the progress of the works and a further announcement on the details of opening to traffic and timing, will be made in the coming weeks. “The temporary low-level crossing, four kilometres upstream from the new Fitzroy River Bridge remains open to all traffic.” Member for the Mining and Pastoral Region Neil Thomson said it would be a relief to the business community in the East Kimberley that a deadline has now been set on the opening of the new bridge. “It had come after a frustrating and challenging year when the community has been sorely tested. I am pleased the Minister has relented after pressure from the Opposition to set a date to provide certainty for business. We are all hoping an earlier opening date can occur and wet season rains do not arrive early. Western Roads Federation CEO Cam Dumesny said they were excited by the announcement. “Credit to Main Roads for their work. Early notification is what we needed because the trucking industry can now start to plan how we are going to support the communities and businesses of the East Kimberley and Darwin during the wet season.” East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Clare Smith said the early open date was also good news for the tourism industry. “This year I think tourism was a bit down because there was not a lot of certainty if the Fitzroy River crossing would be open for traffic so there wasn’t as many caravans. “So for there to be certainty for people planning their caravan trip for next year that will also be good for tourism and all businesses.”