Mooro-Beeloo Bridge

31°55′47″S 115°56′12″E / 31.929734°S 115.936637°E / -31.929734; 115.936637 (Redcliffe Bridge)

Mooro-Beeloo Bridge, viewed from the southern end

Mooro-Beeloo Bridge,[1] formerly Redcliffe Bridge, is a traffic bridge which carries Tonkin Highway across the Swan River between the Perth suburbs of Ascot and Bayswater. It was originally named after the nearby suburb of Redcliffe; it was renamed in December 2023 following the completion of upgrades to the bridge and Tonkin Highway.[1][2] "Mooro" and "Beeloo" are the names for the Whadjuk clans that lived in territory north and south of the Swan River respectively.[1]

The bridge was designed by Maunsell & Partners and built by Thiess Contractors;[3] construction started in 1986. The bridge was constructed using an incremental launch technique, and cost A$15 million to complete.[4] It was officially opened on 16 April 1988.[5] The bridge is 271 metres (889 ft) long, with five spans and a pre-stressed concrete deck 34 metres (112 ft) wide, supporting six lanes of traffic.[3] The structure of the bridge is that of a hollow box girder,[3] with the outer sides of the deck supported by special Y-beams.[6] A shared-use path was opened underneath the bridge in March 2023.[7] A small BMX and mountain bike park was opened underneath the bridge on the Bayswater side of the river in March 2024.[8]

  1. ^ a b c "Tonkin Gap bridging the Gap". Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Joint media statement - Three lanes open in each direction on Tonkin Highway Gap". Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "Structurae: Redcliffe Bridge (1988)". Retrieved 6 November 2007.
  4. ^ "Redcliffe Bridge" [video recording] (1988). West Perth, Western Australia: Department of Main Roads.
  5. ^ "Appendix A – Dates of major changes to the road network". Main Roads Western Australia. Archived from the original on 1 July 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2007. Redcliffe Bridge opened 16 April 1988.
  6. ^ "Delta Corp – Civil: Bridge Construction". Delta Corporation. Retrieved 6 November 2007. Specially designed Y beams incorporated into the Redcliffe bridge project – Tonkin Highway. (image caption)
  7. ^ "Tonkin Gap Project and Associated Works Construction Update" (PDF). Retrieved 26 December 2023.
  8. ^ "New BMX track and bike skills area opens under Tonkin Highway". Retrieved 4 March 2024.