The Big Wadandi Bridge is Open!

From Wednesday 2 February 2022 the big Wadandi bridge will be open to cyclists and pedestrians. It is an iconic component of the Wadandi track, and renewal of the century old structure allows continual use of the popular trail between Margaret River and Cowaramup townsites.

The bridge has been carefully restored from the ground up, retaining as much of the original structure as possible whilst ensuring any new safety features fit with the older aesthetic. The steel balustrades will rust and soften with age, and the newer timber will soon settle into the landscape.

The resulting bespoke 52m structure is a fusion of modern engineering and historical authenticity. In addition, timbers that were no longer structurally sound enough to be retained for the bridge will be repurposed over the upcoming years within other local community projects.

The Shire’s Director Sustainable Development and Infrastructure Nick Logan noted that the refurbished bridge was a complex project finished to a high standard by specialist professionals.

“This has been a delicate and intensive project that has been delivered by a highly skilled team that has always had the preservation and cultural value of the bridge at its heart,” he said.

The project was jointly funded by the Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Grant Program with support from the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.

Federal Member for Forest, Nola Marino, said the funding has protected remarkable local heritage for future generations while boosting local tourism and recreation.

“The big Wadandi bridge is a jewel in the Wadandi track. I want to see people enjoying this for decades to come.The investment has made the bridge and the track safer and better for locals and visitors, and helped support local jobs,” Mrs Marino said.

Diversions north of Carters road are still in place for the three smaller bridges, with demolition and construction works currently underway. Track users can follow the detour signage along the track to avoid entering the construction areas - the detours add less than 100m to users’ journeys.

The Shire would like to thank the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions for the use of their land for the track diversions during the bridge refurbishment.

“We’d also like to thank everyone for respecting the diversions while the work was undertaken. We believe it was well worth the wait,” added Mr. Logan.

The team involved with the refurbishment included specialists: