The King Street extension will open to pedestrians on Monday, December 11 creating a new connection between the Perth central business district and Northbridge.
The new CBD-Northbridge pedestrian connection will be followed by the opening of a new public space called Manatj Park before the end of the year.
Manatj Park, meaning black cockatoo in Whadjuk language, is located between the Perth Busport and Kings Square and includes a new road linking King Street in the city with Lake Street in Northbridge, which will open to road traffic in early 2018.
The public space was designed to reflect the first engagement between the Whadjuk people and the European settlers with paving designed to represent the ancient lake system.
Two artfully designed suspended steel ‘ribbons’ signify the movement and meeting of the two cultural groups.
Extending over 250 metres, the ribbons were manufactured in Perth, standing up to 5.5 metres tall and will be fitted with feature lighting, set to be completed before Christmas.
The vertical supports for the ribbons are designed to weather and rust and specially chosen trees will be planted over the coming weeks to add to the ambience of the new place.
The new park and road extension are part of the Perth City Link project to enhance the CBD as an entertainment and tourism precinct close to public transport connections.
The total cost of Manatj Park – including servicing, landscaping, the ribbons and the road extension – was $5.4 million.