The new Phillips River Bridge connecting Albany with Esperance is now open to traffic after widespread floods in February 2017 destroyed the old structure.
The widespread flood event was declared a natural disaster having caused $94 million damage to the State’s road network, including more than $26 million in the Great Southern region.
Within five weeks of the flood event, Main Roads Western Australia completed emergency works to construct a side track and installed a 14-barrel piped culvert to restore connectivity between Esperance and Albany.
Since March last year, motorists have been using the temporary sealed side track with speed restrictions in place to safely cross the Phillips River on South Coast Highway.
Construction of the new bridge began in August 2017 with a number of local suppliers, contractors and subcontractors engaged in the works.
The bridge construction was fast-tracked, with the new concrete structure being built within 12 months of the flood event at a cost of $6.8 million.
Image: Main Roads