New Fremantle Traffic Bridge Opens Sunday 1 November 2026: Festival, Free Shuttle and Bus and Train Changes (Fremantle, WA)

The new Fremantle Traffic Bridge opens on Sunday 1 November 2026, and the community can walk across it from 9am to 1pm at a free festival before it opens to traffic later that evening. There is no event parking, so Main Roads WA suggests walking, wheeling or riding, or taking the train to Fremantle or North Fremantle station, where travel is free on Sunday for SmartRider and contactless users, and using the free shuttle bus from Fremantle Station.

The old bridge closed on 1 February 2026, and the joint statement from the Albanese and Cook Governments says the closure was originally expected to continue for up to 12 months, with the new bridge earmarked to open in the first half of 2027. This guide covers the festival, how to get there, and the bus, train and road changes that start the same day, using Main Roads WA, the WA Government and Transperth, as checked on Tuesday 20 October 2026.

What is happening on Sunday 1 November?

The Main Roads WA project page invites the community to walk across the new bridge before it officially opens to traffic, and to enjoy a free family-friendly festival with a sausage sizzle, activities and entertainment. It lists two parts to the morning:

• Walk the bridge: walk across the new bridge throughout the morning, with access from the north or south.
• Enjoy the festival: head to the Festival Hub under the bridge on Beach Street for free entertainment.

The event runs from 9am to 1pm. Main Roads asks people to register their attendance to help plan catering, transport and festival activities, and the registration link is on its project page. The WA Government’s joint media statement of 13 September 2026 says the bridge officially opens to traffic later that evening. It does not give a time.

Can I park near the bridge?

No. Main Roads says there is no event parking and encourages people to walk, wheel or ride to the event, with bike racks available to store bikes. Transperth adds that if you drive to one of its stations, parking is free on weekends and public holidays.

How do I get there by train and shuttle bus?

Main Roads says to catch the train to North Fremantle or Fremantle station and walk about 15 minutes to the new bridge. A free shuttle bus will also run from Fremantle Station. Transperth’s page for the festival gives the shuttle times:

Direction	Where from	Times
To the bridge	Stand 2 at Fremantle Station	Every 5 minutes, 8.30am to 12.30pm
From the bridge	The new Fremantle Traffic Bridge	Every 5 minutes, 8.35am to 2.00pm

Transperth also says timetabled bus and train services will operate before and after the event, and that every Sunday, travel is free for all SmartRider and contactless payment travellers, who tag on and off as normal. Transperth’s fares page says free Sunday travel covers all bus, train and ferry trips from first service until last service, and that a SmartRider must not be in a negative balance. Without a SmartRider or contactless payment you need a cash ticket.

What changes on the roads when the bridge opens?

The WA Government says the temporary road network changes made before the bridge closed will be removed after the opening, including access to and from Fremantle via Canning Highway and other measures that helped keep traffic flowing during the closure. Main Roads says the same on its project page.

Finishing works will continue on the bridge and surrounding area after the opening. The feature lighting program, which Main Roads says has been in testing since mid-September, will be finalised during that time. Main Roads describes the program as celebrating stories of the river crossing under four heritage themes:

• The cultural and spiritual significance of the river landscape.
• The history of engineering innovation and river crossings.
• The river crossing as a gateway between north and south of the river.
• The signals and markers that have guided movement along the river for generations.

What changes on trains and buses from 1 November?

Transperth’s Fremantle Traffic Bridge Opening page and its November service changes list the following from Sunday 1 November.

Trains

• The two additional weekday Fremantle Line services running between Fremantle and Perth in the morning and afternoon peaks are withdrawn.
• Weekdays to Perth: the trains departing Fremantle at 7:38am and 8:02am revert to starting from Claremont instead, departing at 7:53am and 8:17am.
• Weekdays from Perth: the trains departing Perth at 4:51pm and 5:15pm revert to terminating at Claremont.
• Transperth’s page says regular bike usage rules apply from Sunday 1 November for the section between Fremantle and North Fremantle stations. Its Taking items on board page has the rules.

Free Transit Zone

The free transit zone along South Terrace between Douro Road and Fremantle Station, in place during the closure, is withdrawn on Sunday 1 November.

Buses

Route	Change from 1 November
107	Route and time changes; now departs from Fremantle Station Stand 10; operates on Queen Victoria Street and along the new bridge in both directions; some additional weekday trips withdrawn; Stirling Highway stop 29647 near Harvest Road no longer served
160	Returns to its previous route via High Street in Fremantle; no longer serves stops on Ord Street or Queen Victoria Street, so use stops on High Street
998 and 999 (CircleRoute)	Withdrawn and replaced by four routes, 996, 997, 998 and 999
996	Fremantle Station to Stirling Station via Claremont Station, University of WA, QEII Medical Centre and Shenton Park Station; runs along the new bridge
999	Fremantle to Curtin University Bus Station via Murdoch University, Murdoch Station and Southlands Boulevard Shopping Centre

Transperth also lists time changes for many other routes, including 101, 103, 111, 148, 158, 500, 502, 503, 504, 505, 510, 514, 910, 915, 920, 975 and 980, and stand changes at Curtin University Bus Station. It lists changes to school services in Fremantle on a separate page. With CircleRoute split into four routes, Transperth says passengers travelling through Stirling Station or Curtin University Bus Station will need to change buses to continue their journey.

How do I plan the day?

1. Register your attendance on the Main Roads WA project page if you plan to go.
2. Take the train to Fremantle or North Fremantle station, or use the shuttle from Stand 2 at Fremantle Station.
3. Walk the bridge between 9am and 1pm, and visit the Festival Hub under the bridge on Beach Street.
4. Use the JourneyPlanner for any bus trip, since many routes change time or stop on the same Sunday.
5. For help, call the Transperth InfoLine on 13 62 13.

Sources

• Main Roads WA — Swan River Crossings Fremantle (checked 20 October 2026)
• WA Government — Joint media statement, New Fremantle Traffic Bridge to open on 1 November (13 September 2026)
• Transperth — New Fremantle Traffic Bridge Opening Festival
• Transperth — Fremantle Traffic Bridge Opening
• Transperth — November service changes
• Transperth — Free travel

Featured image: The new Fremantle Traffic Bridge under construction, July 2026 (photo: Calistemon / CC BY-SA 4.0) (text added)

OZ Local Updates is an independent local guide and is not affiliated with Main Roads WA, the WA Government, Transperth or the Public Transport Authority. Times and conditions can change; check the official pages above before you travel.