The Lloyd Street Bridge is a step closer to construction following agreement on design principles with local Traditional Owners.

The agreement follows four years of consultation, collaboration and design investigation to ensure the crossing avoids impact to cultural significant sites, including the Helena River and a seasonal pool located on the bridge’s alignment.

The new design features a 180m long bridge, spanning most of the Helena River floodplain. Two sets of supporting piers will be positioned away from culturally sensitive areas. The new design also significantly reduces the project’s footprint, reducing the vegetation clearing requirement by around 20 per cent. The bridge will have two lanes in each direction, as well as shared paths for pedestrians and cyclists.

With key design principles agreed, the project will proceed to the detailed design stage. This will be accompanied by site investigations and broader communication and stakeholder engagement.

For the past two decades, there has been significant growth and regeneration to the south of the freight rail line in Midland. This includes construction of St John of God Public and Private Hospitals, the Police Operations Centre and various “big box” retail units. To support the traffic growth associated with these developments, the City of Swan identified the extension of Lloyd Street between Great Eastern Highway and the Great Eastern Highway Bypass as a high priority project, which would provide direct access into the heart of Midland from the south, and relieve congestion and rat running on existing routes such as Military Road and Clayton Street.

The first stage of the Lloyd Street Extension between Great Eastern Highway to just south of Clayton Street, including the sinking of Lloyd Street beneath the freight rail line, was completed by Main Roads in 2016. Construction of sections of Lloyd Street on the southern side of the Helena River has also been undertaken by the City of Swan.

In 2019, the State and Federal Governments agreed to deliver the final stage of the Lloyd Street Extension, including the new bridge over Helena River, as part of an envisaged broader scope of work, known as the Great Eastern Highway Bypass Interchanges (GEHBI) project.

The Lloyd Street Bridge was placed on hold in 2022 following concerns raised by Traditional Owners (TOs) and local conservation groups about the potential impact of the project’s footprint on heritage sites and the environment.

For the past four years, Main Roads has worked closely with the TOs and their advisors to examine alternative design options to lessen the impact of the project. In early 2026, consensus was reached on design changes that were more acceptable to the TOs, which would in-turn allow the project to move forward.

Lloyd Street Bridge design & alignment

• What is the final alignment of the Lloyd Street Bridge?

The Lloyd Street Bridge will follow its originally planned alignment, between the existing roundabouts on each side of Helena River. Alternative alignments were examined however, they encountered significant constraints which would make the project unviable.

• How has the design changed from the 2021/22 version of the project?

The 2021/22 design featured a 50m single span bridge over the Helena River channel, supported by revegetated embankments on the northern and southern sides. Following concerns from Traditional Owners regarding the impact of that design on the flood plain and a seasonal pool located at the southern end of the alignment, the design has been modified. The new design is a 180m, multi-span bridge, with two supporting piers located away from the river channel and seasonal pool.

As per the previous design, the bridge will include two traffic lanes in each direction and a path for pedestrians and cyclists.

• How has Main Roads addressed concerns previously raised by the Traditional Owners?

Concerns regarding impacts to the seasonal pool have been addressed by incorporating extra spans, so the pool is now bridged. The longer bridge also means the project has negligible impact on the broader Helena River flood plain.

Due to the removal of embankments from the design, the project footprint is also reduced, reducing the vegetation clearing requirement by around 20 per cent.

Scope

• Why is the Lloyd Street Extension and bridge no longer being delivered as part of the Great Eastern Highway Bypass Interchanges (GEHBI) Project?

The upgrades which made up the broader GEHBI initiative need to be constructed sequentially to maintain access between the GEH Bypass, Hazelmere and the Perth Airport precinct. The extension of Lloyd Street and connection to the GEH Bypass and Abernethy Road is the critical first stage.

The grade separated interchange proposed at Roe Highway and the GEH Bypass can only be constructed once the Lloyd Street Extension is operational and Stirling Crescent is disconnected from the GEH Bypass.

• When will the upgrade to Roe Highway and the new interchange at GEH Bypass be built?

Subject to additional State and Commonwealth funding, the Roe Highway and GEH Bypass Interchange, and associated upgrades to Roe Highway, will be constructed following completion of the Lloyd Street Extension. The connection of Lloyd Street, GEH Bypass and Abernethy Road must be operational before substantive works on the Roe Highway interchange can begin.

• Why is Lloyd Street being prioritised over the Roe Highway interchange and upgrades?

The access ramps required for the proposed Roe Highway / GEH Bypass interchange will directly impact the current access between Stirling Crescent and the GEH Bypass, requiring this connection to be permanently closed. The Lloyd Street Extension will deliver an alternative, upgraded connection to GEH Bypass for vehicles currently using Stirling Crescent. This must be operational before substantive works on the Roe Highway interchange can begin.

• Why is a signalised intersection proposed for the GEH Bypass, Lloyd and Abernethy intersection?

A grade separated interchange was proposed in this location as part of the 2020/21 designs and some pre-construction works have occurred in this location to support this interchange in the future. However, due to the size and complexity of this interchange, it cannot be delivered within the current project budget.

The four-way signalised intersection in this location will deliver a better level of service that the current Stirling Crescent access to the GEH Bypass, without compromising delivery of an interchange in this location in the future.

Local connectivity / access

• When will the Stirling Crescent connection to the GEH Bypass close?

The timing of the Stirling Crescent disconnection to the GEH Bypass will be determined following completion of the new GEH Bypass, Lloyd Street and Abernethy Road intersection and when the timing of the Roe Highway interchange construction (and associated funding) is confirmed.

• What is proposed at the intersection of Lloyd Street and Lakes Road?

The intersection of Lloyd Street and Lakes Road will become Left In Left Out to prevent potential conflict between through traffic on Lloyd Street and turning heavy vehicles.