The final 10 beams for the southern bridge of the METRONET New Bayswater Station Project have been installed.

The precast concrete beams were lifted in by two 450-tonne cranes in a massive undertaking in late-July, with each beam measuring 35 metres long and weighing up to 160 tonnes – or about 100 times heavier than an average car.

At 4.8 metres from street level, the rail-over-road bridge will provide a metre more clearance than the infamous 1960s Baysie bridge, to be removed next year.

The new bridge standing south of the rail line, alongside Whatley Crescent, will be duplicated to the north along Railway Parade in stage two of the METRONET project, after the new station’s elevated southern platform is opened to passengers. 

Supporting all four bridge spans – comprised of 52 locally precast beams – are 35-tonne headstocks atop uniquely fluted, cream-coloured columns for a total of 26 bridge piers in the overall project.

The bespoke fluted pier and headstock design reflects the corrugated aluminium sides of Perth’s passenger trains, in keeping with public consultation.

At final completion, the new Bayswater Station will be the first outside Perth’s central business district to cater for three separate rail lines, following the opening of the new METRONET Airport Line in October and the Morley-Ellenbrook Line in 2024.