Day 1 of Fremantle bridge closure goes smoothly

ROAD users and industry groups are breathing a tentative sigh of relief after the closure of the Fremantle Traffic Bridge.

Head of business operations at the Freight & Trade Alliance, John Park, said disruptions were less severe than expected on the first working day after the Fremantle Traffic Bridge closed.

“Early assessments indicate that flows through the surrounding road network were smoother than anticipated,” Mr Park said on the FTA website.

“Industry groups attribute this in part to the collaborative efforts of the container freight sector, which worked quickly to help manage traffic and keep essential goods moving.

“Softer container volumes and adjusted vessel schedules also played a role in reducing congestion."

Mr Park, who also chairs the industry group established to tackle issues around the bridge closure, said industry collaboration had been valuable.

"Softer volumes and adjusted vessel schedules have certainly helped, but this demonstrates the value of proactive industry collaboration," he said.

"While traffic today was manageable, the group cautioned that there will be good and bad days ahead, particularly in March, when container transport volumes historically rise by around 25%.

"Managing congestion is about more than just today," Mr Park said. "It's about creating a freight system that works for industry, the community, and the economy - now and into the future."

The website post said FTA, CTAA and WRF will continue coordinated engagement with government agencies, other industry groups and the media to highlight operational and cost impacts and to advocate for practical, non-divisive policy settings.