- New Stephenson Avenue bridge opening to traffic from Saturday, 13 December
- New northbound and southbound off-ramps to connect Innaloo, Stirling and surrounding areas
- Stephenson Avenue Extension project unlocking development and housing opportunities in the Stirling city centre
- Community encouraged to stay up to date with traffic changes as major project moves towards completion
- Cook Government committed to delivering quality infrastructure and services across Western Australia
Road users are being urged to plan ahead with major traffic changes coming to Innaloo and Stirling later this week when the Stephenson Avenue bridge opens to traffic.
It marks a significant milestone for the Stephenson Avenue Extension project with traffic set to use the new bridge and east-west connection for the first time on Saturday, transforming the way people move between Innaloo, Stirling and Osborne Park.
Cedric Street southbound off-ramp permanently closed in November, to enable construction teams to safely progress critical tie-in works for the new Stephenson Avenue interchange and prepare the road network for the staged openings.
From Saturday, 13 December, the following changes will be in place:
- A new bridge extending Stephenson Avenue to Cedric Street over Mitchell Freeway and the Yanchep Line will open, providing a vital new east-west connection between Scarborough Beach Road and Cedric Street;
- New northbound and southbound off-ramps connecting to Stephenson Avenue will also open, coinciding with the permanent closure of the Cedric Street northbound off-ramp;
- Temporary closure of Cedric Street westbound between Stephenson Avenue and Ellen Stirling Boulevard; and
- Upgraded local road access to IKEA, Sarich Court and surrounding businesses.
Finishing works along Cedric Street will continue into the first half of 2026, and include:
- The continued temporary closure of Cedric Street westbound between Stephenson Avenue and Ellen Stirling Boulevard bus access will be maintained with general traffic detoured;
- A temporary closure of the Cedric Street northbound on-ramp planned from early 2026 with alternative access to freeway northbound in place until March; and
- New local road (Catspaw Road) connected to Cedric Street.
The project is also delivering major upgrades to active transport links, with new shared paths and local road connections opening in stages, and a new Principal Shared Path (PSP) between Civic Place and Telford Crescent to be completed in 2026.
Complementing this work is the upgrade of the Stirling Bus Interchange from an 18-stand to a 29-stand facility, supporting stronger public transport connections for the Stirling city centre.
To date, the project has engaged nearly 400 Western Australian businesses, including 19 Aboriginal businesses, with $53 million directed to Aboriginal business participation and procurement.
Traffic patterns will be changing, and road users are encouraged to allow for extra travel time during the adjustment period.
The major upgrades are part of the Cook Government's commitment to improving Western Australia's road network and delivering quality infrastructure across our State.
The project is jointly funded by the WA and Australian Governments. To find out more about the project, visit Main Roads website.
Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"As Perth's northern suburbs continue to grow, projects like the Stephenson Avenue Extension are helping to improve connectivity and further activate key hubs in the Stirling city centre.
"The road network upgrades will open up new areas for development in our northern suburbs and will free up road capacity to allow for the future construction of dedicated bus lanes to bolster our public transport system.
"Opening the new Stephenson Avenue northbound and southbound off-ramps to traffic will also improve traffic flows in the area by moving traffic off the busy Cedric Street interchange.
"I'd like to thank the community for their patience while this project has progressed and encourage road users to keep up to date as these new changes are rolled out."
Comments attributed to Balcatta MLA David Michael:
"The Stephenson Avenue Extension project is transforming the Stirling city centre and unlocking housing development opportunities in this growing part of Perth.
"The project is also supporting local jobs, with almost 400 Western Australian businesses engaged on the project to date.
"It will also plug critical gaps in our shared path network along Mitchell Freeway, enhancing the way visitors and locals commute through the area."
Comments attributed to Scarborough MLA Stuart Aubrey:
"These upgrades will provide a vital new connection from Cedric Street to Scarborough Beach Road, delivering smoother travel across the road network for our community.
"The new east-west link bridge will help to reduce pressure on Cedric Street, providing better access to Stirling Station and the Innaloo shopping centre, improving connections for the community and businesses in the northern suburbs.
"Our government is committed to improving our State's road network and ensuring our growing northern suburbs stay connected and activated."
