NEW WELLINGTON DAM BRIDGE

A scenic view of the construction site for the new Wellington Dam bridge, highlighting the user-friendly walkway curving through the river landscape on the right.

Wellington Dam Bridge Replacement: Great News for Forest Adventurers and our Nature-Based Walks and Drive Tours

Exciting developments have been underway at Wellington Dam that will transform how visitors experience the world's largest dam mural and nature experiences. The construction of a brand-new bridge represents a significant investment in making this spectacular attraction more accessible to all exploring the Collie River Valley and Ferguson Valley.

We remember the day they closed the road bridge at the base of the wall; you could feel the sadness across the valley tree tops a large net of community was broken and we would miss the explorers, workers and adventures who used the bridge daily and often.

This was three and a half years ago. Now, we are all very excited to see it nearly completed.

The 8,000 square metre 'Reflections' mega mural by award-winning artist Guido van Helten has become the centrepiece and she will be on show from all directions again.

Why the 1966 Bridge Needed Replacement

The original single-lane bridge built in 1966 wasn't designed for the tourism boom that followed the mural's completion in February 2021. This magnificent artwork took four months to complete and features local imagery including Collie Dam wall workers, families, Aboriginal children, and scenes celebrating the region's rich heritage, as shared in our last blog here on our Forest Explorers website. With regular structural assessments revealed that increased traffic volumes from tour buses, coaches, and visitors were causing concerns about the aging infrastructure's capacity.

Was it busy?, it sure was and a bit of a giggle seeing BIG new fancy 4wds and caravans parked on the old bridge taking in the stunning mural. One captured forever in a heritage mural story and the other one in all its modern glory.

The bridge closure was a precautionary safety measure. Engineers determined the structure could no longer safely handle the weight and volume of the fancy RV Vehicles and traffic visiting this now-iconic destination. This highlighted both the mural's incredible success in attracting visitors and the need for better infrastructure to support Collie Valley tourism. yippee

The new bridge features:

Dual-lane design for improved traffic flow and tour bus access

Dedicated accessibility walkway for safe viewing and photography

Enhanced capacity for larger coaches and group tours

Improved approach roads with better safety barriers

Unobstructed Mural views from the crossing

What This Means for Forest Explorers Tours and all small business in the Collie River Valley and the Ferguson Valley as we have missed our trail neighbours, and we can get back on the road to collaboration and sharing this beautiful landscape once again. Also, the show case for preservation and education of the Jarrah forest and all her surroundings within the waterways and valleys.

Here at Forest Explorers' guided tours, we offer customised journey which can include the spectacular mural viewing & commentary on a wonderful accessibility boardwalk with lunch at the Kiosk or pre-ordered delicious picnic experiences, wineries and Gnomesville, making it easy for visitors to fully immerse themselves in Wellington National Park's beauty.

While construction is fully underway and looks to be completed around mid-next year.

Forest Explorers continues offer full access to Wellington Dam experiences and stories of Collie and the vast Dam Mural on the Collie River Mural Trail with extensive knowledge of the area.

Photos by Alison and Seymour Wyhte and Water Authority

A sweeping view of a 1966 road bridge spanning across the base of the Wellington Dam Mural "Reflections" by Guido Van Helten