Main Roads Western Australia will build a new bridge connecting Perth Children’s Hospital to Kings Park and Botanic Garden, after a $6.3 million funding commitment.
The project will see the construction of a pedestrian bridge over Winthrop Avenue to connect the outdoor area between PCH and the multi-story carpark on the Queen Elizabeth II (QEII) Medical Centre campus to Kings Park bushland.
The new bridge will allow sick children, their families and hospital staff to cross busy Winthrop Avenue with ease, connecting kids with the beauty and nature on offer at Kings Park.
Main Roads will manage the design, construction and maintenance of the bridge, working collaboratively with Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation, Child and Adolescent Health Service, Botanic Gardens and Parks Authority, QEII Medical Centre Trust and the City of Perth.
WA Health Minister, Roger Cook, said, “We know there is strong evidence in the power of nature in healing and this bridge will allow this to be harnessed. The opportunity for some of our sick children and their families to access this urban sanctuary during a challenging time is a wonderful bonus.”
The bridge project has been made possible by a $6.3 million funding commitment from the Perth Children’s Hospital Foundation and will be built and maintained by Main Roads Western Australia.
The bridge will provide opportunities for both inpatients and outpatients and their families to access Kings Park while they are at PCH receiving treatment. It will also provide a huge opportunity for a range of therapies, including allied health, to be delivered in an environment which harnesses the health and wellbeing benefits of nature.
The potential benefits of the bridge will also extend to staff across the QEII campus who can easily access the park for fitness, lifestyle and wellbeing activities as well as for access to existing cycle and pedestrian paths for commuting.
Construction tenders are expected to be advertised in the second half of this year with construction completed by the end of 2021.
