West Australian Premier Mark McGowan admits the Swan River footbridge may not be ready for the opening of Perth Stadium in March and the start of the AFL season.
The already delayed $70 million bridge is important to the stadium's transport plan because it will allow thousands of people to make their way to and from the venue.
The arch component, which is being fabricated in Malaysia under a contract issued by the previous government, has taken much longer than expected but Mr McGowan is still hopeful of getting it and the steel deck built in WA.
"The contract was issued to a head contractor here who subcontracted it up there," Mr McGowan told 6PR radio on Tuesday.
"There's a dispute between the subcontractor and other parties in this workshop.
"Getting it back here is very difficult but we want to get the bridge finished and we're working through options that would allow for construction to take place here and employ West Australians and get it done properly."
Mr McGowan conceded the bridge might not be ready until well into next year after the start of the football season in March.
The cost blowout for breaking the overseas contract has not been revealed.
The premier also admitted he was wrong on Monday when he claimed the contract for seating plans at AFL games was signed off by the previous government in January.
Only 7000 general admission seats will be available under a current plan, which is yet to be signed and is 3000 fewer than the former government promised.
But Mr McGowan said it was too late to get more seats following long negotiations.
"For us to try and start renegotiating that arrangement at this late stage, I think, would be very difficult and so, whilst I might not be happy with some aspects of it, I think the situation is now pretty well fixed," he told reporters.
"By disturbing those arrangements, I might further delay the occupation of the stadium."
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