Harbour Bridge
Harbour Bridge is Sydney’s largest bridge, one of the largest steel arch bridges in the world. It is one of Sydney’s major landmarks. Australians jokingly refer to the bridge as the “hanger” because of its unusual shape.
Video: Harbor Bridge
General Information
The Harbor Bridge arch span is 503 meters long. This is slightly shorter than the 518-meter span of the longest steel arch bridge, the Fayetteville Bridge, over the gorge through which the New River River flows in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As suspension or cable-stayed bridge schemes are nowadays chosen when a long-span bridge is needed, as they are much lighter and cheaper than a rigid arch bridge, the Harbor Bridge will lead the list of the world’s largest arch bridges for a long time to come.
.The steel arch of the Harbor Bridge weighs 39,000 tons. It rises 139 meters above sea level and yet has a clearance of 49 meters above the water surface of the bay, which allows the passage of any marine vessels under the bridge. Interestingly, the height of the arch can increase by about 18 centimeters on hot days due to the fact that the metal expands when heated.
.The total length of the entire bridge is 1,149 meters. Its width is 49 meters and the total weight of the bridge is 52,800 tons! The steel elements of the bridge are connected by six million rivets.
Tourists.Since October 1, 1998, the bridge has been offering tours for people over the age of 10 – a climb up the side arch of the bridge to its top, from where a breathtaking panorama of the city opens up. For climbing tourists will need rubber-soled shoes and a special suit with insurance, which is issued on the spot. With all the difficulties will help to cope with the accompanying instructor.
.Those who are going to visit Sydney in late December should remember that the Harbour Bridge is an important part of New Year’s celebrations and is used for spectacular pyrotechnic shows. The first, the so-called “family” fireworks show, held at 9pm, attracts a large number of families with young children. The second, the main fireworks show, starts at midnight. The idea for the fireworks display came from the Brooklyn Bridge Centennial celebrations in 1983. In 1986, pyrotechnician Sid Howard first realized the idea during the 75th anniversary of the Navy .History of construction
Prior to the construction of the Harbour Bridge in Sydney, the northern area of the city on the left bank of the Paramata River at its mouth was virtually isolated from the urban center. Communication was via a long railroad track, or a highway with five bridges.
.
The plan for a bridge between the Davis Point and Wilson Point neighborhoods originated as early as the mid-nineteenth century. Over the next 50 years, 24 bridge projects and one tunnel project were proposed, but upon careful consideration in 1904, they were all rejected.
The design was then taken up by an Australian, John Job Crewe Bradfield, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Authority. He was the author of the preliminary recommendations, on the basis of which specifications were prepared for the 1922 International Competition for arch bridges with granite bank piers. The winning design was that of London engineer Sir Ralph Freeman of the Dorman Long Company. Construction, supervised by Bradfield, began in 1926 and was completed six years later.
.
The construction of the bridge proved to be technically and organizationally challenging. In order not to disrupt the port, it was decided to use the cantilever method, moving from the piers towards the center section. The strength test of the bridge was carried out in February 1932 with the help of 96 steam locomotives.
.
So, in 1932, the Harbor Bridge was opened, and by the time it was completed, it had cost $20 million dollars.
.Today, motorists traveling to the South Side of Sydney pay a $2 toll to cover the cost of maintaining the bridge. The bridge pylon closest to the Sydney Opera House is open to the public. The observation deck offers a circular panorama of Sydney and is an ideal place for photography and videography.
.
Since October 1, 1998, the bridge has been offering tours for people over the age of 10 – a climb up the side arch of the bridge to its top, from where a breathtaking panorama of the city opens up. For climbing tourists will need rubber-soled shoes and a special suit with insurance, which is issued on the spot. With all the difficulties will help to cope with the accompanying instructor.
.Those who are going to visit Sydney in late December should remember that the Harbour Bridge is an important part of New Year’s celebrations and is used for spectacular pyrotechnic shows. The first, the so-called “family” fireworks show, held at 9pm, attracts a large number of families with young children. The second, the main fireworks show, starts at midnight. The idea for the fireworks display came from the Brooklyn Bridge Centennial celebrations in 1983. In 1986, pyrotechnician Sid Howard first realized the idea during the 75th anniversary of the Navy . Prior to the construction of the Harbour Bridge in Sydney, the northern area of the city on the left bank of the Paramata River at its mouth was virtually isolated from the urban center. Communication was via a long railroad track, or a highway with five bridges. . The plan for a bridge between the Davis Point and Wilson Point neighborhoods originated as early as the mid-nineteenth century. Over the next 50 years, 24 bridge projects and one tunnel project were proposed, but upon careful consideration in 1904, they were all rejected.History of construction
The design was then taken up by an Australian, John Job Crewe Bradfield, Chief Engineer of the Public Works Authority. He was the author of the preliminary recommendations, on the basis of which specifications were prepared for the 1922 International Competition for arch bridges with granite bank piers. The winning design was that of London engineer Sir Ralph Freeman of the Dorman Long Company. Construction, supervised by Bradfield, began in 1926 and was completed six years later.
.
The construction of the bridge proved to be technically and organizationally challenging. In order not to disrupt the port, it was decided to use the cantilever method, moving from the piers towards the center section. The strength test of the bridge was carried out in February 1932 with the help of 96 steam locomotives.
.
So, in 1932, the Harbor Bridge was opened, and by the time it was completed, it had cost $20 million dollars.
.Today, motorists traveling to the South Side of Sydney pay a $2 toll to cover the cost of maintaining the bridge. The bridge pylon closest to the Sydney Opera House is open to the public. The observation deck offers a circular panorama of Sydney and is an ideal place for photography and videography.
.
