The Sydney Harbour Bridge

Joining the Milsons and Dawes Points, the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been completed in 1932 and has been famed as the icon for contemporary bridge design. Popularly called "The Coat Hanger", the Bridge boasts of a riveted, double-hinged steel arch with concrete pylons and decks as reinforcements. The Bridge also accommodates eight lanes of traffic, a footpath on its eastern side, a bicycle path on its western side, and two railroad tracks.

Weighing over 52,800 tonnes, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is recognized as the Guinness World Records' highest steel arch bridge and the world's widest bridge. Together with the Sydney Opera House, it also completes Australia and Sydney's famous water vista. Back in 1998, the Sydney Harbour Bridge became a venue for the "Bridge Effect", where fireworks were set off in celebration of New Years Eve. In 2006 to 2007, the Bridge Effect was made in celebration of the 75th Anniversary of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The Makings of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

The "Father of the Bridge", Dr. John Job Crew Bradfield, came up with the idea of building the bridge. His brilliant concept was inspired by New York's Hell Gate Bridge. By 1916, he finished a draft for its design and the NSW parliament gave the Dorman Long and Co. a construction permit for 4,217,721, 11 shillings and 10 pence. Constructing Engineer Sir Ralph Freeman added the details to the plan and later, got into a misunderstanding with Bradfield about who made the bridge's design. But then, Bradfield had been given the credit and his name was included in Australia's historical developments.

The construction of an underground railway system was considered when the Sydney Harbour Bridge was being made. Now called the City Circle, the city's CBD has railway tracks connected to the Bridge through its Wynyard railway station. The railway tracks on the eastern side were made to allow trams to cross from the Wynyard station to the North Shore. The Bridge's construction involved three important people: Edward Judge, who was Dorman Long and Co.'s chief technical engineer; Sir Ralph Freeman, who added details to the approved model's design; and Laurence Ennis, Dorman and Long Co.'s engineer-in-charge.

The work began after the World War I and it involved 1,500 workers, two work sites at North Shore and at Milsons Point and eight years of construction. Over 800 houses were demolished to provide enough space for the infrastructure. It was on July 28, 1923 when the initial sod was turned and was later followed by the building of two work sites. Excavations for approach spans and abutments were made in January of 1925. By September 1928, these were completed and the Bridge's construction officially began by December.

The two groups from both work sites began making their own arches in 1929. By March, the big arch was erected and steel girders were put in place. It was on August 19, 1930 when the huge half-arches were joined together. The steel deck was finally attached below the arch after nine months and was built slowly from its center to save cost and time out of using cranes. Roads and railway tracks were finished in 1931, followed by the installation of power and telephone lines, gas, drainage, and water pipes.

After the construction, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was tested by loading 96 steam locomotives along the railroad tracks. With the Bridge finally completed in March 19, 1932, the city of Sydney started getting attention for its visual appeal. Aside from ribbon-cutting ceremonies, the occasion also included a parade of floats and some marching bands. Postage stamps were also issued in commemoration of the event.

Climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney tours usually include a glimpse of the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge, but tourists who are up for a more thrilling hands on experience should book for a climb of the world-renowned Bridge. Back in 1998, the BridgeClimb started offering climbing tours of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. A climb usually lasts for a few hours and may be done either in daytime or nighttime. Climbers are also provided with appropriate clothing before climbing. They begin their ascent on the Bridge's eastern side, until they reach the summit, and come down on its western side.

Tour packages include two options for climbing, where groups of over 12 people and a professional Climb Leader climbs the world-famous bridge in three and a half hours. Climbers can choose between the Discovery Climb or the Bridge Climb. The Discovery Climb will take tourists to the Harbour Bridge's inner structure. Their professional Climb Leader will lead them to the arch and the summit through staircases and other infrastructural elements. The Bridge Climb involves more of the original experience of climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Tourists will go through catwalks and ladders until they reach the summit. As a sort of reward for their accomplishment, they will also get an excellent view of the city, the harbour, the bridge and the Sydney Opera House.