Birkenhead Bridge

Bridge in Lefevre Peninsula
34°50′32″S 138°30′03″E / 34.84230°S 138.50093°E / -34.84230; 138.50093CarriesNelson StreetCrossesPort RiverLocaleLefevre PeninsulaOwnerDepartment of Planning, Transport & InfrastructurePreceded byTom 'Diver' Derrick BridgeFollowed byJervois BridgeCharacteristicsDesignBasculeTotal length246 metresWidth16 metresClearance above5.4 metresNo. of lanes4 (as built)
2 (since 2014)HistoryConstructed byAdelaide ConstructionFabrication byPerry EngineeringOpened14 December 1940LocationMap

The Birkenhead Bridge is a bascule bridge in Adelaide, Australia that crosses the Port River.

In February 1938, the Government of South Australia awarded a contract to Adelaide Construction to build a bridge across the Port River from Birkenhead to Port Adelaide, with Perry Engineering contracted to supply the steelwork.[1] The bridge was opened on 14 December 1940 by Governor Malcolm Barclay-Harvey.[2][3] It was one of only four bascule bridges in the world adapted for use by trolleybuses.[4]

In 2014, two of the four road lanes were converted into pedestrian and bike paths.[5] In 2020, the timber road deck has been replaced with fibre reinforced polymer and the timber footpath with aluminium.[6]

The bridge is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.[7]

References

  1. ^ Bridge over river at Adelaide The Argus 8 February 1938 page 2
  2. ^ Birkenhead Bridge Opened The Advertiser 16 December 1940 page 16
  3. ^ Birkenhead Bridge SA History Hub
  4. ^ Trolleybuses Trundle over Birkenhead Bascule Bridge Among Ourselves issue 87 August 1960
  5. ^ Port Adelaide's Birkenhead Bridge still moving more than 16,000 vehicles daily in 75th anniversary year ABC Radio Adelaide 22 September 2015
  6. ^ Birkenhead Bridge Upgrade Works Project Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure
  7. ^ Birkenhead Bridge South Australia Heritage Places

External links

Media related to Birkenhead Bridge at Wikimedia Commons

  • v
  • t
  • e
Port Adelaide landmarks
Buildings / structuresCultural institutionsSportShips & vessels
Beaches and islandsPubs/hotels
  • Birkenhead Riverview Tavern (1877)
  • The British Hotel (1847)
  • Dockside Tavern (1850)
  • First Commercial Inn (1841)
  • Newmarket Hotel (1879)
  • Port Admiral Hotel (1849)
  • Port Anchor Hotel (1873)
  • Port Dock Brewery Hotel (1855)
  • Railway Hotel (1856)
  • Royal Arms Hotel (1878)
  • The Lighthouse Hotel (1857)
  • Largs Pier Hotel (1882)
  • Glanville Hotel (1865)
  • Lord Exmouth Hotel (1859)