Australian-first bridge accelerates towards completion

A future landmark over the Parramatta River is a step closer to completion, after the Alfred Street Bridge arch was lifted into place yesterday.

It marks a major milestone for Australia’s first true diagonal arch bridge and new pedestrian and cyclist link located over the Parramatta River between James Ruse Drive and Gasworks Bridge.

The 4.5-metre-wide, 200-metre-long active transport link will provide the City’s growing population with a convenient, safe and scenic walking and cycling link over the river, directly to Parramatta Light Rail.

“Alfred Street Bridge will be a great new landmark that will benefit so many people as they travel through Parramatta,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Cr Donna Davis said.

“Once complete, this bridge will make it safer and faster for our growing community to move in and out of our Parramatta CBD.

“The bridge acts as a river gateway to our city, creating more active transport links. We live in a beautiful city and we want to make it easier for people to walk, run, cycle, skate or wheel across the LGA and connect to public transport.“

The $19 million project, co-funded by Council and the NSW Government, is in its final stages of construction, with the bridge ramps and decks installed in late March.  

The bridge has been a complex project with more than 30 workers using 280 tonnes of Australian BlueScope steel to fabricate the deck and arch in Western Sydney. 

The deck and arch were delivered to site in separate pieces using oversized trucks. The arch itself is 80-metres long and 30-metres high and was assembled and welded on site before being lifted into position using a 750-tonne crane.   

The final piece of the puzzle will be positioning the steel cables that support the deck from the arch. The cables have been manufactured in Italy and a specialist team have flown in to oversee the installation. 

Long-time Parramatta resident, Greg Temme, has lived in the area since 1985. He has been watching the bridge come to life from his apartment window. He said the Alfred Street Bridge will cut down his travel times by up to 20 minutes.

“We’re really looking forward to the opening of the Alfred Street Bridge. It will be a life-changing addition for us, it’s going to make it so much quicker to visit the town centre and the local shops,” he said. 

“We’ll be able to cross the bridge and connect to the future Parramatta Light Rail stop at Tramway Avenue where we can travel straight to Western Sydney University, Westmead Hospital, Eat Street and Parramatta CBD.” 

Alfred Street Bridge is expected to open mid-2023. Community consultation will take place after the formal opening to name the bridge, with Council’s recommendations to be submitted to the Geographical Names Board of NSW for formal exhibition and determination.

QUICK FACTS

The total length of the Alfred Street Bridge including approach ramps is 200-metres long and it is 4.5-metres wide. It is located halfway between James Ruse Drive and Gasworks Bridge and will be Australia’s first true diagonal arch bridge Around 280 tonnes of Australian BlueScope steel was used to fabricate the deck and arch in Western Sydney; more than 780 cubic metres of concrete will be used in the construction of the bridge.