Anzac Bridge

{{Short description|Cable-stayed bridge in Sydney, Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=January 2012}} {{Infobox bridge | name = Anzac Bridge | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = 2019-04-10 ANZAC Bridge.jpg | image_upright = 1.4 | alt = | caption = Aerial view of the bridge | coordinates = {{Coord|-33.869340|151.185780|format=dms|type:landmark_region:AU-NSW|display=title,inline}} | os_grid_reference = | qid = | refs = | carries = Western Distributor {{AUshield|NSW|A4}} {{bulleted list|Motor vehicles|Pedestrians|Bicycles}} | crosses = Johnstons Bay | locale = Sydney, New South Wales, Australia | starts = {{NSWcity|Pyrmont}} (east) | ends = Glebe Island / {{NSWcity|Rozelle}} (west) | official_name = | other_name = New Glebe Island Bridge | named_for = Australian and New Zealand Army Corps | owner = Transport for NSW | maint = | heritage = | id = | id_type = | website = | preceded = | followed = | design = Cable-stayed | material = Concrete and steel | material1 = | material2 = Reinforced concrete | length = {{convert|805|m|ft|0}} | width = {{convert|32.2|m|ft|0}} | height = | depth = | traversable = | towpath = | mainspan = {{convert|345|m|ft|0}} | number_spans = | piers_in_water = 2 | load = | clearance_above = | clearance_below = | lanes = 8; plus grade-separated shared footpath and cycleway | life = | first_length = | first_diameter = | second_length = | second_diameter = | third_length = | third_diameter = | capacity = | num_track = | track_gauge = | structure_gauge = | electrification = | architect = | designer = | contracted_designer = Roads & Traffic Authority | winner = | engineering = | builder = Baulderstone | fabricator = | begin = | complete = | cost = A$170 million | open = {{start date|1995|12|03|df=y}} | inaugurated = | rebuilt = | collapsed = | closed = | replaces = Glebe Island Bridge | replaced_by = | traffic = | toll = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 15 | mapframe-width = | mapframe-height = | mapframe-marker = | mapframe-marker-color = | mapframe-lat = | mapframe-long = | references = <ref name=structurae>{{cite web|url= http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=s0001191 |title= ANZAC Bridge |publisher=Structurae |access-date=2010-02-03}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.groveoz.info/ |title=Description and history (with construction photos) of the Anzac Bridge, Sydney |work=groveoz.info}}</ref> | extra =  }}

The '''Anzac Bridge''' is an eight-lane cable-stayed bridge that carries the Western Distributor (A4) across Johnstons Bay between Pyrmont and Glebe Island (part of the suburb of Rozelle), on the western fringe of the Sydney central business district, New South Wales, Australia. The bridge forms part of the road network leading from the central business district, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, and Cross City Tunnel to the Inner West and Northern Suburbs.

==History==

=== Glebe Island bridges === There were two bridges over Johnstons Bay before the construction of the Anzac Bridge.

The first bridge was constructed as part of a project to move the abattoirs out of central Sydney, and to construct public abattoirs at Glebe Island.<ref>{{Cite news |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13047525 |date=22 October 1860 |access-date=10 November 2010 |title=REMOVAL OF THE SLAUGHTER HOUSES FROM SYDNEY. |via=Trove, National Library of Australia }}</ref> The first pile of the original bridge was driven in October 1860.<ref name=smh_first_pile>{{Cite news |date=11 October 1860 |newspaper=Sydney Morning Herald |url= http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article13047021 | title=COMMENCEMENT OF THE GLEBE ISLAND BRIDGE |access-date=10 November 2010 |via=Trove, National Library of Australia }}</ref> The bridge was opened in 1862 and was a timber beam bridge {{convert|1045|ft|5|in|m|1|abbr=off|order=flip}} long and {{convert|28|ft|m|abbr=on|order=flip}} wide with a {{convert|40|ft|m|order=flip|abbr=on}} swing section on the eastern side. It replaced a double steam punt crossing.<ref name=smh_first_pile/>

The second Glebe Island Bridge was an electrically operated swing bridge opened in 1903, the year after the opening of the new Pyrmont Bridge over Sydney's Darling Harbour, which has a similar design. The bridge was designed by Percy Allan of the New South Wales Public Works Department who also designed the Pyrmont Bridge. Delays due to increasing traffic, which were exacerbated by having to close a major arterial road to allow the movement of shipping into Blackwattle Bay, led to the construction of the present-day Anzac Bridge. The 1903 bridge is still standing, but there is no access to pedestrians or vehicular traffic.

=== Anzac Bridge === The stay cable design concept development and final design for the new bridge were carried out by a team from the Roads & Traffic Authority, led by their Chief Bridge Engineer Ray Wedgwood and the construction by Baulderstone.<ref name=":0">{{Structurae|id=20001191|title=Anzac Bridge}}</ref> The bridge was opened to traffic on 3 December 1995 as the Glebe Island Bridge.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://member.rivernet.com.au/grove/ |title=Anzac Bridge Sydney |publisher=member.rivernet.com.au |access-date=2008-04-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405202627/http://member.rivernet.com.au/grove/ |archive-date=5 April 2008 |url-status=dead |date=February 2010 }}</ref>

The bridge was given its current name on Remembrance Day in 1998<ref name="nsw-office-heritage">{{cite NSW HD|4305018|title=Anzac Bridge|access-date=11 February 2019}}</ref> to honour the memory of the soldiers of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (known as Anzacs) who served in World War I. An Australian Flag flies atop the eastern pylon and a New Zealand Flag flies atop the western pylon. A bronze memorial statue of an Australian Anzac soldier ("digger") holding a Lee–Enfield rifle in the "rest on arms reverse" drill position was placed on the western end of the bridge on Anzac Day in 2000. A statue of a New Zealand soldier was added to a plinth across the road from the Australian Digger, facing towards the east, and was unveiled by Prime Minister of New Zealand Helen Clark in the presence of Premier of New South Wales Morris Iemma on Sunday 27 April 2008.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/kiwi-joins-his-little-mate-on-anzac-bridge-watch/2008/04/27/1208743317129.html |title=Kiwi joins his little mate on Anzac Bridge watch |date=27 April 2008 |access-date=2010-02-03 |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |last=Samandar |first=Lema}}</ref>

== Description == The bridge is {{convert|32.2|m|ftin|abbr=on}} wide and the main span is {{convert|345|m|ft|abbr=on}} long. The reinforced concrete pylons are {{convert|120|m|ft|abbr=on}} high<ref>{{cite web |title=Anzac Bridge |url=https://apps.environment.nsw.gov.au/dpcheritageapp/ViewHeritageItemDetails.aspx?ID=4305018 |website=Heritage NSW |publisher=NSW State Government |access-date=17 September 2022 |ref=4305018}}</ref> and support the deck by two planes of stay cables. Initially the stay cables were plagued by vibrations which have since been resolved by the addition of thin stabilising cables between the stay cables.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ANZAC Bridge – Bridge Maintenance|url=https://www.groveoz.info/maint.htm|access-date=2021-02-03|website=www.groveoz.info}}</ref>

There is a grade-separated shared pedestrian footpath and cycleway located on the northern side of the bridge, making possible a walk from Glebe Point Road, down Bridge Road, over the bridge and round Blackwattle Bay back to Glebe Point Road.{{Citation needed|date=August 2015}}

The bridge can carry a maximum of 180,000 cars per day. It reached its maximum capacity in 2002, only seven years after it was finished and consistent with the principles of induced demand of traffic.<ref name=":0" />

The bridge is regularly patrolled by security guards as a counter-terrorist attack measure. Security cameras also monitor the walkway.<ref name=":0" />

The bridge has a speed limit of {{convert|60|km/h|mph|abbr=off}}: it was reduced from {{convert|70|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} in January 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/downloads/saferroadsnsw/top_100_summaries.pdf |access-date=2015-09-25 |title=Safer Roads NSW |author=Transport for NSW |archive-date=13 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190313050842/https://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/downloads/saferroadsnsw/top_100_summaries.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> Also prior to that date, the bridge had seven traffic lanes (4 eastbound, 3 westbound).

Originally, there were bus stops at the western end of the bridge, but they were removed because buses pulling out from the stops created a hazard as they merged with other traffic moving at (or close to) the speed limit. The Australian Anzac statue on the northern side of the bridge is adjacent to the former city-bound bus stop; the New Zealand Anzac statue was installed within the ramp area of the former stop on the southern side.

{{wide image|ANZAC Bridge from Blackwattle Bay ferry wharf.jpg|900px|Panoramic view from Blackwattle Bay ferry wharf, Glebe, with F10 ferry ''Me-Mel''}}

==Use in popular culture== The bridge has been used in a number of artistic works including:

* The bridge was used in the ''Looking for Alibrandi'' (1999) movie scene where the title character, Josephine Alibrandi, and her date Jacob Coote rode across the bridge on Jacob's motorcycle. * Deni Hines' song "It's Alright" (1995) features the nearly completed bridge in the music video group dance sequences, the filming of which taking place a few months before the bridge's December 1995 opening. * You Am I's song "Purple Sneakers" from the band's album ''Hi Fi Way'' (1995) opens with the lyric "''Had a scratch only you could itch, underneath the Glebe Point bridge''". The Glebe Island Bridge was still under construction when Tim Rogers wrote and recorded the song in 1994, with the bridge's name change to 'Anzac Bridge' not occurring until 1998.<ref name="nsw-office-heritage" /><ref name="Sydney-plaques-Purple-Sneakers">{{cite web |last1=Jolly |first1=Nathan |title=Which musical landmarks in Sydney should be recognised with plaques? |url=https://thebrag.com/musical-landmarks-sydney-recognised-plaques/ |publisher=The Brag |access-date=11 February 2019 |archive-date=13 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713131854/https://thebrag.com/musical-landmarks-sydney-recognised-plaques/ |date=10 July 2017}}</ref><ref name="Cayley-Longest-Love-Affair">{{cite web |last1=Cayley |first1=A.H. |title=You Am I is the longest love affair I have ever had |url=http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/features/36110/You-Am-I-is-the-longest-love-affair-I-have-ever-had |website=Faster Louder |access-date=11 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130923052102/http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/features/36110/You-Am-I-is-the-longest-love-affair-I-have-ever-had |archive-date=23 September 2013 |date=27 June 2013}}</ref>

==Gallery== <gallery> Atop the anzac bridge.jpg|Anzac Bridge pylons and cables Anzac Bridge East.jpg|Anzac Bridge at dusk. ANZAC Bridge at Night.jpg|ANZAC Bridge at night from Glebe Point. Sydney 02 11 2008.JPG|Aerial view of Sydney Harbour from the west in 2008. Anzac Bridge is visible at lower centre right, while the disused (second) Glebe Island Bridge is visible immediately to its left. Anzac bridge cable2.JPG|The Bridge's stay cables were initially plagued by vibrations, since resolved by the addition of thin stabilizing cables (pictured) between the much larger stay cables. Image:SAM_0746.JPG| The Australian Anzac statue on the north-western side of the bridge. Anzac bridge top.JPG| Stay cables attachment at the top of the pylon. Glebe island bridge.JPG|The disused (second) Glebe Island Bridge viewed from water level, with the deck of Anzac Bridge visible above. ANZAC Bridge Eastern Side.jpg|The eastern end, with CBD view in background Anzac Bridge with planes on approach to SYD.jpg|View from Barangaroo Reserve </gallery>

==See also== {{Portal|Transport|Engineering|New South Wales|Australian roads}} * List of bridges in Sydney * List of longest cable stayed bridges

== References == {{Reflist}}

== External links== {{Commons}}{{Commons|Glebe Island Bridge}} *[http://www.groveoz.info/ Description and history (with construction photos) of the Anzac Bridge, Sydney] *[http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/trafficreports/innersydcameras/anzacbr.html Road Traffic Authority Webcam] * {{cite web |url=http://dictionaryofsydney.org/structure/glebe_island_bridge |title=Glebe Island Bridge |access-date=7 October 2015 |author=Dunn, Mark |date=2008 |work=Dictionary of Sydney}} <nowiki>[</nowiki>CC-By-SA<nowiki>]</nowiki>

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anzac Bridge}} Category:Bridges completed in 1862 Category:Bridges completed in 1903 Category:Bridges completed in 1995 Category:Bridges in Sydney Category:Cable-stayed bridges in Australia Category:Road bridges in New South Wales Category:1995 establishments in Australia Category:ANZAC (Australia) Category:1862 establishments in Australia Category:Rozelle Category:Pyrmont, New South Wales