Birkenhead Bridge

{{Use Australian English|date=April 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox Bridge |bridge_name = Birkenhead Bridge |image = Birkenhead Bridge open 2010.jpg |caption = Birkenhead Bridge in February 2010 |carries = Nelson Street |crosses = [[Port River]] |locale = [[Lefevre Peninsula]] |owner = [[Department for Infrastructure & Transport]] |preceded = [[Tom 'Diver' Derrick Bridge]] |followed = [[Jervois Bridge]] |design = [[Bascule bridge|Bascule]] |length = 246 metres |width = 16 metres |height = |clearance = 5.4 metres |lanes = 4 (as built)<br>2 (since 2014) |builder = Adelaide Construction |fabricator = [[Perry Engineering]] |open = 14 December 1940 |closed = |coordinates = {{coord|-34.84230|138.50093|region:AU-SA_type:bridge|display=inline,title}}}}

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, South Australia|Birkenhead]] to [[Port Adelaide]], with [[Perry Engineering]] contracted to supply the steelwork.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/11146956 Bridge over river at Adelaide] ''[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]]'' 8 February 1938 page 2</ref> The bridge was opened on 14 December 1940 by [[Governor of South Australia|Governor]] [[Malcolm Barclay-Harvey]].<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/41910877 Birkenhead Bridge Opened] ''[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]'' 16 December 1940 page 16</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20190401222148/http://sahistoryhub.com.au/things/birkenhead-bridge Birkenhead Bridge] SA History Hub</ref> It was one of only four bascule bridges in the world adapted for use by [[trolleybus]]es.<ref>Trolleybuses Trundle over Birkenhead Bascule Bridge ''[[Among Ourselves]]'' issue 87 August 1960</ref><ref>Old bascule bridge gets new lease on life ''[[Engineers Australia (periodical)|Engineers Australia]]'' 4 September 1987 page 9</ref>

In 2014, two of the four road lanes were converted into pedestrian and bike paths.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20160330105359/https://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-09-22/birkenhead-bridge-celebrates-75-years-in-port-adelaide/6794232 Port Adelaide's Birkenhead Bridge still moving more than 16,000 vehicles daily in 75th anniversary year] ''[[ABC Radio Adelaide]]'' 22 September 2015</ref> In 2020, the timber road deck was replaced with [[fibre-reinforced plastic|fibre reinforced polymer]] and the timber footpath with aluminium.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200226012656/https://dpti.sa.gov.au/infrastructure/road_projects/Birkenhead_Bridge_Upgrade_Works_Project Birkenhead Bridge Upgrade Works Project] [[Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure]]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20241009021645/https://mcmservices.com.au/projects/birkenhead-bridge-deck-replacement/ Birkenhead Bridge Deck Replacement] [[McMahon Services]]</ref>

The bridge is listed on the [[South Australian Heritage Register]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20200405205847/http://maps.sa.gov.au/heritagesearch/HeritageItem.aspx?p_heritageno=2949 Birkenhead Bridge] South Australia Heritage Places</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category-inline}}

[[Category:Bascule bridges in Australia]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 1940]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Adelaide]] [[Category:Lefevre Peninsula]] [[Category:Road bridges in South Australia]] [[Category:South Australian Heritage Register]] [[Category:1940 establishments in Australia]]