{{short description|Bridge connecting Port Adelaide to Ethelton over the Port River, South Australia}} {{use Australian English|date=November 2020}} {{use dmy dates|date=November 2020}} {{Infobox Bridge |bridge_name = Jervois Bridge |image = |caption = |official_name = |carries = St Vincent Street to Hart Street |crosses = [[Port River]] |locale = [[Lefevre Peninsula]] |named_for = [[William Jervois]] |owner = [[Department of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure]] |preceded = [[Birkenhead Bridge]] |followed = [[Outer Harbor and Port Dock lines|Outer Harbor railway line]] bridge |design = |mainspan = |length = |width = |height = |load = |clearance = |lanes = 4 |builder = |fabricator = |open = 28 July 1969 |closed = |coordinates = {{coord|-34.84623|138.49671|region:AU-SA_type:bridge|format=dms|display=inline,title}}}}
The '''Jervois Bridge''' is a bridge in [[Greater Adelaide]], Australia that crosses the [[Port River]].
Construction of the original {{convert|98|m|adj=on|abbr=on}} Jervois Bridge from [[Port Adelaide]] to [[Ethelton, South Australia|Ethelton]] commenced in July 1875, using components manufactured in England by [[Westwood, Baillie]]. It was the first [[swing bridge]] in Australia, with mechanical equipment provided by [[Armstrong Whitworth|William Armstrong & Co]] of [[Newcastle upon Tyne]].<ref name=SAHistory>[https://web.archive.org/web/20161102170225/http://sahistoryhub.com.au/things/jervois-bridge Jervois Bridge] SA History Hub</ref>
Built to carry [[pedestrian]], rail and road traffic, it was officially opened on 7 February 1878 by the [[Governor of South Australia]], [[William Jervois]], after whom it was named.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/159439419 Opening of the Jervois Bridge at Port Adelaide] ''[[The Observer (Adelaide)|Adelaide Observer]]'' 9 February 1878 page 12</ref><ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/90869781 Opening of the Jervois Bridge at Port Adelaide] ''[[The Chronicle (South Australia)|South Australian Chronicle & Weekly Mail]]'' 9 February 1878 page 8</ref>
By 1924, it had ceased to be used by rail traffic, after the line had been diverted.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/57469685 Jervois Bridge] ''[[South Australian Register|The Register]]'' 4 January 1924 page 6</ref> Operation of the swing bridge passed from the [[South Australian Railways]] to the Harbours Board in December 1924.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/64051565 Jervois Bridge] ''The Register'' 12 December 1924 page 14</ref> In 1937, the control tower and its support gantry were elevated to allow use by double-decker [[AEC 661T]] [[Trolleybuses in Adelaide|trolleybuses]].<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/131405727 Altering Jervois Bridge] ''[[The News (Adelaide)|The News]]'' 21 January 1937 page 6</ref>
The original bridge closed in August 1966 to make way for a new bridge. It was later demolished with the control tower and supporting gantry moved to Nile Street, where it remained as an entrance to the [[Fishermen's Wharf Market]] car park<ref name=SAHistory/> until 2016, when the carpark was partially redeveloped for a new office building.<ref>Siebert, Bension: [http://indaily.com.au/news/local/2016/05/20/govt-building-to-return-port-adelaide-to-former-glory/ Govt building to return Port Adelaide to "former glory"] ''InDaily'', 20 May 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2020.</ref> The control tower and supporting gantry were removed to the Council depot for restoration, with the intention of finally moving it to the [[Hart's Mill]] site, close to its original location.<ref>Eichler, Kurtis: Tower to be moved to Hart’s Mill. ''Portside Messenger'', 18 May 2016.</ref> The remnants of the original bridge received a Historic Engineering Marker from [[Engineers Australia]] as part of its [[Engineers Australia#Engineering Heritage Recognition Program|Engineering Heritage Recognition Program]].<ref>{{cite web| url = https://portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/heritage/remnant-jervois-bridge-1878-1979| title = Remnant of Jervois Bridge, 1878-1979| publisher = Engineers Australia| access-date = 2020-05-07}}</ref>
The new four-lane bridge was constructed on an alignment a short distance upstream, opening on 28 July 1969.<ref name=SAHistory/>
Upstream (south) of the Jervois Bridge lies the [[Jervois Basin Ships' Graveyard]], and beyond that the railway bridge carrying the [[Outer Harbor and Port Dock lines|Outer Harbor railway line]].
==References== {{Reflist}}
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[[Category:Bridges completed in 1969]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Adelaide]] [[Category:Lefevre Peninsula]] [[Category:Road bridges in South Australia]] [[Category:1969 establishments in Australia]]