{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox Bridge | name = Sea Cliff Bridge | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = Sea Cliff Bridge from air.jpg | image_upright = 1.4 | alt = | caption = The Sea Cliff Bridge viewed from the air | coordinates = {{Coord|34|15|14|S|150|58|26|E|region:AU-NSW_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}<!-- {{Coord}} --> | os_grid_reference = | qid = | refs = | carries = [[Lawrence Hargrave Drive]]<br />(also known as ''Grand Pacific Drive'') {{bulleted list|[[Motor vehicle]]s|[[Pedestrian]]s|[[Bicycle]]s}} | crosses = Rockface on the Illawarra escarpment/[[Tasman Sea]] | locale = [[Coalcliff]], [[New South Wales]], Australia | starts = Coalcliff | ends = [[Clifton, New South Wales|Clifton]] | official_name = | other_name = Lawrence Hargrave Drive Bridge | named_for = | owner = [[Transport for NSW]] | maint = | heritage = | id = | id_type = | website = | preceded = | followed = | design = {{numbered list|Balanced off-shore parallel-to-coast [[cantilever bridge]]<br />(Sea Cliff Bridge)|[[Incremental launching]] [[girder bridge]]<br />(Lawrence Hargrave Drive Bridge) }} | material = Steel [[reinforced concrete]] | material1 = | material2 = | length = {{numbered list|{{convert|455.6|m|ft}}<br />(Sea Cliff Bridge)|{{convert|210|m|ft}}<br />(Lawrence Hargrave Drive Bridge) }} | width = {{convert|6.3|m|ft}} at its widest point | height = {{convert|41|m|ft}} at highest point | depth = | traversable = | towpath = | mainspan = {{numbered list|3 x {{convert|108|m|ft}}<br />(Sea Cliff Bridge)|5 x {{convert|31|m|ft}}<br />(Lawrence Hargrave Drive Bridge) }} | number_spans = {{numbered list|5 (Sea Cliff Bridge)|{{nowrap|7 (Lawrence Hargrave Drive Bridge)}} }} | piers_in_water = | load = | clearance_above = | clearance_below = | lanes = 2 | 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 = Maunsell Australia | winner = | engineering = Coffey Geosciences | builder = [[Barclay Mowlem]]<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20220611084833/https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/111864/10-million-fix-for-sea-cliff-bridge/ $10 million fix for Sea Cliff Bridge] ''[[Illawarra Mercury]]'' 10 July 2012</ref> | fabricator = | begin = | complete = {{end date|2005|12|09|df=y}} | cost = {{AUD}}52&nbsp;million | open = <!-- or | opening = --> | inaugurated = {{end date|2005|12|11|df=y}} by<br />[[Morris Iemma]], [[Premier of New South Wales|NSW Premier]] | rebuilt = | collapsed = | closed = | replaces = | 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=SCB_Stats>{{cite web |title=Bridge Construction Statistics |work=Sea Cliff Bridge |url=http://seacliffbridge.com/scbstatistics.html |access-date=23 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090912125201/http://seacliffbridge.com/scbstatistics.html |archive-date=2009-09-12 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Structurae1">{{Structurae |id=sea-cliff-bridge |title=Sea Cliff Bridge |accessdate=8 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="Structurae2">{{Structurae |id=lawrence-hargrave-drive-bridge |title=Lawrence Hargrave Drive Bridge |accessdate=8 April 2020 }}</ref> | extra = <!-- extra = module = embed = --> }}

The '''Sea Cliff Bridge''', together with the adjoining '''Lawrence Hargrave Drive Bridge''', are two [[road bridge]]s that carry the scenic [[Lawrence Hargrave Drive]] across the rockface on the [[Illawarra]] escarpment, located in the northern Illawarra region of [[New South Wales]], [[Australia]]. The balanced [[cantilever bridge|cantilever]] and [[incremental launching]] [[girder bridge]]s link the coastal villages of [[Coalcliff]] and [[Clifton, New South Wales|Clifton]] and carry two lanes of traffic, and a [[pedestrian]] walkway.

The Sea Cliff Bridge was named by Makenzie Russell, who at the time was an eleven-year-old student, following a naming competition opened to local primary school students.<ref name=SCB_Mackenzie>{{cite web |title=Makenzie who? |work=Sea Cliff Bridge |url=http://seacliffbridge.com/index.php/seacliff-bridge/bridge-opening-ceremony |access-date=2013-02-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306000618/http://seacliffbridge.com/index.php/seacliff-bridge/bridge-opening-ceremony |archive-date=2016-03-06 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Lawrence Hargrave Drive Bridge and the Lawrence Hargrave Drive are named in honour of [[Lawrence Hargrave]], an Australian engineer, explorer, astronomer, inventor and aeronautical pioneer.

== History == The Sea Cliff Bridge replaced a section of Lawrence Hargrave Drive that was permanently closed in August 2003 due to regular rock falls. A public outcry emerged over the road closure as Lawrence Hargrave Drive is the only road directly linking Coalcliff, [[Stanwell Park, New South Wales|Stanwell Park]], [[Otford, New South Wales|Otford]] and [[Helensburgh, New South Wales|Helensburgh]] to the northern suburbs of [[Wollongong]].<ref name=SCB_Why/>

== Description == The {{AUD}}52&nbsp;million {{convert|450|m|ft|0|adj=mid|-long}} bridges brace against the [[Tasman Sea]], up to {{convert|70|m}} east of the original alignment of Lawrence Hargrave Drive. Completed in 2005, the Sea Cliff Bridge structure comprises a haunched [[box girder]] composed of [[prestressed concrete]] that was constructed using the balanced cantilever method, with five [[Span (architecture)|spans]].<ref name="Structurae1"/> Adjoining the Sea Cliff Bridge is the {{convert|210|m|ft|0|adj=mid|-long}} Lawrence Hargrave Drive Bridge{{spaced endash}} often not considered as two separate bridges. This latter [[girder bridge]] that was constructed using the [[incremental launching]] method, with seven spans, ranging from {{convert|24|to|31|m|ft|0}}, shares a common pier with the Sea Cliff Bridge.<ref name="Structurae2"/>

The bridges incorporate two traffic lanes of {{convert|3.5|to|3.8|m}} and a {{convert|2.5|m|ft|0|adj=on}} pedestrian pathway.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boral.com.au/projects/sea-cliff-bridge |title=Sea Cliff Bridge |work=Projects |publisher=[[Boral]] |date=n.d. |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref> Cyclists are allowed to use the traffic lanes and there are shoulders on either side of the road of approximately 1.2 metres (4&nbsp;ft) width.

The bridges were officially opened by the [[Premier of New South Wales|NSW Premier]] [[Morris Iemma]] on 11 December 2005, and were met with public approval and increased business for the area's tourism industry.<ref name=SCB_Why>{{cite web |title=Why Was It Constructed? |work=Sea Cliff Bridge |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091208010059/http://seacliffbridge.com/scblhdalliance.html |archivedate=8 December 2009 |url=http://seacliffbridge.com/scblhdalliance.html |access-date=2009-05-23 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The bridges sit in a harsh marine environment as it directly faces the open ocean and is affected by high [[sea swell]] splashing. It is well attested that concrete structures in such environments are especially susceptible to [[chloride]] induced [[corrosion]] of the steel reinforcement, which can eventually lead to expensive repair works and significantly decrease the life of the structure.<ref name=SCB>{{cite web| title=APPLICATION OF CATHODIC PREVENTION TO SEA CLIFF BRIDGE, LAWRENCE HARGRAVE DRIVE| url=http://remedialtechnology.com.au/themes/VSRTTheme/resources/uploads/news/10_paper%206%20.pdf| access-date=2018-10-03| archive-date=27 March 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180327234304/http://remedialtechnology.com.au/themes/VSRTTheme/resources/uploads/news/10_paper%206%20.pdf| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author=Sinclair, M. R |title=Lawrence Hargrave Drive balanced cantilever and incremental launch bridges construction |journal=Concrete |number=5 |year=2005 }}</ref>

=== Tourism === An hour south of Sydney, the bridges have been a major tourist spot since they opened in 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.visitwollongong.com.au/operator/sea-cliff-bridge/ |title=Sea Cliff Bridge |work=Destination Wollongong |date=2020 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref> The area adjacent to the bridges feature a scenic walkway surrounded by rocky cliffs<ref name=SCB/> that is a popular location for [[love padlocks]].<ref name=IME_pad>{{cite news |author=Minus, Jodie |title=Sea Cliff Bridge holds key to love |url=http://www.illawarramercury.com.au/news/local/news/general/sea-cliff-bridge-holds-key-to-love/1458967.aspx |work=[[Illawarra Mercury]] |date=13 March 2009 |access-date=1 September 2011 }}</ref>

''Pioneer Walks'' published the route to the lookout and encouraged spectators to participate in an "unofficial walk with no safety precautions in place".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://pioneerwalks.com.au/walk/sea-cliff-bridge/ |title=Sea Cliff Bridge |work=Pioneer Walks }}</ref> On 30 September 2018, a 24-year-old man hiked to a lookout on a cliff overlooking the bridges, where the ground beneath him gave way and he slid {{convert|20|m|-1|||}} to the cliff’s edge, where he then plummeted {{convert|40|m||||}} to his death.<ref>{{cite news |author=Humphries, Glen |url=https://www.illawarramercury.com.au/story/5887336/bushwalking-site-promotes-the-deadly-sea-cliff-bridge-walk/ |title=Bushwalking site promotes the deadly Sea Cliff Bridge walk |work=[[Illawarra Mercury]] |date=5 February 2019 |access-date=8 April 2020 }}</ref>

[[File:The Seacliff Bridge Grand Pacific Drive, New South Wales, Australia at Sunrise. May 2020.jpg|thumb|Sea Cliff Bridge in May 2020]]

== In popular media == The Sea Cliff Bridge and adjoining Lawrence Hargrave Drive Bridge were featured in a range of media including: * a joint 2007 [[Ferrari]]/[[Shell plc|Shell]] television advertisement that was shown in Australia and many other countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4Fg-mj2DCE|title=Shell Ferrari Advert|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> * a VE [[Holden Commodore]] commercial<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GuTkJh4N5c|title=VE Holden Commodore SIDI - 900Km Ad|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> * the video game, ''[[Forza Horizon 3]]'', where players can race over the bridge<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-i0mG67Uaw|title=Forza Horizon 3 - All 13 Beauty Spot Locations Guide|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> *in [[Guy Sebastian]]'s music video for the song '[[Choir (Guy Sebastian song)|Choir]]', where he is seen walking under the Sea Cliff Bridge<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9xXMGzW8NY|title=Guy Sebastian - Choir (Official)|website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref>

== Gallery == <gallery> File:Sea Cliff Bridge - Stanwell Park.jpeg|Sea Cliff Bridge looking south File:Seacliff Bridge Pathway.jpg|The footpath on Sea Cliff Bridge File:Sea Cliff Bridge.jpg|A photo taken from road level File:Looking down to Sea Cliff Bridge.jpg|Looking down onto Sea Cliff Bridge from the south </gallery>

==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|New South Wales|Transport|Engineering|Australian roads}}}} * [[List of bridges in Australia]] *[[Bald Hill (Australia)|Bald Hill]], a nearby lookout spot

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category|Sea Cliff Bridge}} * [https://www.instagram.com/seacliffbridge Sea Cliff Bridge] on [[Instagram]] * [http://www.seacliffbridgecam.com Sea Cliff Bridge Webcam] * [http://www.seacliffbridge.com Sea Cliff Bridge website] * [http://www.grandpacificdrive.com.au Grand Pacific Drive] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090213035422/http://rta.nsw.gov.au/constructionmaintenance/completedprojects/lawrencehargravedrive.html Lawrence Hargrave Drive reopens] [[Roads & Traffic Authority]] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070227102937/http://www.nio.net.au/ Northern Illawarra Online - Community Web Portal] * [http://www.hangglideoz.com.au HangglideOz - tandems and lic courses]

{{Illawarra region topics}} {{Road infrastructure in regional New South Wales|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:2005 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Wollongong]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 2005]] [[Category:Tourist attractions in Wollongong]] [[Category:Cantilever bridges in Australia]] [[Category:Road bridges in New South Wales]] [[Category:Concrete bridges in Australia]] [[Category:Box girder bridges in Australia]]