Spencer Street Bridge Explained

Bridge Name:Spencer Street Bridge
Carries:Road, trams, pedestrians
Crosses:Yarra River
Locale:Melbourne, Australia
Architect:Royal Victorian Institute of Architects
Mr Oakley
Mr Kermode
Mr Perrin[1]
Engineering:Mr W. D. Chapman
Material:All steel superstructure[2]
Length:405feet[3]
Width:80.6feet Roadway
12feet footways
Height:28.5feet[4]
Mainspan:130feet[5] [6]
Spans:3
Pierswater:Concrete on cylindrical caissons faced with bluestone down to rock
Builder:Railways Construction Branch
Begin:28 October 1927[7]
Complete:1930
Cost:£168,700[8] [9]
Coordinates:-37.8229°N 144.9559°W

The Spencer Street Bridge is a road and tram bridge over the Yarra River in Melbourne, Australia. It connects Spencer Street on the north bank with Clarendon Street on the south. The idea of a bridge at that point was first proposed in the mid-19th century.[10]

The design of the bridge was the result of a public competition, announced in November 1925.[11] It was won by Messrs. Edward Saunders and Alan Wilson, engineers, in conjunction with Messrs. Alfred R. La Gerche and W. E. Gower, architects.[12] The first pile was driven in October 1927.[10]

During construction engineers knew deep foundations would be required to find bedrock but, at 20 metres below sea level, they struck a red gum stump that took three weeks work to remove. It was dated at about 8,000 years old and appeared to have lived for well over 400 years.[13] The cantilever girder type, with steel girder suspended span bridge was completed in 1930,[14] with an adjacent glass and steel covered footbridge built alongside in 1998, as part of the Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre.[15] [16] [17] [18] [19]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: SPENCER STREET BRIDGE. . . Melbourne . 4 April 1930 . 27 November 2012 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: SPENCER-STREET BRIDGE. . . Launceston, Tas. . 29 June 1928 . 27 November 2012 . 11. National Library of Australia.
  3. News: BRIDGES THAT SPAN AUSTRALIAN RIVERS. . . 19 March 1932 . 27 November 2012 . 4 Supplement: Sydney Harbour Bridge Supplement . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: BROADCASTING PICTURES. . . Melbourne . 12 April 1930 . 27 November 2012 . 23 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: Spencer Street Bridge. . Melbourne . 22 September 1928 . 28 November 2012 . 16 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: FINAL DESIGN FOR THE SPENCER STREET BRIDGE. . . Melbourne . 22 September 1928 . 28 November 2012 . 15 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: SPENCER STREET BRIDGE BEGUN. . . Melbourne . 29 October 1927 . 27 November 2012 . 31 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: NEW CITY BRIDGE. . . Melbourne . 13 February 1930 . 27 November 2012 . 9 . National Library of Australia.
  9. News: Spencer Street Bridge. . Melbourne . 29 January 1930 . 27 November 2012 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  10. News: Spencer Street Bridge . The Argus . Trove . 29 October 1927 . 27 September 2018.
  11. News: Winning Design for Spencer Street Bridge, Melbourne . 28 November 1925. The Australasian . 19 February 2018. 41.
  12. News: Designs for Spencer Street Bridge . 24 November 1925. The Argus . 19 February 2018. 9 . Trove.
  13. Web site: 7 Bridges of Melbourne . whitehat.com.au . 8 July 2008.
  14. Web site: Road and Bridge Works . Engineering Heritage Victoria . home.vicnet.net.au . 8 July 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080917150413/http://home.vicnet.net.au/~engherit/roadsBridges.htm . 17 September 2008 .
  15. Web site: Spencer Street Footbridge . Arup . arup.com . 8 July 2008 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081004113822/http://www.arup.com/bridges/project.cfm?pageid=2311 . 4 October 2008 .
  16. News: Spencer Street Bridge . The Argus . Melbourne . 29 July 1927 . 27 November 2012 . 15 . Trove.
  17. News: Spencer Street Bridge Grows. . The Argus . Melbourne . 31 January 1929 . 27 November 2012 . 5 . Trove.
  18. News: Spencer Street Bridge Progresses . The Argus . 2 December 1927 . 27 November 2012 . 13 . Trove.
  19. News: Building Spencer Street Bridge . The Argus. Melbourne . 17 February 1928 . 27 November 2012 . 13 . Trove.

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