Spit Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Spit Bridge is a bascule bridge
that carries Spit Road over Middle Harbour
in Sydney
, New South Wales
, Australia
, at a point called "The Spit
", 10 km north-east of the CBD
. It connects the suburbs of Mosman, on the south bank and Seaforth
, on the north bank. It also carries Metroad 10
(future A8).
The original plans for the Warringah Expressway were for it to be an above-ground freeway that would cross Middle Harbour between Castlecrag and Seaforth, joining the current Warringah Expressway, Wakehurst Parkway (which was to have been upgraded to a dual carriageway road) and the Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation (which is the only part of the Warringah Expressway to have been built in the Northern Beaches). It was planned by the Liberal Askin (former member for Pittwater) government to have been completed by 1980. Their successors, the Labor Wran government, shelved these plans with their "No Freeways" policy.
Spit Bridge forms part of the route from the CBD
and North Shore suburbs to Manly
and the Northern Beaches. The next crossing is some distance upstream (north-west) at Roseville Bridge
. The RTA
announced in August 2006 that tenders had been called for widening of the bridge to six lanes, with two extra traffic lanes and a pedestrian/cycleway being added on the western side, and upgrades to the lifting mechanism. Construction was have begun in 2007, however, the project was scrapped in May of that year. According to the government this was due to technical and engineering difficulties, according to the opposition it was because of political considerations. The increased cost estimates to $115m were deemed to be not justifiable by NSW Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal
and the 5 year plan was ditched. Traffic delays either side of the Spit bridge have been a problem for many years, not only on the approaches to the bridge itself, but also far up the hills on either side. Proposals to ameliorate delays have included widening the bridge, a tunnel linking the Warringah Expressway and the Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation
, and a high-level bridge in place of the existing one. The local state member has said the latter two are too expensive with $200 million estimated for a high-level bridge, and $1 Billion for the tunnel.
In 2007, the RTA
found that traffic either side of the bridge doesn't return to normal for 15 minutes after the bridge is opened and reduced the number of bridge opening times.
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
that carries Spit Road over Middle Harbour
Middle Harbour
Middle Harbour is the northern arm of Port Jackson in Sydney, Australia.Middle Harbour extends about to the northwest, from where it joins the main harbour near the Heads. Its shore is nearly everywhere rugged, barren and forested and for this reason Middle Harbour was almost entirely neglected...
in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, at a point called "The Spit
The Spit, New South Wales
The Spit is an urban locality in the suburb of Mosman in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The Spit is located in the local government area of the Municipality of Mosman and is part of the Lower North Shore.-Landmarks:...
", 10 km north-east of the CBD
Sydney central business district
The Sydney central business district is the main commercial centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It extends southwards for about 3 kilometres from Sydney Cove, the point of first European settlement. Its north–south axis runs from Circular Quay in the north to Central railway station in...
. It connects the suburbs of Mosman, on the south bank and Seaforth
Seaforth, New South Wales
Seaforth is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Seaforth is located 12 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of Manly Council and is part of the Northern Beaches region....
, on the north bank. It also carries Metroad 10
Metroad 10
Metroad 10 is one of Sydney, Australia's Metroads. It replaced State Route 14 in December 1998. It travels from the Warringah Freeway at North Sydney to Metroad 3 at Mona Vale.Metroad 10 changes names several times as it passes through the city...
(future A8).
Construction
The bridge is of steel girder construction on concrete piers, a concrete deck, and concrete abutments. The opening span is operated from a small tower in the middle of the bridge. The bridge has two traffic lanes in each direction, with a tidal flow system set up, while the approaches to it have three lanes in each direction. This often causes traffic delays.History
The bridge replaced a bridge built in 1924, which itself replaced a punt service which had operated since the late nineteenth century. Traffic wishing to cross the original bridge — also an opening bridge — experienced delays a few years after the opening of the bridge, a situation which parallels that of today, with local traffic competing with Northern Beaches through traffic. It was recognised that a new bridge was required and it was decided to build another low-level bridge at the same site. Other proposals had included a high-level bridge and a bridge further upstream, leaving the existing bridge for local traffic. Construction of the current bridge had commenced in 1952 and after delays was completed in 1958. It was opened on the 19th November 1958.The original plans for the Warringah Expressway were for it to be an above-ground freeway that would cross Middle Harbour between Castlecrag and Seaforth, joining the current Warringah Expressway, Wakehurst Parkway (which was to have been upgraded to a dual carriageway road) and the Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation (which is the only part of the Warringah Expressway to have been built in the Northern Beaches). It was planned by the Liberal Askin (former member for Pittwater) government to have been completed by 1980. Their successors, the Labor Wran government, shelved these plans with their "No Freeways" policy.
Spit Bridge forms part of the route from the CBD
Sydney central business district
The Sydney central business district is the main commercial centre of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It extends southwards for about 3 kilometres from Sydney Cove, the point of first European settlement. Its north–south axis runs from Circular Quay in the north to Central railway station in...
and North Shore suburbs to Manly
Manly, New South Wales
Manly is a suburb of northern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Manly is located 17 kilometres north-east of the Sydney central business district and is the administrative centre of the local government area of Manly Council, in the Northern Beaches region.-History:Manly was named...
and the Northern Beaches. The next crossing is some distance upstream (north-west) at Roseville Bridge
Roseville Bridge
Roseville Bridge crosses Middle Harbour in Sydney, Australia. It is the only crossing besides Spit Bridge.The bridge is 17.4 metres overhead. However, the adjacent Pipe Bridge has only 11 metres...
. The RTA
Roads and Traffic Authority
The Roads and Traffic Authority is a former New South Wales government agency that was responsible for major road infrastructure, licensing of drivers, and registration of motor vehicles. The RTA directly managed State roads and provided funding to local councils for regional and local roads...
announced in August 2006 that tenders had been called for widening of the bridge to six lanes, with two extra traffic lanes and a pedestrian/cycleway being added on the western side, and upgrades to the lifting mechanism. Construction was have begun in 2007, however, the project was scrapped in May of that year. According to the government this was due to technical and engineering difficulties, according to the opposition it was because of political considerations. The increased cost estimates to $115m were deemed to be not justifiable by NSW Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal
Eric Roozendaal
Eric Roozendaal is an Australian politician, serving as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since 2004. He is a former General Secretary of the Australian Labor Party....
and the 5 year plan was ditched. Traffic delays either side of the Spit bridge have been a problem for many years, not only on the approaches to the bridge itself, but also far up the hills on either side. Proposals to ameliorate delays have included widening the bridge, a tunnel linking the Warringah Expressway and the Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation
Burnt bridge creek deviation
The Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation is a 1.5 km stretch of freeway grade road in the Northern Beaches area of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It forms part of Metroad 10 and is the only freeway grade section of that route....
, and a high-level bridge in place of the existing one. The local state member has said the latter two are too expensive with $200 million estimated for a high-level bridge, and $1 Billion for the tunnel.
In 2007, the RTA
Roads and Traffic Authority
The Roads and Traffic Authority is a former New South Wales government agency that was responsible for major road infrastructure, licensing of drivers, and registration of motor vehicles. The RTA directly managed State roads and provided funding to local councils for regional and local roads...
found that traffic either side of the bridge doesn't return to normal for 15 minutes after the bridge is opened and reduced the number of bridge opening times.