Sydney Harbour Bridge

Sydney Harbour Bridge at sunset

The Sydney Harbour Bridge, in Sydney Harbour, is a bridge that joins north Sydney with south Sydney. People can cross the bridge by car, walking or by train. It now carries eight traffic lanes. Using six intended traffic lanes and an additional two that were formally tram tracks.

There are two railway lanes that head in opposite directions. There is a tunnel that goes underneath. The bridge is an important tourist attraction. The scenery attracts many tourists and people living in or near the city. One of the many attractions of the Harbour Bridge is its famous 'BridgeClimb'. Luna Park Sydney is located next to the bridge.

The bridge is 1,149 metres (3,770 feet) long and 49 m (161 ft) wide. The highest point of the arch is 134 m (440 ft) tall. Building began on 19 March 1923 and ended in 1932. John Bradfield led the bridge's building.

The standards of industrial safety during construction were poor by today's standards. Sixteen workers died during construction,^[31] but surprisingly only two were from falling off the bridge. Several more were injured from unsafe working practices undertaken whilst heating and inserting its rivets, and the deafness experienced by many of the workers in later years was blamed on the project. 

Henri Mallard between 1930 and 1932 produced hundreds of stills^[32] and film footage^[33] which reveal at close quarters of the bravery of the workers in tough Great Depression era conditions.^{[citation needed]}

The total financial cost of the bridge was AU£6.25 million, which was not paid off in full until 1988.^[34]

Sydney Harbour Bridge Media

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  Sydney Harbour Bridge from the air

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  The bridge illuminated at night

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  One of the many nuts holding the Sydney Harbour Bridge on its abutments. This one is at Milsons Point (the north end), and a man's hand is shown for scale.

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  The south-eastern pylon containing the tourist lookout, made of granite quarried at Moruya

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  Sketches of designs submitted when tenders were called for a harbour crossing in 1900

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  Three-span bridge linking Millers Point with Balls Head and Balmain, proposed by Ernest Stowe in 1922

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  Norman Selfe's winning design at the second competition c.1903

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  The Hell Gate Bridge in New York City inspired the final design of Sydney Harbour Bridge

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  Sydney Harbour Bridge under construction

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  The arch being constructed

Other websites

Media related to Sydney Harbour Bridge at Wikimedia Commons