MILESTONE: Alfords Point Bridge turns 50 (1973) - Proposals and construction

This year, Alfords Point Bridge turns 50. The three-lane bridge was opened to traffic on 7 September 1973, while the second bridge was opened to traffic as part of its duplication in 2008.

Next week will focus on its opening, but this week, I will share some newspaper features relating to planning and construction. 

The St George and Sutherland Leader in 1961 reported that Menai residents were prepared to fund the construction of a bridge at Lugarno to link the then semi-rural suburb with the rest of Sydney.

Source: Anon. 1961. "Menai folk suggest levy for bridge". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, November 16: 14. 

In 1966, it was reported in The Sydney Morning Herald that the government intended to build a new bridge between Padstow Heights and Alfords Point. The location on the Georges River was selected because it was regarded as located halfway between the Milperra Bridge and Tom Ugly's Bridge. It was intended that contracts would be issued by mid-1968.

Source: Anon. "New bridge promised". The Sydney Morning Herald, October 7: 6. 

At the end of 1969, it was announced that tenders would be called to build the new bridge as it was deemed a "high priority" in the Department of Main Roads building program. Apart from providing a third bridge to connect the Sutherland Shire with the St George region, it was to be built as part of a "bypass" or arterial road that would connect Heathcote and Hornsby (known today as the A6).

Source: Anon. 1969. "Bridge will connect by-pass". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, December 3: 1.  

By February 1970, it was announced that work would start "almost immediately". In November 1970, it was announced that John Holland was the successful tender to build the bridge at an estimated $2.3 million, with a projected completion date of mid-1973. 

Source: Anon. 1970. "Fast north-south: Early Start For Flyover". The St George and Sutherland Shire, February 25: 1. 

Below is an article from The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader reporting on the progress of construction in 1972.

Source: Anon. 1972. "Vital North-South Link Stays on Schedule". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, February 9: 18.

A progress report from July 1972 (below) contains a photo on construction of the bridge plus the announcement that John Holland was also to build the bridge connecting the bridge with Davies Street, Padstow.

Source: Anon. 1972. "Second bridge will speed Menai's traffic". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, July 12: 15. 

Finally, a photo feature from early 1973 which was published in The Daily Telegraph.

 

Source: Anon. 1973. "Forging a new link...". The Daily Telegraph, February 8: 24.  

Property Advert of the Week: Three bedroom homes for sale - Seven Hills (1967)

In 1967, three-bedroom homes were for sale at Seven Hills for a deposit of $600 (£300). According to the map, the homes were located in an area to the east of Seven Hills Road, in and around Lucretia Road.

 

Source: Camillo Constructions Pty. Ltd. 1967. "£300 Full Deposit" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, July 29: 24. 

Note: Goods and services were allowed to be advertised in pounds, shillings and pence for a two-year period following the introduction of decimal currency on 14 February 1966

VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Welcome to Sydney sign (2001)

This is the last entry in our current series. Balmain Artist Michael Snape created a sign in 1999 using a 30-metre prototype electricity cable carrier imported from Germany which the word "Sydney" running down its sign. South Sydney Council rejected a proposal to erect it at Sydney Park in St Peters, but Campbelltown Council voted to investigate buying and erecting the sign on a hill near the Mt Annan Botanic Garden. 

It was never built and represents a lost opportunity to have an artwork or structure to greet those driving into Sydney from the Hume Motorway. Do you think it should have been built?

Source: Skelsey, M. "Towering icon will show the way to Sydney". The Daily Telegraph, March 27:11.

Property Advert of the Week: Meriton Weekly Advertisement (2000)

Below is a weekly advertisement from Meriton Apartments that was published in The Sydney Morning Herald on 10 June 2000.

I was a big fan of their advertisements as they showcased projects that were either complete, under construction or even proposed within the Sydney region. 

  

Source: Meriton Apartments. 2000. "Meriton" (Advertisement). The Sydney Morning Herald, June 10: 2A-3A (Domain Liftout). 

VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Triple-Bridge Plan to Span Harbour (1922)

Source: Item 15: Cuttings Mainly regarding Suggestions for a Second Harbour Bridge in Sydney, 1922, 1922. Accessed July 28, 2023, https://digital.sl.nsw.gov.au/delivery/DeliveryManagerServlet?embedded=true&toolbar=false&dps_pid=IE6258874&_ga=2.23513913.2006621465.1690502948-563559362.1682639266&_gl=1*1f7f6uc*_ga*NTYzNTU5MzYyLjE2ODI2MzkyNjY.*_ga_CYHFMM592Q*MTY5MDUxMzU1NS42LjEuMTY5MDUxMzg2OC41NC4wLjA. 

In 1922, engineer Ernest Stowe proposed a three-way bridge to cross Sydney Harbour as "cheap" solution to building a harbour crossing. The three bridges would have linked the Sydney CBD with the North Shore and Balmain. It was envisioned that the bridges converge in a central tower on Goat Island. It was floated as a proposal alongside what became the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

The proposal was floated in 1959 as a second harbour crossing by a Longueville resident who suggested that the bridge design be based on the Gladesville Bridge, which was proposed at the time. Below is an article from The Sydney Morning Herald in 1959.

 

Source: Anon. 1959. "Triple-Bridge Plan to Span Harbour". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 14: 9.

In 1981, a scaled-down proposal was proposed. The bridge scheme was one of several schemes which included tunnels under Sydney Harbour running predominantly through the eastern half of the Balmain Peninsula.

 

Source: Malley, J. "Under or over the Harbour: a choice". The Sydney Morning Herald, December 7: 1. 

Locals on both sides of the harbour mobilised, citing concerns over the loss of homes and safety risks associated with tunnels. This eventually led to the proposal being dropped, which ultimately led to the construction of the Sydney Harbour Tunnel.

 

Source: Glasscott, J. 1982. "Balmain mobilised against the second crossing". The Sydney Morning Herald, June 30: 1.

Four decades later, the Western Harbour Tunnel fulfils the vision to allow those driving from the west to cross Sydney Harbour without driving through the Sydney CBD and need not use the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Instead of heading in a northerly or northwest direction as envisioned by Stowe in 1922, the tunnel will send motorists in a north-easterly direction under Balmain and Birchgrove to Sydney Harbour, underneath the harbour and under Balls Head and North Sydney before connecting with the Warringah Expressway. 

Property Advert of the Week: 50 Vega Street, Revesby (1977)

Below is a newspaper advertisement for 50 Vega Street, Revesby. Two and three-bedroom townhouses were available from $38 750 to $43 250. According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, this would equate to the equivalent of $243 000 to $271 000.

 

Source: Parkes (Sales) Pty. Lrd. 1977. "T/Houses Grand Opening!" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, January 29:12. 

VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Alternative Transport schemes for the Sydney Harbour Tunnel (1987)

Source: Coultan, M. 1987. "Bright ideas underwhelm Harbour Crossings Minister".  The Sydney Morning Herald, February 24: 1. 

In 1987, the NSW State Government announced that the Sydney Harbour Tunnel was to be built, running under Sydney Harbour from the Cahill Expressway at Macquarie Street to the Warringah Expressway at North Sydney.

Apart from alternative routes for the tunnel, other transport options were explored, including:

1. Additional four lanes on the Sydney Harbour Bridge above the existing road deck.
2. A rail tunnel between Wynyard and St Leonards
3. A bridge running from Millers Point to Greenwich via Goat Island with a spur road to Balimain (proposals existed for decades dating to the 1920s)
4. A tram tunnel from Paddington to Spit Junction via Bradleys Head and then running onto the Northern Beaches. 

Two of the four alternative ideas have evolved into reality, as reflected in current transport projects.

Rail tunnel between Wynyard and St Leonards

The 1987 vision involved the line integrated into the existing heavy rail network, but the Sydney Metro currently under construction from Chatswood to Sydenham has seen the construction of the first rail line underneath Sydney Harbour, following an alignment predominantly towards the east with stations at Crows Nest and Victoria Cross (North Sydney). However, the line runs west of the harbour bridge with stations at Barangaroo, Martin Place, Pitt Street and Central.

Suspension Bridge from Millers Point to Greenwich via Goat Island and Balmain Spur Road

This has evolved into the Western Harbour Tunnel running from the WestConnex at Rozelle, under Balmain, to connect with the Warringah Expressway at North Sydney north of Falcon Street. Completion is scheduled for 2028. The tunnel will enable traffic from the southern and western suburbs to bypass the Sydney CBD altogether. 

Related Entries

MILESTONE: Sydney Harbour Tunnel turns 25 (1992) 

VISIONS OF SYDNEY: Additional Sydney Harbour Bridge Roadways (1987)

Property Advert of the Week: Kingswood Heights Estate, Cambridge Park (1966)

Below is a newspaper advertisement from 1966 to promote the Kingswood Heights Estate at Cambridge Park. Housing lots were on offer for as low as £650 ($1300). According to the RBA Inflation Calculator, this was equivalent to $19 187 today.

Source: W. G. Millard Pty. Ltd. 1966. "Kingswood Heights Estate" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph,  February 12: 50.

Note: This advertisement was published prior to 14 February 1966, when Australia converted to decimal currency.