1957: How did Sydney get the new Gladesville Bridge?

Source: Anon. 1957. "Artist's Impression of Proposed Bridge". The Sydney Morning Herald, March 9: 8. 

Earlier this year, I found an illustration of a proposed Steel Cantalever Bridge that was proposed to replace the (old) Gladesville Bridge at Gladesville.

By the 1950's congestion along the crossing was a concern. The original bridge (1881) was only two lanes allowing for one lane of traffic in each direction. It was a low level bridge; a swing bridge which was opened at regular intervals to allow boating traffic to navigate along the Parramatta River.

The Department of Main Roads (DMR) wanted a new bridge as part of the planned (and never built) North Western Expressway to link northern Sydney, Central Coast and Newcastle to the Sydney CBD.

In 1957, tenders were invited by the DMR based on the steel cantilever bridge design with a span of 299 metres. The four tenders projected costs ranging from 2.51 million pounds ($5.2 million) to 3.87 million pounds ($7.77 million). A tender for a concrete arch bridge was submitted with a projected 2.39 million pound ($4.78 million) cost.

The DMR awarded the tender for a concrete arch bridge in 1959. The span was increased six metres to 305 metres and would cost 2.56 million pounds.

Deeper excavation of thrust blocks and the construction of the 10 lane northern approaches meant that the final cost was 3.6 million pounds. This converts to a cost of over $100 million today as based on the RBA Inflation Calculator.

Construction began in 1959 and was completed in 1964.

Additional Information:

Maxwell, M. "Gladesville Bridge - 50th Anniversary". PowerPoint Presentation. Accessed July 24, 2020. https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2017-01/Div_Syd_techPres_gladesville_bridge.pdf


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MILESTONE: Opening of Syd Enfield Drive (1979)

This year is forty years since Syd Enfield Drive was completed. Originally the road was known as the Bondi Junction Bypass. The section of road was part of a vision to form the (never built) Eastern Suburbs freeway that would connect Bondi Junction to the city.

It would also form part of the commercial redevelopment of the suburb along with the construction of the Eastern Suburbs railway line, and would eliminate through traffic through the centre of Bondi Junction.

Construction took less than two years before being opened to traffic on 9 January, 1979. The road was opened by local State MP and Minister for Consumer Affairs - Syd Enfield.

In 1988, the bypass was named Syd Enfield Drive in honour of the former MP.

With traffic now bypassing the commercial heart of Bondi Junction, it led to creation of the Oxford Street mall.

Source: Anon. 1979. "By-pass today, mall tomorrow". The Sydney Morning Herald, January 10:1. 

1987: The rumour of the demise of Tom Uglys Bridge

In 1987, The three lane (can be expanded to four lanes)  Georges River Bridge was completed running parallel to Tom Uglys Bridge on the Georges River between Blakehurst and Sylvania,

Source: Anon. 1987. "Tom Uglys: It's Staying". The St George and Sutherland Shire Leader, July 28: 1.  

Just months prior to its opening, The Sun reported that the Department of Main Roads (DMR) was considering pulling the bridge down citing structural concerns. The DMR responded by stating that refurbishment works would occur after the opening of Georges River Bridge. The DMR followed through on the refurbishment work.

The idea of the Tom Ugly's Bridge being demolished was never going to be valid as the Georges River Bridge was built to complement the original bridge and remove the bottle necks on the Princes Highway on either side of the river.

Maintenance works on the bridge is a daily part of life. As a local it appears that as one project ends, the other ends.

For the record, there was restoration work in the 2000's to address structural issues. Also it is listed on the NSW Heritage Register.

1985: Mount Street becomes a pedestrian mall

As part of the North Sydney Traffic Management Plan, a section of Mount Street from Miller Street through to Denison Street was closed off to traffic for shoppers in North Sydney but also to separate the through traffic from the local traffic. Instead of using Mount Street to access the Warringah Expressway from the Pacific Highway, motorists would be diverted one block north at Berry Street. This arrangement remains today.

Source: Department of Main Roads (NSW). 1985. "North Sydney Traffic" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, September 24:14-15.