Gilberton swing bridge across River Torrens to be repaired at a cost of $500,000
A 95-YEAR-OLD swing bridge over the River Torrens north of the city is to be overhauled at a cost of $500,000. Here’s what the facelift involves.
FINALLY there’s word on the heritage-listed Gilberton swing bridge, dubbed the “bridge to nowhere” last year it after it was temporarily closed due to safety concerns.
The long-term future of the bridge has been uncertain as the two Adelaide councils it straddles — Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council and Walkerville — have needed to decide whether to invest heavily to repair it, or have it permanently shut.
The cost of a major overhaul is tipped to be about $500,000.
Norwood, Payneham & St Peters Council have now voted to contribute $232,500 to fixing the 95-year-old bridge.
And Walkerville Council is also expected to agree to pay the remaining $267,500.
The 57m bridge over the River Torrens connects Player Court, St Peters, with Severn St, Gilberton.
The iconic bridge was built by a property developer in 1920 to allow St Peters residents to cross the river to catch the Walkerville tram to the city.
Refurbishment works will include:
REPLACING the hardwood deck with a fibreboard composite
REPLACING all bolts, nuts and screws
REPLACING all eight wire ropes
UPGRADING the staircase on the Gilberton end.
Cr John Minney, who recalled riding his bike across the bridge as a boy, said the repairs would help restore the bridge to its former glory.
“It’s a little bit like grandpa’s axe — it’s had four new handles and two new heads but it’s still grandpa’s axe,” Cr Minney said.
It was closed in January last year, reopening in March after minor repairs.
There was some disagreement at the time over whether the bridge was worth repairing — and if it could be guaranteed to be safe.
There’s been no start date given for work on the planned $. 5m revamp although it isn’t likely to happen for at least a year.
LEFT HANGING — TO REPAIR OR SHUT DOWN?
WHEN the bridge was shut temporarily last year Walkerville Council said rusty joints reflected the bridge’s almost 100-year age and showed it was in need of a major overhaul.
At the time, it argued that even if money was invested into fixing the historic structure, the bridge would likely not meet Australian Standards, meaning the council might still be liable if a pedestrian is injured crossing it.
The council voted to talk with Norwood, Payneham & St Peters to discuss options that include ``closure or decommission”.
The bridge’s local heritage protection prohibits demolition or any major changes without approval.
At the time, NP & SP Mayor Robert Bria said his council was awaiting advice from the Local Government Association Mutual Liability Scheme about the risks associated with repairing the bridge.
“Until we get that advice we will not be in a position to consider what is a feasible and responsible option that we could investigate.”
Walkerville Mayor Heather Wright said the council was weighing up how it could keep the bridge.
Walkerville infrastructure manager Matthew Romaine said an engineers’ report found the bridge to be “structurally sound”.
- Kurtis Eichler, Sophie Perri