Adelaide’s 97-year-old Gilberton swing bridge is still waiting on $500k fix, announced two years ago

THE beloved bridge that’s provided a delightfully rickety crossing over the River Torrens for almost a century is in need of repair. So why, two years after $500k was promised to fix it, hasn’t it happened?

Locals are hoping the 97-year-old bridge will soon get the $500k fix it badly needs. Picture: Roger Wyman

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DELAYS continue to rock the Gilberton swing bridge, which is still awaiting a $500,000 revamp.

Work on the 97-year-old bridge was due to start last month after the project – a joint venture between Walkerville and Norwood, Payneham and St Peters councils – was deferred after it was further damaged by storms in September.

Walkerville Council CEO Kiki Magro blamed delays in the development approval process for the standstill.

“NPSP are entirely responsible for project management and delivery of the refurbished bridge,” she said last week.

“Unfortunately they have experienced a number of delays during the development approval process which neither council has control over, which has further delayed the proposed work.”

Walkerville Council is developing a communication strategy with NPSP to update the public on the status of the project – with a revised start date for works expected in the coming weeks.

For Gilberton residents Alvin and Kathleen Whittle, the refurbishment has been a long time coming after it was initially promised in 2015.

“It’d be fantastic if it does reopen,” Mr Whittle said.

The bridge holds many memories for many people. This picture, taken by Jack Haywurst in 1967, shows young friends at the Gilberton Swimming Pool in 1967, with the suspension bridge n the background.

“We find the bridge very, very convenient. For instance, if we want to go to the shops and the bridge isn’t open we have to go around Linear Park, which adds another 2km.”

Walkerville councillor David Whiting said the council was determined to put right the damage from last year’s storms.

“We had hundreds of thousands of dollars damage as a result of flooding last year to contend with, including the swing bridge at Gilberton,” Cr Whiting said.

Restoration of the bridge was first announced two years ago in the wake of safety fears, resulting in its temporary closure.

Connecting Player Court, St Peters with Severn St, Gilberton, it was built by a property developer in 1920 to allow St Peters residents to cross the river and catch the Walkerville tram to the city.