Thousands step out as Riverbank footbridge opens for second Ashes Test at Adelaide Oval
THOUSANDS of people have braved unseasonably cold weather to venture over the new Riverbank footbridge to Adelaide Oval.
THOUSANDS of people have braved the unseasonably cold weather to venture over the new Riverbank footbridge to Adelaide Oval.
Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide footballers, politicians and eager cricket fans gathered alongside the banks of the River Torrens from 6am for a public event to be among the first to traverse the $40m footbridge.
Premier Jay Weatherill led a convoy of about 1000 people who walked over the 200m bridge, which will eventually be 8m wide (it is only 6m at the moment) when construction is completed.
Mr Weatherill also announced the new southern stand - formerly known as the Bradman Stand - would be officially known as the Riverbank Stand.
"The southern end of the ground has always been referred to as the 'River End' as it looks over the Torrens, so it makes sense to name the stand to recognise this," Mr Weatherill said.
The 12-storey stand will tower 52m over the surface of the oval and is almost 150m wide.
"It was important to find a name that maintains neutrality in terms of football and cricket, but also something that spectators and fans can relate to," Mr Weatherill said.
"Today, in the midst of one of the world's fiercest sporting rivalries, the first fans get to enjoy the newest addition to the Adelaide skyline, an engineering marvel and an amazing place to watch cricket."
Infrastructure Minister Tom Koutsantonis, who was among the crowd for this morning's footbridge unveiling, said the Riverbank Stand also housed the oval's main function space and the historic Bradman collection.
"Today's Test match is just the beginning - the thousands of people who will come to the Oval - not just for sporting events but for functions, conferences and concerts - will eat, shop and stay in the city and visit our many other attractions and wine regions," Mr Koutsantonis said.
Also among the colourful crowd to welcome the new footbridge were cricket fans "Merv" and "Trev" - decked out in cricket whites and holding a jar of vegemite for sustenance.
"We got up at 4am to warm up with a couple of meat pies and VBs," Merv said.
"The great thing is that we didn't have to get up as early as other years when we had to build a canoe the day before to get across the Torrens, either that or we'd end up with algae over our legs."
Infrastructure chief Rod Hook, who has steered the project from its inception, was pleased with the turnout and said about 20,000 cricket fans were expected to use the footbridge today for the first day of the second Ashes test.
Many families and children also defied the windy and wet weather, including friends Zali Sedgman, 11, Emily Goldsmith, 15, Shalani Wood, 12, and Sebastien Skubala, 10.
Zali said she was not a cricket fan but could not wait until she was able to watch her beloved Adelaide Crows play AFL at the redeveloped oval.
"I can't wait to see the new grandstands and go to the footy, and one day to drink champagne in there," she said.
While the mood was overwhelmingly festive, a man - wielding a Southern Cross flag - maintained a silent and lone protest sitting on the banks of the Torrens against the government's St Clair land redevelopment at Woodville.
Workers beat the clock to have the Riverbank footbridge open in time for the first day of the Test - just.
The last concrete was poured on Monday.
Premier Jay Weatherill said it had always been a condition of the building contract that the bridge would be opened temporarily for the Test match.
"That doesn't mean it wasn't tough and they've done a fantastic job to get it ready for this day," he said.
The $40 million bridge was the key connector linking other Riverbank projects including Adelaide Oval, the expanded Convention Centre and new Royal Adelaide Hospital, Mr Weatherill said.
"This is more than a bridge, it links both sides of the river that creates this fantastic new Riverbank precinct."
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During the bridge's temporary opening - while it is not at its full width - orange barriers will stop cricket fans doing any damage to its glass sides.
Transport Department chief executive Rod Hook said the barriers would stop any "scratches" so the builders could hand over the completed bridge in pristine condition next March.
Both the SACA and SANFL previously criticised the bridge for not being 10-12m wide, but Mr Hook said 6m would be enough for cricket crowds.
"Cricket people come and go," he said.
"It's not like footy where they all leave within half an hour of the game."
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X-Factor winner Reece Mastin has been entertaining today's crowd.
Deputy Premier John Rau said yesterday that the opening party would kick off a summer of concerts, pop-up bars, exhibitions and festivals planned for the Riverbank.
Partygoers can also explore the Blue Hive, a series of large octagonal structures along the promenade featuring a giant abacus, peek holes and mist machines.
War Memorial Drive will be closed from 7am to 7pm through the Test.
The footbridge will close again after December 9. Construction will be completed in March.