By Megan Gorrey
It’s the linchpin that has connected Sydney’s city centre to the inner west for more than a century.
But the strain of old age, its watery location spanning Cockle Bay, and 6 million pedestrian and bike crossings a year have necessitated a multimillion-dollar upgrade for the historic Pyrmont Bridge, which will coincide with plans for more intensive development around the western harbour.
Pyrmont Bridge has long been a crucial connection between Sydney’s CBD and Pyrmont. Credit: Oscar Colman
The NSW government will spend $59.8 million over the next 10 years to refurbish the state heritage-listed bridge and maintain the structure as a critical active transport route in and out of the CBD.
Planning and Public Spaces Minister Paul Scully said the 123-year-old structure, which is one of the world’s oldest surviving electrically operated swing span bridges, desperately needed restoration.
“Pyrmont Bridge has been an iconic part of Sydney’s history since 1902 and this investment will make crucial repairs so it can continue to be used by 16,000 pedestrians and cyclists daily.
“To put this work into perspective, the swing span alone weighs 1000 tonnes, so this is vital work that will reinforce the bridge.”
The funds, allocated in Tuesday’s budget, will help repair eight of the bridge’s 12 wooden spans and its two steel swing spans, as well as replace about 750 timber beams. The deck will also be resealed to make it watertight and protect the timber from future deterioration. The bridge will remain open while the repairs are carried out.
The bridge replaced an earlier crossing that triggered the development of western Sydney, swinging open to allow tall vessels access to the Cockle Bay goods and rail yards. It was set for demolition when new flyovers saw it closed to cars in 1981, but protesters rallied to save it.
In 2018, work started on a $23 million restoration project to replace damaged ironbark piers – some that were well below the waterline – and truss sections over five years. There was also water damage from digging through the deck for the bridge’s now-defunct monorail pylons that had to be repaired.
The bridge is heavily used by commuters, residents and tourists. Tensions between pedestrians and cyclists prompted authorities to turn it into a shared zone with a 10km/h speed limit.
Thousands of residents, workers and tourists cross the bridge each day, which sometimes creates tensions between pedestrians and cyclists.Credit: Oscar Colman
Bicycle NSW chief executive Peter McLean is among advocates for a separated or marked cycleway.
“I think most of the budget funding will be soaked up for maintenance and rehabilitation of the asset which we won’t necessarily see, but nevertheless it’s important to its structural integrity going forward. We want it to be there in another 100 years’ time.
“It’s always going to be an area of challenge because of that heavy utilisation and the tourist component. I’d always caution bicycle riders to be very vigilant and cautious around there.”
Pedestrian Council of Australia chairman Harold Scruby agreed, saying, “I think the Pyrmont Bridge should have a separated cycleway or cyclists should have to dismount. It’s a pedestrian thoroughfare.”
The bridge opened in 1902 to connect Sydney’s CBD with Pyrmont, Glebe and the western suburbs.Credit: Fairfax Media
Plans to restore the bridge coincide with a wave of residential and commercial projects destined to draw more people and concentrate attention west of Sydney’s city centre in coming decades.
Developer Mirvac is forging ahead with its $2 billion redevelopment of the nearby Harbourside shopping centre, with a 42-storey apartment tower, offices, restaurants, bars and shops. The project includes a recently approved 3500-square-metre waterfront garden to be built next to the bridge.
There are also plans, which the state government is assessing, to erect a 40-storey office complex at the opposite end of Pyrmont Bridge as part of the $650 million Cockle Bay Wharf redevelopment.
The Pyrmont Peninsula Place Strategy, which was finalised in 2020 to guide development for the next two decades, earmarked the area for 4000 homes for 8000 residents and 23,000 new jobs.
Also under construction are the Pyrmont metro station and the new Sydney Fish Market at Glebe. About 1500 apartments will be built on the old fish market site on the Pyrmont side of Blackwattle Bay.
McLean said: “The quickest way of getting to those new key amenities or transport hubs will be walking or riding. Pyrmont Bridge is also just a stunning, beautiful walk. It’s only going to continue to grow in popularity from an active transport, recreational and a tourism point of view.”
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