Engineer works to build Sydney Metro under the Harbour Bridge, which is grandad helped build

RODD Staples’ grandfather helped build the Harbour Bridge. Nearly 100 years later, his grandson is an engineer helping to dig deep beneath the legendary bridge to build the ­nation’s largest public transport development, the Sydney Metro.

Rodd Staples is overseeing the construction of the Sydney Metro tunnel under Sydney Harbour. Pictured with his children Thomas, 10, Anna, 8, and Jack, 6. Picture: Toby Zerna

RODD Staples’ grandfather helped build the Harbour Bridge and was able to also build a life for his family in the Depression thanks to his wages from the job.

Nearly 100 years later, his grandson is an engineer helping to dig deep beneath the legendary bridge to construct the ­nation’s largest public transport development, the Sydney Metro.

“My grandfather Walter Hayward Staples, my dad’s dad, lived in Redfern in the 1920s in a really difficult time during the Depression,” Sydney Metro Program Director Mr Staples said.

“A lot of people were out of work but he was fortunate to get a job working on the southern arch of the Harbour Bridge. He helped build the Bridge, putting in many of the thousands of rivets that hold it together.

“My grandfather was able to provide for his family with the money from that job during a very tough time and my father was really proud of him for that, a pride he passed on to his children, including me.

“I’d like to think that my grandfather would be very proud of me for building Sydney Metro. That he would be thinking that he helped put the bridge together and now his grandson is down there making a fantastic contribution to Sydney’s future.”

Rodd Staples is overseeing construction of the Sydney Metro.

Walter Hayward Staples helped build the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the 1920s.

The huge project is already well under way, with almost half the tunnelling complete in the northwest section. Trains will start being rolled out in 2019.

“Sydney has changed a lot since (John) Bradfield’s original plan. Threading new railway tunnels through Sydney, without disrupting the busy CBD above, is going to be a tough job,” Mr Staples said.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge is part of Rodd Staples’ history, as his grandfather helped build it. Picture: Toby Zerna

Sydney Metro will be a stand-alone train service providing more trains to the CBD area and will make room for 100,000 extra commuters during peak hour.

“While Sydneysiders have been going about their daily lives, we’ve been deep underground building Australia’s longest railway tunnels, and the end result is truly amazing,” Transport and Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance said.

Mr Staples’ story will feature on World’s Best Metro which airs on Thursday at 8pm on Seven.