West Gate Bridge history: Drivers previously had to rely on a car ferry to cross from Spotswood
Melbourne’s major landmark has played a key role in connecting the city but its construction will forever be remembered for one disastrous day in 1970.
Victoria
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Its striking curves and imposing height have dominated the Melbourne skyline for 44 years, and today the West Gate Bridge is still part of the city’s daily story.
The major landmark even last week was in the news when lane closures caused holiday traffic chaos, illustrating how integral the concrete and steel connection is to the city.
It was five decades ago when city planners realised that car access to the city from suburbs such as Newport, Spotswood and Williamstown could not be sustained by the punt that regularly chugged over the water to Fishermans Bend.
Little could those planners have envisaged the massive growth that was to follow in the west.
The Lower Yarra Crossing Authority was established in the mid-1960s and work began on the bridge in 1968.
Tenders for the $200m construction were awarded to two companies – John Holland and World Services, the latter falling behind its schedule and removed.
But the bridge’s construction and its history will be forever darkened by the events of a clear October morning in 1970.
A catastrophic error triggered a collapse of the high structure, sending more than 50 men and 2000 tonnes of concrete and steel into the Yarra.
Thirty-five construction workers were killed in Australia’s worst industrial accident.
A memorial park and plaque opened in 2004 on the actual site of the collapse, on the western bank at Spotswood.
Those who died were front of mind at the official opening of the bridge on November 15, 1978.
Premier Dick Hamer declared: “Let there be no doubt that the 35 men who died here on the 15th of October 1970 died for us. They died so that those who remain might step more safely into the future.’’
The first private cars drove over the bridge’s eight lanes at 4pm on opening day.
Though the overall length is 2.5km, the main span is 336m – two lengths of the MCG playing surface – and sits 58m above the mouth of the Yarra.
Its height was to allow big cargo ships to pass under to reach the city’s docks.
The bridge opened with a 60c toll to be paid at booths at the bridge entrances. Tolls were abolished in 1985 because motorists were avoiding the bridge to save money.
Boom gates were installed at each entrance in 2006 to halt traffic during any terrorist attack.
And in 2009, work costing almost $350m began to strengthen the bridge to accommodate heavy vehicles and enable an extra (fifth) lane in each direction. This was achieved by reclaiming the emergency lane and narrowing the existing lanes.
The West Gate Bridge now carries about 200,000 vehicles a day and is a vital link to the west and Geelong.
The booming western suburbs and increasing freight volumes prompted the state government to instigate the West Gate Tunnel project in 2018. Twin tunnels will link Yarraville and the Docklands and provide a second Yarra crossing.
The West Gate Freeway is also being widened, from eight to 12 lanes, seemingly never-ending roadworks the source of constant frustration for motorists.
The entire project is expected to open in 2025.
Originally published as West Gate Bridge history: Drivers previously had to rely on a car ferry to cross from Spotswood
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