Marion Council unveils first $4.88m coastal suspension bridge

A stunning $5m coastal suspension bridge in Adelaide’s south has nearly finished construction, with council saying the official opening is on the horizon.

A stunning coastal suspension bridge has been erected in Adelaide's south. Picture: City of Marion

A stunning coastal suspension bridge in Adelaide’s south has nearly finished construction as part of a multimillion-dollar walkway redevelopment, with council saying the official opening is on the horizon.

The $4.88m development will see the construction of two bridges across a 7.2km stretch throughout the Marion Coast Park, from Marino to the Hallett Headland Reserve at Hallett Cove.

A council spokesperson said the construction of the first bridge was an “exciting milestone”.

Construction will start on the second bridge named Kurnabinna Bridge next week.

“We are thrilled to announce that the first suspension bridge has been successfully erected at Grey Gully, an exciting milestone for our ongoing project on the coastal walkway,” they said.

“This comes after several months of extensive preparation works to form the bridge footings, making this a highly anticipated and exciting development in the project.

In 2019, council endorsed a $4.88m coastal walkway plan to re-open the gullies and extend the walkway to Field River mouth.

However, the original design of the Kurnabinna Gully Bridge – part of Marion Council’s Marino Coastal Walkway – was criticised by councillors in December 2022 as having “no capacity for people to actually walk on”.

Artist impression of the Grey Gully bridge, as seen from the ocean. Picture: City of Marion,

Last year, a council spokesman said “external consultants made an error relating to engineering loads in late 2022” but the error was “immediately addressed” with construction due to continue without any changes to the designs.

While the Grey Gully bridge is now visible along the esplanade, there are still a number of works that need to take place before the official opening of both developments.

Construction of the Kurnabinna Bridge is expected to begin next week, with the overall project scheduled to be completed by mid-2024.

“Following completion of each bridge, works will then focus on finalising the construction and linking of the surrounding boardwalk paths,” a council spokesperson said.

“The entire area encompassing the project still remains a construction site and cannot be accessed.

“It is anticipated both bridges will be in place very soon, with the overall project expected to be completed by mid-2024.”

Originally published as Marion Council unveils first $4.88m coastal suspension bridge