Work starts on Alfred Street Bridge, Parramatta

Work on a ‘world class’ footbridge has started at Parramatta where it will boast the nation’s only diagonal arch and connect walkers to the popular foreshore. View footage of the site.

Joanne Vella

@Parramatta_News

2 min read

March 21, 2022 - 7:08PM

Parramatta Advertiser

Construction begins on Alfred Street Bridge at Parramatta

NSW

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Work has started on a $19 million pedestrian and cyclist Alfred Street Bridge over the Parramatta River, connecting the Gas Works Bridge to James Ruse Drive.

The State Government and Parramatta Council are co-funding the bridge, which will be Australia’s first diagonal arch span and measure 190m long and 4.5m wide.

The Bonacci Infrastructure-designed structure will connect the Parramatta CBD with Baludarri Drive and Western Sydney University’s Rydalmere campus and provide direct access to the Parramatta Light Rail’s Tramway Ave stop.

Cyclists and walkers will also relish how it links four key regional cycling paths.

Infrastructure, Cities and Active Transport Minister Rob Stokes described the bridge as world class and said it was part of infrastructure that would support “tens of thousands” of new homes and jobs over next two decades.

“Pedestrians and cyclists around the Parramatta River already have access to one of Australia’s best waterfront paths and the stunning new footbridge will allow even more people to enjoy it,” Mr Stokes said.

“More local residents will be able to walk, run or ride to Parramatta Park, Parramatta CBD, Sydney Olympic Park, the wider M4 regional cycleway and the Alfred Street cycleway once these works are completed.’’

The bridge was initially slated to be completed early 2022 but the timeline has been pushed back and slated to wrap up by the end of the year.

An artist's impression/concept design for the Alfred Street Bridge at Parramatta. "Australia's first diagonal arch bridge" links the CBD to the east of the river.

For many residents, particularly apartment dwellers, the river foreshore is part of their backyard in a booming city.

Planning Minister Anthony Roberts said Parramatta’s population was expected to soar to over 200,000 over the next 20 years.

The infrastructure is expected to support more than 72,000 homes to be built and 113,000 jobs created to meet the demand.

“This has already started with the recent construction of almost 500 homes along Morton St,’’ he said.

Some of the units at Morton St, Parramatta, where 500 dwellings are under construction along the densely-populated foreshore.

Praising the project for delivering “outstanding walking and cycling infrastructure’’ and increased public space with river views, trees and shade, Parramatta state Liberal MP Geoff Lee said the bridge work marked the beginning of an important chapter for the city.

“The river crossing will complement a cycleway that connects to the light rail, along with significant improvements in Alfred St, a new riverfront amphitheatre and the upgrades in Charles St,’’ Mr Lee said.

The bridge project comes almost a year after the $18 million Escarpment Boardwalk opposite the Charles Street Wharf opened.

The 10km boardwalk connect pedestrians and cyclists from Parramatta to Sydney Olympic Park, via Melrose Park.

Plumbers Marko Skvorc and Dan Cape work on a George St construction site and welcomed the bridge as a way to ease congestion on Parramatta’s streets.

“The traffic’s pretty bad here and there’s no parking whatsoever and there’s a lot of one-way streets in Parramatta, which makes it a hassle,’’ Mr Cape, of Freshwater, said.