The Alfred Street Bridge, located over the Parramatta River between James Ruse Drive and Gasworks Bridge in Parramatta, is nearly completed and set to be Australia’s first true diagonal arch bridge – including a new pedestrian and cyclist link.
The $19 million project, co-funded by Council and the New South Wales Government, is in its final stages of construction, with the bridge ramps and decks installed in late March 2023.
The 4.5m-wide, 200m-long active transport link will provide a convenient, safe and scenic walking and cycling link over the river, directly to Parramatta Light Rail.
City of Parramatta Lord Mayor, Donna Davis, said, “Alfred Street Bridge will be a great new landmark that will benefit so many people as they travel through Parramatta.
“Once complete, this bridge will make it safer and faster for our growing community to move in and out of our Parramatta CBD.
“The bridge acts as a river gateway to our city, creating more active transport links. We live in a beautiful city and we want to make it easier for people to walk, run, cycle, skate or wheel across the LGA and connect to public transport.“
The bridge has been a complex project with more than 30 workers using 280t of Australian BlueScope steel to fabricate the deck and arch in Western Sydney.
The deck and arch were delivered to site in separate pieces using oversized trucks.
The arch itself is 80m long and 30m high and was assembled and welded on site before being lifted into position using a 750t crane.
The final piece of the puzzle will be positioning the steel cables that support the deck from the arch.
The cables have been manufactured in Italy and a specialist team has flown in to oversee the installation.
Long-time Parramatta resident, Greg Temme, has lived in the area since 1985. He has been watching the bridge come to life from his apartment window, and said the Alfred Street Bridge will cut down his travel times by up to 20 minutes.
“We’re really looking forward to the opening of the Alfred Street Bridge. It will be a life-changing addition for us, it’s going to make it so much quicker to visit the town centre and the local shops,” Mr Temme said.
“We’ll be able to cross the bridge and connect to the future Parramatta Light Rail stop at Tramway Avenue where we can travel straight to Western Sydney University, Westmead Hospital, Eat Street and Parramatta CBD.”
Alfred Street Bridge is expected to open mid-2023.
Community consultation will take place after the formal opening to name the bridge, with Council’s recommendations to be submitted to the Geographical Names Board of New South Wales for formal exhibition and determination.
