Work is nearing completion on an innovative new bridge over the Parramatta River, a first of its kind for Australia and one that offers easy access at either end.
The Alfred Street Bridge in western Sydney is the first diagonal arch bridge to be designed and constructed in Australia.
A diagonal arch cross bridge stretches diagonally from one corner to the other and enables entry points to remain wide open for pedestrians and bike riders.
Once complete, it will connect the Parramatta Valley Cycleway along the northern side of the river with Alfred Street on the southern side, improving access to the Parramatta CBD and surrounding areas for those riding and walking.
Located between James Ruse Drive and Gasworks Bridge, the Alfred Street Bridge will be 4.5 metres wide almost 200 metres long.
The bridge will serve as not just an eye-catching architectural landmark, but a vital new thoroughfare for Parramatta's expanding population.
“Alfred Street Bridge will make it safer and faster for our growing community to move in and out of our Parramatta CBD,” City of Parramatta Lord Mayor Donna Davis said.
“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 $19 million project was first announced in 2017 and the 80-metre-long arch was swung into place by a 750-tonne crane earlier this month. The project is in its final stages of construction and the bridge is expected to open in mid-2023.
“We’re really looking forward to the opening of the Alfred Street Bridge," says long-time Parramatta resident Greg Temme. "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.
"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.”
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