The Sydney Harbor Bridge is one of the most iconic destinations where people gather to celebrate New Year’s Eve. The Harbor Bridge is part of Sydney New Year's Eve celebrations, generally being used in spectacular ways during the fireworks displays. The Sidney Harbor Bridge is the largest and widest steel-arch bridge in the world. The New Year’s Eve classical landmark is 151.3 feet wide, and was until 1967, Sydney’s tallest structure. The bridge is nicknamed "The Coathanger" because of its arch-based design.
Sydney Harbor Bridge Facts
- The highest point of the arch is 440 feet, it is the tallest steel arch bridge, measuring 440 ft. from top to water level
- The bridge pylons are 292 feet high.
- 122,000 cubic meters were excavated for the foundations.
- 95,000 cubic yards of concrete were poured.
- More than 16,500 cubic meters of granite were installed on pylons and piers.
- More than 50,000 gallons of paint were used as the initial three coats
- The longest span of the Bridge is 1650 feet. The total length is 3770 feet.
- The Sydney Harbor Bridge is the fourth longest single-span steel arch bridge in the world.
- The Bridge is 161 feet wide, making it the widest single-span Bridge in the world.
- The weight of the steel arch is 39,000 tons
- It took over eight years to build the Bridge, between July 1923 and March 1932.
- The Bridge was opened in Sydney Australia on 19 March 1932.
- Dr JJC Bradfield is considered the ‘Father of the Bridge’.
- The detailed design and the planning process were carried out by the contractor’s consulting engineer Ralph Freeman.
- Sixteen workers died during construction.
- The girders are made from steel (79% imported from England and 21% from Australian sources).
- The Bradfield Highway is about 1.5 mi long, one of the shortest highways in Australia.
Sydney Harbor Bridge Construction
Sidney’s harbor bridge construction started on 28 July 1923, where the approach spans were erected first. Two half-arches were built out from each side of Sidney’s Harbor, and later transported into position on August 19, 1930. After the arches were joined, the road deck was hung and completed within nine months. The arch is composed of two 28-panel arch trusses; their heights vary from 59 ft. at the center of the arch to 187 ft. at the ends next to the pylons.
The arches itself weighs more than 39,000 tonnes, made mainly of England steel, while the rest of steel, approximately 20 percent, was Australia’s steel. The bridge was secure by large hand-driven rivets, heated red-hot and inserted into the plates. This method was used rather than welding because it was a proven technique during that period.
Sydney Harbor Bridge: Pylons
Sidney’s harbor bridge has a pair of 292 feet concrete pylons, faced with granite, although they are not contributing to any structural component of the bridge. Abutments at the base of the pylons are essential to support the loads from the arch and hold its span firmly in place. The concrete pylons of this New Year’s Eve scenic venue were designed by Thomas Tait, a Scottish architect. The south-eastern pylon contains a museum and tourist center, with a 360° lookout at the top providing views across the harbor and city while the south-western pylon is used by the New South Wales Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA).
The southern end of the bridge was worked on ahead of the northern end, in order to detect any errors and to help with alignment. The bridge carries six lanes of road traffic on its main roadway, while on its eastern side are two lanes of road traffic and a footpath, and on its western side are two railway tracks and a bicycle path.
