The 112-year-old swing bridge to Glebe Island has been permanently in the open position for the past 10 years. Should the bridge be reopened? What should it be used for? Have your say in our poll.
I’ve been working hard with the community to protect the bridge from being demolished for several years, pushing the Government not only to preserve the bridge but to reopen it for foot and bicycle traffic, with the opportunity to develop light rail.
Using the Glebe Island Bridge as a thoroughfare once again would be an important step in improving the transport connectivity of our area and helping people get where they need to go easily and quickly.
We understand that the Government is now actively developing options for the use of the bridge so we are stepping up our campaign.
I've written to the Minister for Transport on this important matter and will update you shortly. I’ll be calling on you for your support this year to help us drive a strong campaign to restore the Glebe Island Bridge to full use once again.
What do you think? Should the bridge be reopened? What should it be used for? Have your say in our poll.
Showing 28 reactions
Jan Larsen
https://youtu.be/2d8G9T5iwHo
more on WAN at https://goo.gl/RakJmF
On a more modern note, the NSW Govt. should appreciate that with a corridor over the Glebe Island Bridge for pedestrians, cyclists and light rail, the Govt. will make a lot of money. This would come from a significance increase in the value of the land being sold by the Govt. as part of the Bays Precinct redevelopment. With such links to the city, the value of new apartments would increase substantially, which means the land value (for the Govt.) would also substantially increase.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Rolling_Bridge_opening_and_closing_(300px,_5x_speed).ogv
The prize can be a little name plaque on the newly restored bridge and dinner for two to the value of $500.00 paid for by the superyacht marina.
McDonalds won’t do it for me.
Something like this could be integrated into the existing bridge with push button or remote control response. I hear 200 boats a day cross under the bridge. I live locally and bike around the coast often, and I cant recall seeing one. I presume they mostly cross in the morning en masse (eg the fishing fleet). It seems we mostly would use the bridge at different times.
I think it should be restored at the marinas expense. They have no right to cripple a historic structure and in restoration we can all be satisfied. We can cross and it can be opened for the yachts.
Another option is to build a pedestrian/bike bridge along side it. A pontoon bridge (openable) could be up and running within a year as a temporary measure. Any new pedestrian bridge could be an architectural feature for the area. Time for a new public competition.
It is in a sorry state of repair as for many years it was used as a spare parts shop for the more glamourous Pyrmont Bridge. They are, all but, identical. Fancy allowing spares to be robbed from this bridge as it was quite often closed to sea traffic and could operate very well on its own. The buck has been passed many times and the current owners ( I think) are the RMS and they don’t want to spend the money keeping it working or indeed stopping it falling down. The central sandstone supported turntable bearings seem to be OK but the timber guide and protective timbers are very badly eaten away.
So I suppose its like everything, who has the dollars to repair and maintain it ? The MV Claudia is no longer a user, Roads and Maritime boats and fishing boats go under and through when it’s swung shut and the few yachties who stay in Rozelle and Blackwattle Bay only need it on a few occasions each year. The working boats will need it open for crane barges and so on and for the heritage boats they will need it open for Lady Hopetoun and the steam tug Waratah. So that leaves the fleet of very expensive “Super Yachts”. I think I have just tumbled on the finance for it.
Love ya GIB.
If this reopened it would be a great outcome for crossing by door and bike to rozelle