Work has commenced on the planned structural restoration of the State heritage-listed Pyrmont Bridge in Sydney.
Located in Sydney’s Darling Harbour, Pyrmont Bridge, which opened in 1902, is one of the oldest surviving electrically-operated swing span bridges in the world, and is recognised as a National Engineering Landmark.
According to Property NSW chief executive Brett Newman, Pyrmont Bridge connected Sydney city to its burgeoning western suburbs for much of the 20th century, while its swing spans ensured tall vessels got access to the goods and rail yards at Cockle Bay. Even today, more than 6 million pedestrians and cyclists use the bridge, and 600 vessels pass through its swing spans each year.
To be carried out in multiple stages over the next five years, the $23 million restoration project will ensure the bridge remains an active city landmark. To maintain the ongoing structural integrity of the bridge, the deteriorated timber sections within the bridge pier and truss sections will be replaced in the first stage of the remediation project.
When Pyrmont Bridge came close to being demolished in the early 1980s, public protests helped save the heritage structure. A popular tourist attraction, the bridge continues to connect the CBD with Darling Harbour and Pyrmont.
The Pyrmont Bridge restoration is being carried out as part of the NSW government’s $73 million commitment to protect and enhance heritage assets along the Sydney Harbour foreshore.
