The Birkenhead Bridge at Port Adelaide has reopened to road and marine traffic this week following a $3.73 million State Government funded upgrade, ensuring its long term structural integrity and safety.
The essential upgrade works undertaken by local South Australian company McMahon Services Australia Pty Ltd, included replacing the Birkenhead Bridge timber roadway deck with a Fibre Reinforced Polymer deck, and the eastern timber footpath with an aluminium footpath.
Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Corey Wingard said the State Heritage Bridge has special significance for Adelaide.
"The Birkenhead Bridge was built from 1937 to 1939 and officially opened in 1940," Minister Wingard said. "It was South Australia's first bascule bridge and was state heritage listed in 1993 because it was also Australia's first double-leaf bascule bridge.
"Not only have these works protected and preserved a piece of South Australia's rich history, they have created important jobs for South Australians.
"The works supported around 20 full time equivalent jobs over the construction period including scaffolders, demolition operators, painters, boilermakers, crane crew, carpenters, manufacturers and surfacing crews.
"Other works forming part of this important upgrade included associated steel protection works, bitumen surfacing and line marking.
"The works undertaken will ensure the bridge's long term structural integrity and safety for all users, including the more than 16,000 vehicles that use it every day.
"We appreciate the patience of the community and users while these important works were undertaken."
The Birkenhead Bridge is 246.44 metres long and currently provides two lane carriageway 9.5 metres wide with a footpath on the eastern side and a 4.5 metre spared cycle and footpath on the western side.
The upgraded Bridge will now accommodate cars towing a caravan, trucks with two axels, buses and emergency vehicles which has not been possible since September 2018 due to the previous condition of the Bridge.
