Australia's Sydney Harbour Bridge Turns 80
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk
#harbour #bridge #australia #sydney #architecture
One of Australia's most recognisable landmarks, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, is celebrating its 80th birthday, reported BBC.
The 1.149 thousand meters bridge, which took almost 10 years to build, was officially opened on 19 March 1932. Construction began on the span in 1923, and involved 1.4 thousand workers and 52.8 thousand tons of steel. The attraction is listed as the world's widest long-span bridge by Guinness World Records, reported The Huffingtonpost.
The bridge cost US$ 9.9 million to build and 16 men reportedly lost their lives in the construction process. When the bridge - also known locally as "the coathanger" - was opened, it connected the northern and southern shores of the harbour for the first time. In its early days about 11 thousand vehicles crossed the bridge daily. Now, it sees daily traffic of about 160 thousand vehicles.
Born from the mind of Dr. JJC Bradfield, who is considered the "Father of the Bridge", the contractor's consulting engineer, Ralph Freeman, carried out the elaborate design and the acute plans for the erection process. Known for their fierce competition with each other, and a very heated disagreement about whose idea the bridge originally was, the two men endured a bitter rivalry. Mr. Freeman later received knighthood for his contribution to this spectacular site.
The 1.149 thousand meters bridge, which took almost 10 years to build, was officially opened on 19 March 1932. Construction began on the span in 1923, and involved 1.4 thousand workers and 52.8 thousand tons of steel. The attraction is listed as the world's widest long-span bridge by Guinness World Records, reported The Huffingtonpost.
The bridge cost US$ 9.9 million to build and 16 men reportedly lost their lives in the construction process. When the bridge - also known locally as "the coathanger" - was opened, it connected the northern and southern shores of the harbour for the first time. In its early days about 11 thousand vehicles crossed the bridge daily. Now, it sees daily traffic of about 160 thousand vehicles.
Born from the mind of Dr. JJC Bradfield, who is considered the "Father of the Bridge", the contractor's consulting engineer, Ralph Freeman, carried out the elaborate design and the acute plans for the erection process. Known for their fierce competition with each other, and a very heated disagreement about whose idea the bridge originally was, the two men endured a bitter rivalry. Mr. Freeman later received knighthood for his contribution to this spectacular site.
