View source for Narrows Bridge (Perth)

{{Short description|Set of bridges in Perth, Western Australia}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}}
{{Infobox bridge
| image = Narrows Bridge from QV.1.jpg
| caption = The Narrows Bridge viewed from [[QV1]], showing the two road bridges and railway bridge
|extra = {{Infobox designation list
| embed                   = yes
| designation1            = State Register of Heritage Places
| designation1_offname    = 
| designation1_type       = State Registered Place
| designation1_criteria   = 
| designation1_date       = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1999|4|23}}
| delisted1_date          = 
| designation1_partof     = 
| designation1_number     = {{SRHP|4795}}
}}}}
[[File:Narrows_Bridge,_Perth_WA.jpg|right|thumb|Narrows Bridge]]
The '''Narrows Bridge''' is a freeway and railway crossing of the [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]] in [[Perth]], Western Australia.

Made up of two road bridges and a railway bridge constructed at a part of the river known as ''the Narrows'', located between [[Point Belches|Mill Point]] and Point Lewis, it connects the [[Mitchell Freeway|Mitchell]] and [[Kwinana Freeway|Kwinana]] freeways, linking the city's northern and southern suburbs. The original road bridge was opened in 1959 and was the largest [[precast concrete|precast]] [[prestressed concrete]] bridge in the world. Construction of the northern interchange for this bridge necessitated the [[land reclamation|reclamation]] of a large amount of land from the river.

The bridge formed part of the Kwinana Freeway which originally ran for only {{convert|2.4|mi|km}} to [[Canning Bridge]]. Over the following decades, the freeway system was expanded to the north and south, greatly increasing the volume of traffic using the bridge. As a result, in 2001, a second road bridge was opened to the west of the original bridge, and in 2005, the railway bridge was constructed in the gap between the two traffic bridges. Passenger trains first traversed the Narrows in 2007 with the opening of the [[Mandurah railway line]].

== First road bridge: 1959 ==
{{Infobox Bridge
|bridge_name   = Narrows Bridge<br /> <small>Southbound</small>
|image         = Narrows Bridge Perth, WA 1959.jpg
|caption       = The bridge viewed from [[Kings Park, Western Australia|Kings Park]], {{circa|1959}}
|official_name =
|carries       = [[Kwinana Freeway]]<br />(southbound road lanes)
|crosses       = [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]]
| upstream = [[Boorloo Bridge]]
| downstream = [[Stirling Bridge]]
|locale        =
|maint         = [[Main Roads Western Australia]]
|designer      = Sir William Holford
|design        =
|material      = [[Reinforced concrete]]
|spans         = 5
|pierswater    = 2
|mainspan      = {{convert|98|m|ft|abbr=on}}
|length        = {{convert|396.5|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="Structurae">{{cite web |url=http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=s0005065 |title=Second Narrows Bridge |access-date=27 November 2008 |publisher=[[Structurae]] }}</ref>
|width         = {{convert|27.4|m|ft|abbr=on}}<ref name="Structurae"/>
|height        =
|load          =
|clearance     =
|below         =
|traffic       =
|begin         = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1957|6|8}}
|complete      =
|open          = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1959|11|13}}
|heritage      = WA Heritage Register
|closed        =
|coordinates   = {{coord |region:AU-WA_type:landmark_dim:400 |name={{wikidata |property |P1448 }} |display=inline,title |format=dms}}
|mapframe = no
}}
[[File:Narrows Bridge under construction.jpg|thumb|right|The original Narrows Bridge under construction, {{circa|1957}}]]
[[File:Narrows bridge construction ewd 1 restored.jpg|thumb|Narrows Bridge under construction {{circa|1958}}]]
The close distance between Mill Point and Point Lewis at the foot of Mount Eliza meant the site was suggested as a suitable location for a bridge as early as 1849.{{sfnp |Gregory |2003 |p=106 }} A bridge was proposed for the site in 1899, but its expected cost of [[British pound|£]]13,000 was deemed too high.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kate |last=Gauntlett |title=Public To Preview New Narrows |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=40 |date=6 January 2001 }}</ref> Preliminary planning for a bridge at the site finally began in 1947, but was suspended so that a replacement for [[The Causeway]] could be built at [[Heirisson Island]], at the city's eastern end.{{sfnp |Gregory |2003 |p=107 }} The new Causeway bridges were opened in 1952, and by 1954 traffic using them to enter the city had doubled, renewing calls for a bridge at the Narrows.{{sfnp |Gregory |2003 |p=107 }}<ref name="stephenson">{{cite news |title=Bridge at Narrows "Urgent Project" |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article49878383|access-date=30 August 2018 |publisher=The West Australian |date=4 September 1954}}</ref>

Site investigations for the bridge began in August 1954.{{sfnp |Gregory |2003 |p=107 }} The bridge was proposed for the Narrows site by the Town Planning Commission under the chairmanship of [[Harold Boas]].<ref name="Seddon">{{cite book |last=Seddon |first=George |author2=David Ravine |title=A city and its setting: images of Perth, Western Australia |year=1986 |publisher=Fremantle Arts Centre Press |location=[[Fremantle, Western Australia|Fremantle]] |isbn=0-949206-08-3 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/cityitssetting00sedd/page/83 83 & 187] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/cityitssetting00sedd/page/83 }}</ref> The chosen site drew public protest on the basis that the bridge would spoil the view to and from the city.<ref name="Revives"/> Also, residents of the wealthy Mill Point area were angry that they would have a major highway running beside their houses.<ref name="Revives"/> The site also necessitated the [[land reclamation|reclamation]] of {{convert|60|acre|ha}} of land from Mounts Bay for the bridge approach and interchange.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=33 }}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Layman |first=Lenore |date=2019 |title=Fighting for the Foreshore: The Campaigns to Protect Mounts Bay and Kings Park |url=https://commonslibrary.org/fighting-for-the-foreshore-the-campaigns-to-protect-mounts-bay-and-kings-park/ |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=The Commons Social Change Library |language=en-AU}}</ref> This land reclamation, which started in October 1954, saw the addition of {{convert|4.5|e6cuyd|e6m3|order=flip|abbr=off}} of sand, much of which was dredged from [[Melville Water]].{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=33 }}

The state started saving for the new bridge in September 1954,<ref name="DailyNews"/> and the construction of the bridge was approved by the [[Bert Hawke|Hawke]] state Labor government in November 1954, before the Hepburn-Stephenson metropolitan roads plan had been finalised, such was the urgency of a new traffic link.{{sfnp |Gregory |2003 |p=106 }} The construction of the bridge was subsequently endorsed in the 1955 Hepburn–Stephenson plan,<ref name="Seddon"/> which later developed into the [[Metropolitan Region Scheme]].

The river bed at the site of the proposed bridge was not ideal for bridge building, with soft mud extending down as deep as {{convert|80|ft|m}} and sand beds below that going a further {{convert|40|ft|m}} down.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=33 }} Ernie Godfrey, a bridge engineer with the Main Roads Department, travelled overseas to inspect bridges in similar geological locations and to source a designer for the proposed bridge.{{sfnp |Gregory |2003 |p=107 }} The design contract for the bridge was won by British engineering firm Maunsell & Co.{{sfnp |Gregory |2003 |p=107 }}

Construction on the road system began in 1956,{{sfnp |Gregory |2003 |p=108 }} and the contract for construction of the bridge was signed by Commissioner of Main Roads J. Digby Leach on 16 March 1957.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=30 }} The bridge was built by [[Denmark|Danish]] firm [[Christiani & Nielsen]] in conjunction with Western Australian engineering firm [[Clough Group|J. O. Clough & Son]].{{sfnp |Gregory |2003 |p=107 }}<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20221209221607/https://cloughgroup.com/projects/narrows-bridge Narrows Bridge] [[Clough Group]]</ref> Leif Ott Nilsen oversaw construction on behalf of Christiani & Nielsen.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=31 }} The first timber [[deep foundation|pile]] for the temporary staging for the construction was driven at noon on 8 June 1957.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=34 }} The first permanent pile for the bridge was driven home on 18 August 1957.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=34 }} Work on the bridge's [[precast concrete]] beams began in September 1957, and the first of these was lifted into place by the {{convert|60|ft|m|adj=on}} [[gantry crane]] in February 1958. The last river pile was driven home in November 1958, and the final concrete beam was lowered into position in June 1959.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=34 }}
During construction on 10 February 1959, [[John Tonkin]], then the Deputy Premier and Minister for Works, announced that the new bridge was to be named the Golden West Bridge.{{sfnp |Gregory |2003 |p=108 }} However, Golden West was also the name for a popular [[soft drink]];<ref>{{cite news |first=Andre |last=Malan |title=Finding The Road To Immortality |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=20 |date=11 May 2000 }}</ref> the proposal encountered scorn from commentators and was quietly dropped.{{sfnp |Gregory |2003 |p=108 }}

The bridge cost £A{{nbsp}}1.5{{nbsp}}million, equivalent to {{AUD|{{Inflation|AU|1.5|1959|r=1}}{{nbsp}}million|link=yes}} in {{Inflation/year|AU}}, as part of a wider road system costing £3.5 million.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=25 }} Construction of the bridge took two years and five months.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=25 }} It was officially opened by [[Governor of Western Australia|Governor]] [[Charles Gairdner]] on 13 November 1959.<ref name="DailyNews">{{cite news |author=Staff writer |title=A Day For Our History Book |work=[[Daily News (Perth, Western Australia)|Daily News]] |pages=1 & 3 |date=13 November 1959 }}</ref> He unveiled a plaque on the bridge together with [[Premier of Western Australia|Premier]] [[David Brand]], Commissioner of Main Roads J. Digby Leach and Works Minister [[Gerald Wild]].<ref name="DailyNews"/> Gairdner was also the first person to drive across the new bridge.<ref name="DailyNews"/> It was hoped at this stage that the debt raised to pay for the bridge would be repaid by the Government within 12 months.<ref name="DailyNews"/>

The bridge formed part of the new Kwinana Freeway, which originally ran {{convert|2.4|mi|km}} from the Narrows to [[Canning Highway]].{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=27 }} This was described as the "most modern highway" in Western Australia, with a speed limit of {{convert|50|mph|km/h}}.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=27 }} The bridge was also the largest precast prestressed concrete bridge in the world at the time of its opening.<ref name="World's Largest Precast">Anon. 1959, ''World's largest precast prestressed concrete bridge completed'', Roads and Road Construction, v. 37, n. 444, pp. 364–367.</ref>

=== Design ===
The bridge was jointly designed by engineering firm [[Guy Maunsell|G. Maunsell & Partners]] and architects William Halford & Partners.<ref name="Structurae"/> The prestressed concrete design was relatively new for Western Australia, where road bridges had traditionally been built from timber frameworks.{{sfnp |Gregory |2003 |p=107 }} The bridge is [[arch]]ed along its length, with a vertical curve of up to 4% [[Grade (slope)|grade]].{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=30 }}

The unusually soft soil conditions at the site forced the use of 160 "Gambia piles" for the bridge's foundations, named after [[Gambia|the country]] in which they were first used.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=33 }} The {{convert|31|in|cm|adj=on}} diameter piles have steel shells and conical noses.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=33 }} The hollow piles were driven by a drop hammer falling within them, then when they had sufficient resistance to driving, they were filled with reinforced concrete.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=33 }}

The piles support two river piers, two shore piers and two abutments.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=30 }} The bridge's support columns on the piers were designed in a triangular form, larger at the top than at the bottom, each carrying two of the bridge's beams, so as to not completely obstruct the view through the bridge's piers.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=30 }} These columns support the bridge's five spans: a central span of {{convert|320|ft|m}}, two flanking spans of {{convert|230|ft|m}} each and two smaller spans of {{convert|160|ft|m}} at each end passing over roadways.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=30 }} The bridge has eight parallel lines of beams.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=30 }} Each line of beams consists of two cantilever spans {{convert|370|ft|m}} long suspended between the shore and river piers, a central suspended span {{convert|140|ft|m}} long between the two river piers, and two {{convert|110|ft|m|adj=on}} spans suspended over roadways at either end.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=30 }} Suspended between the beams of the bridge were {{convert|1|mi|km}} of {{convert|30|in|cm|adj=on}} [[water supply network|water mains]] pipes and {{convert|0.5|mi|m}} of {{convert|10.5|in|cm|adj=on}} gas and drainage pipes.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=27 }}

Footpaths {{convert|8|ft|m}} wide on either side of the bridge were formed by concrete cast [[in situ]] and [[cantilever]]ed out from the adjacent beams.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=30 }} These footpaths were separated from the roadway and the bridge's edge by lightweight [[aluminium]] balustrades and safety fences installed by Bristile.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=29 }} The street lights were integrated into the safety fence.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=30 }}

The deck of the bridge was formed by pre-casting individual concrete units on the southern river shore, then hoisting them into place on temporary timber staging in the river.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=30 }} The units were then structurally joined by strands of high-tensile wire and stretched with a hydraulic jack.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=30 }} These pre-stressing strands were anchored in reinforced concrete blocks at the ends of the spans.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=30 }} The new bridge had a traffic capacity of 6,000 cars per hour in each direction,{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=30 }} over a total of six traffic lanes.<ref name="Dualling">{{cite press release |title=Dualling of Narrows Bridge should be completed by end of 2000 |publisher=Minister for Transport |date=7 March 1999 |url=http://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx?ID=110123 |access-date=5 February 2009 |quote=The existing bridge, built 40 years ago as a six lane bridge, currently has seven lanes but this will be reduced to six with extra lane width contributing to improved safety and driver comfort. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727172952/https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Lists/Statements/DispForm.aspx%3FID%3D110123 |archive-date=27 July 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Post-completion history ===
Strengthening works were carried out on the bridge by Structural Systems Ltd in 1996.<ref>{{cite news |title=Structural Systems Ltd: Update on Profit (Part A) |work=Australian Stock Exchange Company Announcements |date=21 February 1996 |quote=Works have now commenced on both the Ampolex Wandoo Gravity Structure and the Woodman Point Digesters in Western Australia and the group has recently been awarded a major contract for strengthening works on the Narrows Bridge in Perth. }}</ref> Also in 1996, decorative night lighting was installed on each side of the bridge.<ref>{{cite news |first=Dennis |last=Lingane |title=City of Lights |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=4 |date=3 January 1997 |quote=But the decision in the end was to use the stark neon light strip that was turned on last Australia Day. It looks like a slash across the river. Like it or not, it was preferred by architects because it was the style proposed for the bridge when it was built in the 1950s. }}</ref> The bridge was entered on the state's heritage register on 8 January 1999,<ref>{{cite news |first=Liz |last=Tickner |title=Narrows Bridge on Heritage List |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=11 |date=9 January 1999 }}</ref> and was named a national engineering landmark by the [[Engineers Australia|Institution of Engineers, Australia]], in November 1999.<ref name="Zekulich">{{cite news |first=Michael |last=Zekulich |title=Viking Invaders Came on Mission |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=5 |date=13 November 1999 }}</ref>

The opening of the southern regions of Perth to easier [[Perth central business district|CBD]] access changed the nature of the metropolitan area, prompting dramatic population growth south of the river.<ref name="Malan"/> This led to increased traffic on the bridge, causing regular [[Traffic congestion|traffic jams]] in [[rush hour|peak hour]]. Over the years, governments suggested various ideas to reduce the traffic using the bridge, including introducing [[congestion pricing]] similar to that used in [[Electronic Road Pricing|Singapore]], charging vehicles to enter the central business district during peak periods.<ref name="Malan"/> The government also encouraged voluntary [[carsharing|car sharing]].<ref name="Malan"/> These efforts were largely unsuccessful, and by the 1990s, the bridge had become the city's worst traffic [[Bottleneck (traffic)|bottleneck]],<ref name="Malan">{{cite news |first=Andre |last=Malan |title=Narrows Problem Widens |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=14 |date=7 March 1998 }}</ref> despite the addition of an extra traffic lane, bringing the total number of lanes to seven:<ref name="Dualling"/>

{{cquote|Peak-hour users of the freeway have become accustomed to driving into a bottle-neck every day. They also know that it takes only a minor bingle on the bridge to turn the freeway into a vast parking lot, inciting road rage symptoms and making thousands of people late for work.|200|50|Journalist Andre Malan|''The West Australian'', 7 March 1998<ref name="Malan"/>}}

== Second road bridge: 2001 ==
{{Infobox Bridge
|bridge_name   = Narrows Bridge<br /> <small>Northbound</small>
|image         = NarrowsBridge from Kings Park 2006.jpg
|caption       = The duplicate bridge seen here in the foreground, with the darker road surface.
|official_name =
|carries       = [[Kwinana Freeway]] (northbound road lanes);<br /> Northbound [[Mandurah railway line|railway line]]
|crosses       = [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]]
|locale        =
|maint         = [[Main Roads Western Australia]]
|designer      =
|design        =
|material      =
|spans         =
|pierswater    =
|mainspan      =
|length        =
|width         =
|height        =
|load          =
|clearance     =
|below         =
|traffic       =
|begin         =
|complete      =
|open          =
|heritage      =
|closed        =
|toll          =
|map_cue       =
|map_image     = 
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Plans for a second Narrows Bridge were mooted during the 1970s, but did not eventuate.<ref name="Revives">{{cite news |first=Shaun |last=Anthony |title=Bridge Plan Revives Old Animosities |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=8 |date=13 April 1998 }}</ref> By 1998, the original bridge was carrying 155,000 vehicles per day, with an average of 2,700 cars per lane between 7:30&nbsp;am and 8:30&nbsp;am, and was thought to be the busiest section of freeway in Australia.<ref name="Revives"/> This quantity of traffic far outstripped the expected capacity of the bridge when it opened in 1959.{{sfnp |West Australian |1959 |p=30 }} In 1998, The road planners' most favoured solution to the traffic problem was to widen the existing bridge by building a smaller second traffic bridge just west of it and joining their decks to form a contiguous roadway.<ref name="Malan"/> This would increase the number of traffic lanes from seven to ten.<ref name="Malan"/> The widening was expected to cost [[Australian dollar|$]]50 million.<ref name="Malan"/>

A plan to widen the Narrows Bridge was announced on 13 April 1998 by the [[Richard Court|Court]] Liberal State Government.<ref name="Plan">{{cite news |first=Shaun |last=Anthony |title=State's $70m Plan To Widen Narrows |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=1 |date=13 April 1998 }}</ref> The $70 million plan would involve the addition of four extra traffic lanes,<ref name="Plan"/> and was part of a $230 million package upgrading and extending the southern end of the Kwinana Freeway.<ref name="Clash">{{cite news |first=Torrance |last=Mendez |title=Clash Over Need for a Wider Narrows |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=7 |date=14 April 1998 }}</ref> [[Alannah MacTiernan]], then the Opposition transport spokesperson, attacked the plan, saying that the government should instead build a railway to [[Rockingham, Western Australia|Rockingham]].<ref name="Plan"/>

Instead of widening the existing structure, the [[Minister for Transport (Western Australia)|Minister for Transport]], [[Eric Charlton]], on 15 July 1998 approved the construction of a separate second road bridge alongside the original Narrows Bridge;<ref>{{cite news |first=Torrance |last=Mendez |author2=Mark Mallabone |title=How it will look |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=4 |date=12 August 1998 }}</ref> this solution would cost $15 million less, due to new building techniques, and would be less disruptive to traffic on the existing bridge.<ref name="Approved">{{cite news |first=Torrance |last=Mendez |title=Charlton Approved New Bridge |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=3 |date=11 August 1998 }}</ref> The construction of a separate bridge was also deemed necessary because the foundations of any new structure might [[Consolidation (soil)|settle]] in the soft river bed at a different rate from the existing bridge.<ref name="Approved"/> Under the plan, there would be six lanes on each bridge, including a [[bus lane]] on each.<ref name="Approved"/> The new bridge would run parallel to the original bridge and be separated from it by a gap of {{convert|6|m|ft}},<ref name="Approved"/> and was designed to look largely the same as the original.<ref>{{cite news |first=Alan |last=Kirk |title=Safety First |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=3 |date=19 October 1999 }}</ref>

Main Roads called for tenders for the bridge widening in July 1998,<ref>{{cite news |author=Staff writer |title=Bridge widening |work=[[The Australian]] |page=38 |date=31 July 1998 }}</ref> and on 7 March 1999 it was announced that the building contract had been awarded to [[CIMIC Group|Leighton Contractors]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Gareth |last=Malpeli |title=Leighton To Build Narrows Bridge |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=28 |date=8 March 1999 }}</ref> The negotiated contract price was reduced to $49 million, equivalent to ${{Inflation|AU|49|1999|r=1}}{{nbsp}}million in {{Inflation/year|AU}}, owing to the construction method proposed by Leighton.<ref>{{cite news |first=Jennifer |last=Grove |title=Narrows Cost Cut By $21m |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=32 |date=27 March 1999 }}</ref> The designers were [[Connell Wagner]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.miningjob.net/cv.nsf/v/js83434 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804124538/http://www.miningjob.net/cv.nsf/v/js83434 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=4 August 2012 |title=CV Bridge Designers... |access-date=28 November 2008 |publisher=miningjob.net |quote=CONNELL WAGNER – SENIOR ENGINEER ( 1999–2000) I was involved with the following projects: 1. Duplication of Narrows Bridge Project, WA }}</ref>

The bridge was constructed by the incremental launching technique, with {{convert|28|m|ft|adj=on}} segments pre-cast on both shores and pushed out into place as the construction progressed.<ref name="Official2"/><ref name="Problems">{{cite news |first=Alan |last=Kirk |title=No problems |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=4 |date=19 October 1999 }}</ref> The bridge was divided into two strips lengthways, with the eastern half launched separately from the western half, and the two decks were later joined at the bridge's centre line.<ref>{{cite news |first=Trevor |last=Robb |title=Narrows Clone Nearing Touch Down |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=13 |date=10 October 2000 }}</ref> The first of twelve segments<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.narrows.wantree.com.au/LCPLMedia10.htm |title=Media Statement: World first narrows the distance |access-date=27 November 2008 |author=John Dunkley |date=28 February 2000 |publisher=[[CIMIC Group|Leighton Contractors]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221082914/http://www.narrows.wantree.com.au/LCPLMedia10.htm |archive-date=21 February 2001 |url-status=dead }}</ref> was launched in February 2000.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.narrows.wantree.com.au/LCPLMedia9.htm |title=Media Statement: World first narrows the distance |access-date=27 November 2008 |author=Scott Martin |date=25 February 2000 |publisher=Leighton Contractors |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010222023305/http://www.narrows.wantree.com.au/LCPLMedia9.htm |archive-date=22 February 2001 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

As it was being launched, the bridge rested on temporary piles; only after the structure was fully launched were these piles removed and the bridge allowed to rest on its permanent supports.<ref name="Official2">{{cite web |url=http://www.narrows.wantree.com.au/LCPLMedia2.htm |title=Media Statement: Narrows bridge duplication underway |access-date=27 November 2008 |author=Scott Martin |date=2 June 1999 |publisher=Leighton Constructions |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221153414/http://www.narrows.wantree.com.au/LCPLMedia2.htm |archive-date=21 February 2001 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The construction required the driving of around 250 steel piles; the first was driven on 10 August 1999.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.narrows.wantree.com.au/LCPLMedia5.htm |title=Media Statement: Work starts on the Narrows duplication tomorrow |access-date=27 November 2008 |author=Scott Martin |date=9 August 1999 |publisher=Leighton Contractors |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010221153005/http://www.narrows.wantree.com.au/LCPLMedia5.htm |archive-date=21 February 2001 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Construction of the second bridge was interrupted several times by [[Strike action|strikes]],<ref>See, e.g., {{cite news |first=Chris |last=Manly |title=Workers Walk Off Bridge Site |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=7 |date=1 February 2000 }}</ref> as well as by an [[algal bloom]] in the Swan River.<ref>{{cite news |first=Chris |last=Manly |title=Scare Stops Work on Narrows Bridge |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=5 |date=17 February 2000 }}</ref> The bridge was finally opened to traffic on 26 February 2001,<ref name="Open">{{cite news |first=Nick |last=Miller |title=Gawking Drivers Slow Arch Flow  |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=3 |date=27 February 2001 }}</ref> and officially opened by new Transport Minister Alannah MacTiernan (a strident critic of the project) on 30 May 2001.<ref name="Opening">{{cite news |first=Melissa |last=Kent |title=MacTiernan Does Bridge Turnabout |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=4 |date=31 May 2001 }}</ref> The bridge had originally been planned to be opened in August 2000,<ref name="Open"/> and was expected to carry 80,000 cars per day.<ref name="Opening"/> The new traffic bridge carried six lanes of traffic, including one bus lane, and the original bridge was modified at this time to carry six traffic lanes, as designed.<ref name="Dualling"/>

== Railway bridge: 2005 ==
{{Infobox Bridge
|bridge_name   = Narrows Rail Bridge
|carries       = Southbound [[Mandurah railway line|railway line]]
|crosses       = [[Swan River (Western Australia)|Swan River]]
|locale        =
|maint         =
|designer      =
|design        =
|material      =
|spans         = 5
|pierswater    = 2
|mainspan      =
|length        =
|width         =
|height        =
|load          =
|clearance     =
|below         =
|traffic       =
|begin         =
|complete      =
|open          = {{Start date and age|df=yes|2007|12|23}}
|closed        =
|mapframe = no
}}
During the construction of the second road bridge, the construction of the [[Mandurah railway line]] through Perth's southern suburbs to [[Rockingham, Western Australia|Rockingham]] and [[Mandurah]] became a political issue.<ref>See, e.g., {{cite news |first=Julie |last=Butler |title=Railway Winners |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=10 |date=20 October 2000 }}</ref> The incumbent [[Liberal Party of Australia|Liberal]] state government proposed building a railway from [[Kenwick, Western Australia|Kenwick]] to connect to the Kwinana Freeway, running in the centre of the freeway for only part of its journey.<ref name="Switch">{{cite news |first=Trevor |last=Robb |title=Rail Switch: New Train Link Across City Foreshore |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=1 |date=17 July 2001 }}</ref> The [[Australian Labor Party|Labor]] opposition instead wanted to build the railway across the Narrows Bridge and down most of the length of the freeway.<ref name="Switch"/>

After the Labor party won the [[2001 Western Australian state election|2001 state election]], it reversed the previous government's position and started planning for the installation of railway tracks across the Narrows Bridge. The construction of a third bridge was needed due to the lack of previous planning provisions when the second bridge was constructed.<ref>{{cite news |first=Amanda |last=Banks |title=Perth to Mandurah railway |work=[[The West Australian]] |page=19 |date=7 July 2004 }}</ref> Leighton Constructions won the contract to build the freeway stage of the railway line and set about constructing a narrow southbound railway bridge in the {{convert|6|m|ft|adj=on}} gap between the existing road bridges.<ref name="Railway">{{cite news |first=Grahame |last=Armstrong |title=Leighton wins rail contract |work=[[The Sunday Times (Western Australia)|Sunday Times]] |page=16 |date=18 January 2004 }}</ref><ref name="NewMetroRail"/> The designers of "Package E" of the Southern Suburbs Railway (which included the Narrows Rail Bridge) were [[GHD Group|GHD]], [[Tetra Tech Coffey|Coffey Geosciences]] and Wyche Consulting.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wyche.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/Incremental%20Launching%20Challenges%20on%20Mount%20Henry%20Bridge.pdf |title=Incremental Launching Challenges on Mount Henry Bridge |author=Noel Wenham |access-date=28 November 2008 |publisher=Wyche Consulting |quote=The main bridgeworks for the rail project, including the Mount Henry Bridge, the Narrows Bridge and the Canning bus bridge amongst others, were grouped under one contract called "Package E", which was awarded to Leighton Contractors in January 2004. The Leighton Contractors design team for Package E consisted of Coffey Geosciences, GHD and Wyche Consulting. |archive-date=28 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160228205605/http://wyche.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2007/05/Incremental%20Launching%20Challenges%20on%20Mount%20Henry%20Bridge.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> The eastern side of the existing northbound (2001) bridge was also strengthened to accommodate the northbound railway track.<ref name="Railway"/><ref name="NewMetroRail">{{cite web |url=http://www.newmetrorail.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=46 |title=Freeway Works |access-date=27 November 2008 |publisher=Public Transport Authority of Western Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070426032720/http://www.newmetrorail.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=46 |archive-date=26 April 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Construction was due to start in July 2005 and completion was expected by December 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/annualreports/2005/12.asp |title=Annual Report 2005 |access-date=27 November 2008 |year=2005 |publisher=Public Transport Authority of Western Australia |pages=8 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080725023936/http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/annualreports/2005/12.asp |archive-date = 25 July 2008}}</ref> The first passengers traversed the Narrows on 23 December 2007 with the opening of the Mandurah line.<ref>{{cite news |author=Staff writer |title=1500 take first railway trip to Mandurah |url=http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=52023 |work=[[The West Australian]]|date=23 December 2007 |access-date=19 January 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080228232646/http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=52023 |archive-date = 28 February 2008}}</ref>

The railway bridge deck was made from nine steel girders each weighing up to {{convert|99.5|t|lb}}<ref>{{cite book |author=Staff writer |title=Roads Matter |volume= |issue=14 |year=2005 |page=17 }}</ref> and up to {{convert|54|m|ft}} long.<ref name="NewBridge">{{cite web |url=http://www.newmetrorail.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=200 |title=New Narrows Bridge |access-date=27 November 2008 |publisher=Public Transport Authority of Western Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070428100711/http://www.newmetrorail.wa.gov.au/Default.aspx?tabid=200 |archive-date=28 April 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> These girders were built in [[Kwinana Beach|Kwinana]], brought to the site by road and lowered into position with a crane.<ref name="NewMetroRail"/>

[[File:Narrows Bridge from west.jpg|thumb|center|600px|The bridges viewed from the west at sunset.]]

== References ==
{{Reflist |30em}}

== Sources ==
{{Refbegin |30em |indent=yes}}
*{{cite Q |Q133458669 |last=Gregory |first=Jenny |author-link=Jenny Gregory |url-access=registration |isbn=0-9594632-5-9 }}{{sfn whitelist|CITEREFGregory2003}}
*{{cite news |ref={{sfnref |West Australian |1959 }} |author=Staff writer |title=The Narrows Bridge Opens Today |work=[[The West Australian]] |date=13 November 1959 }}
{{Refend}}

== External links ==
* [http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/search~S6?/dnarrows+bridge/dnarrows+bridge/1%2C3%2C59%2CB/exact&FF=dnarrows+bridge+perth+and+south+perth+w+a+design+and+construction+photograph&1%2C8%2C State Library of Western Australia Pictorial Collection] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224065026/http://henrietta.liswa.wa.gov.au/search~S6?%2Fdnarrows%20bridge%2Fdnarrows%20bridge%2F1%2C3%2C59%2CB%2Fexact&FF=dnarrows%20bridge%20perth%20and%20south%20perth%20w%20a%20design%20and%20construction%20photograph&1%2C8%2C |date=24 February 2012 }} – photographs of the bridges under construction
* [http://register.heritage.wa.gov.au/viewplace.html?place_seq=26150&offset=0&view=regentries Western Australian Register of Heritage Places] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120216124601/http://register.heritage.wa.gov.au/viewplace.html?place_seq=26150&offset=0&view=regentries |date=16 February 2012 }} listing for the original bridge
* [http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0005065 Structurae page on the original bridge]

{{subject bar |auto=y |portal1=Western Australia |portal2=Australian roads |portal3=Transport |portal4=Engineering }}
{{Road infrastructure in Perth}}
{{Australian railway bridges|state=autocollapse}}

{{good article}}

[[Category:Road bridges in Perth, Western Australia]]
[[Category:Landmarks in Perth, Western Australia]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1959]]
[[Category:State Register of Heritage Places in the City of South Perth]]
[[Category:Perth Water]]
[[Category:Railway bridges in Perth, Western Australia]]
[[Category:1959 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Recipients of Engineers Australia engineering heritage markers]]
[[Category:Bridges over the Swan River]]