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Matagarup Bridge

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Coordinates: 31°57′16″S 115°53′07″E / 31.954517°S 115.885383°E / -31.954517; 115.885383 (Matagarup Bridge)
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Matagarup Bridge
Matagarup Bridge seen from Perth Stadium, December 2022
Coordinates31°57′16″S 115°53′07″E / 31.954517°S 115.885383°E / -31.954517; 115.885383 (Matagarup Bridge)
CarriesPedestrian and cycle traffic
CrossesSwan River
Characteristics
Total length370 m (1,210 ft)
Width9 m (30 ft)
Height72 m (236 ft) at its highest point
Longest span160 m (520 ft)
Clearance below8 m (26 ft)
History
Constructed byYork Civil/Rizzani de Eccher joint venture
Construction startNovember 2015
Construction cost$91.5 million
Opened14 July 2018; 6 years ago (2018-07-14)
Location
Map

Matagarup Bridge is a suspension pedestrian bridge crossing over the Swan River in Perth, Western Australia. Situated approximately half-way between Heirisson Island and the Goongoongup Bridge, it provides pedestrian access between Burswood and East Perth. The bridge connects visitors to the Burswood Peninsula, including the Perth Stadium, with public transport and car parks in East Perth and the Perth central business district.[1]

The bridge was the featured location for Australia's "Postcard" during the broadcast of Eurovision Song Contest 2023, showing the Australian entrant Voyager climbing and zip-lining from the bridge.[2] It was featured alongside Kyiv's Glass Bridge and Clifton Suspension Bridge.

History

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In February 2014, the government called for expressions of interest for the design and construction of the bridge.[3][4] Four parties were shortlisted to bid; a Decmil/OHL joint venture, Freyssinet, Georgiou, and a York Civil/Rizzani de Eccher joint venture with the latter awarded the contract.[5][6] Western Australian company BARDAP Hydraulics was contracted to design, manufacture, and commission the high pressure jacking system which was deployed to install the deck sections.

Due to delays and issues, Malaysian-based Toyota Tsusho, which was sub-contracted to manufacture the bridge components, had its contract terminated; the contract was re-tendered and was won by Perth-based Civmec.[7][8][9]

In November 2017, the Government announced that the bridge would officially be named "Matagarup Bridge", where "Matagarup" is the Nyungar name for the whole area – waters included – around Heirisson Island, and which means "place where the river is only leg deep, allowing it to be crossed".[10] It had previously been referred to as the Swan River Pedestrian Bridge.[3][4]

Matagarup Bridge without its concrete deck while under construction in May 2018

The bridge's two main arches were hoisted into place in early May 2018.[11] Matagarup Bridge consists of three spans, each suspended from arches by cables. Each of the three deck sections was craned onto high pressure jacks, connected to flow control manifolds and electric hydraulic power units.  The jacking system enabled the suspension cables to be connected to the respective bridge section, and then lowered with precision control to tension the cables. This work was completed in late June. Testing of the bridge's LED lighting occurred on 18 June.[12] Concrete pouring of the bridge deck was completed on 1 July.[13] On 4 July, Premier Mark McGowan, Transport Minister Rita Saffioti and other officials, as well as bridge workers, walked across the bridge.[14] From 7–9 July, hundreds of volunteers walked across the bridge so that engineers could assess the movement of the structure and tune the bridge's mass damper to minimise vibrations.[15][16]

The bridge was opened to the public on 14 July 2018.[17] Landscaping and removal of the lay-down area and reclaimed land continued after the bridge was opened.[18]

Design

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The structure is designed as a 3-span steel cable-stayed bridge, with the two piers in the river bed. The bridge maximum height of 72 metres (236 ft) is reached in midspan of the central span. The length between the abutments is 400 metres (1,300 ft), with a 160-metre-long (520 ft) central span.[19] The total length of the pedestrian crossing is 560 metres (1,840 ft), which includes a 100-metre (330 ft) ramp at the East Perth end to route pedestrians away from nearby residential areas.[20]

The bridge structural shape resembles two flying swans, with the bridge arches representing the wishbones, but it can also be seen as a swimming dolphin, a Wagyl serpent or a ribbon.[19][21][22] 900 metres (3,000 ft) of multicolour LED lighting cover the bridge.[12][23]

Design modifications were made to allow bridge climbing as a tourist attraction. The modifications included the addition of handrails along the wishbones and a viewing elevated platform; the structural design already included stairs for bridge inspection and maintenance works.[24] Plans for a zip-line from the top of the bridge to the ground were also explored, and both attractions were later given the greenlight to proceed.[25] Operated by Perth Bridge Climb and Zip, the bridge climb opened on 26 January 2021, with a zip-line from the bridge to the Burswood Peninsula later opening in December 2021 after several delays.[26][27]

The estimated cost of the bridge, as of June 2015, was $54 million.[28] As of January 2018, the construction cost had increased to $91.5 million.[24]

Matagarup Bridge viewed from the Goongoongup Bridge, 2018
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  • Cranes positioning deck section
    Cranes positioning deck section
  • One of two temporary causeways constructed to facilitate construction of the bridge
    One of two temporary causeways constructed to facilitate construction of the bridge
  • The bridge illuminated in purple for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022
    The bridge illuminated in purple for the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in 2022

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Main Roads Western Australia (8 January 2018). "Optus Stadium - Matagarup Bridge". Government of Western Australia. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  2. ^ All 16 Postcards from the Second Semi-Final | Eurovision 2023, retrieved 12 May 2023
  3. ^ a b Expressions of interest open for Swan River Pedestrian Bridge Department of Sport and Recreation 10 February 2014
  4. ^ a b Swan River Pedestrian Bridge - Bridge Design & Construction Cordell Tenders Online
  5. ^ Stadium transport solutions on track Department of Sport and Recreation 2 June 2014
  6. ^ Stadium link short list announced The West Australian 3 June 2014
  7. ^ Barry, Hannah (6 August 2017). "WA company Civmec wins stadium footbridge contract, 250 jobs predicted". WA Today. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  8. ^ "Bridge blowout: One year behind schedule". PerthNow. 1 April 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  9. ^ "WA company confident stadium bridge can be built in time". ABC News. 8 August 2017. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
  10. ^ "Matagarup Bridge a permanent tribute to traditional owners" (Press release). Government of Western Australia. 26 November 2017. Archived from the original on 20 January 2018. Retrieved 20 January 2018.
  11. ^ "Bridge completion date pushed back". PerthNow. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  12. ^ a b "Matagarup Bridge lighting put through its paces". PerthNow. 19 June 2018. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  13. ^ Zimmerman, Josh (30 June 2018). "Stadium footbridge a fortnight away". PerthNow. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  14. ^ Eliza Laschon (4 July 2018). "The first walk across the Matagarup Bridge linking Perth Stadium to East Perth". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 4 July 2018.
  15. ^ Grabowiecki, Evie (6 July 2018). "Perth residents given the chance to test new stadium bridge". www.9news.com.au. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  16. ^ Zimmerman, Josh (7 July 2018). "Bridge undergoes first people test". PerthNow. Retrieved 7 July 2018.
  17. ^ "Optus Stadium bridge now open for footy hordes ahead of Sunday AFL game". WAtoday. 14 July 2018. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  18. ^ Zimmerman, Josh (12 May 2018). "Serpent time on the Swan". PerthNow. Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  19. ^ a b "Design of new pedestrian bridge linking East Perth to Burswood revealed". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  20. ^ Spagnolo, Joe (7 June 2015). "Perth Stadium's $54 million footbridge revealed". PerthNow. The Sunday Times. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  21. ^ Coram, Melanie (7 June 2015). "Sculptural bridge joins stadium and city". The West Australian.
  22. ^ Sparvell, Ray (7 June 2015). "Perth Stadium $54m pedestrian bridge a win for sports fans". WA Today. Farifax Media. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  23. ^ Butler, Steve (13 July 2018). "New bridge links past and present". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  24. ^ a b Emerson, Daniel (24 January 2018). "Bridge climb given green light". PerthNow. Archived from the original on 25 January 2018. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
  25. ^ Carmody, James (13 July 2018). "Workers give a sneak peek at the best view in town from the future Matagarup Bridge climb". ABC News. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
  26. ^ "Perth's newest tourist attraction Matagarup Bridge climb to open on Australia Day". The West. 25 December 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  27. ^ "Matagarup Bridge zip-line across Swan River to open on Sunday after lengthy delay". PerthNow. 1 December 2021. Retrieved 1 December 2021.
  28. ^ "Western Australia builds footbridge twice the length of Adelaide's, for just $14m more". news.com.au. News Limited. 8 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.

Further reading

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