History
For years, debate raged in Port Adelaide about the need for a third crossing over the Port River, in addition to the existing Birkenhead Bridge and Jervois Bridge. Ideas for the crossing included an under-river tunnel, closed bridge, causeway and opening bridge. In the early 2000s the State Government announced the Port River Expressway project, a highway linking Port Adelaide to Adelaide's northern suburbs. The project included a closed bridge across the Port River. However the Port Adelaide community were concerned a closed bridge would cut-off the Port River and block larger boats from accessing the Port's inner harbour. After a strong community campaign, the State Government agreed to build a high-level single-leaf bascule opening bridge, instead of a closed bridge. AbiGroup was awarded the tender to build the bridge in 2005 and construction began the following year. The twin bascule bridges were designed by the New York City based engineering firm, Hardesty & Hanover, LLP. The bridge was expected to be complete in December 2007, but due to delays it was opened for vehicles on 3 August 2008.
Read more about this topic: Tom 'Diver' Derrick Bridge
Famous quotes containing the word history:
“We aspire to be something more than stupid and timid chattels, pretending to read history and our Bibles, but desecrating every house and every day we breathe in.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)
“When the coherence of the parts of a stone, or even that composition of parts which renders it extended; when these familiar objects, I say, are so inexplicable, and contain circumstances so repugnant and contradictory; with what assurance can we decide concerning the origin of worlds, or trace their history from eternity to eternity?”
—David Hume (1711–1776)
“It is remarkable how closely the history of the apple tree is connected with that of man.”
—Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862)