Bolte Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bolte Bridge |
|
|---|---|
View of the bridge from the bank of the Yarra River
|
|
| Carries | 8 lanes (4 inbound, 4 outbound) |
| Crosses | Yarra River |
| Locale | Melbourne, Australia |
| Maintained by | Transurban |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cantilever |
| Total length | 5000 metres |
| Width | 15.35 metres |
| Longest span | 173 metres |
| Clearance below | Approx 25 metres |
| History | |
| Opened | 16 August 1999 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | Approx 50,000 |
| Toll | A$2.09 (one way) |
The Bolte Bridge is a really big bridge in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It's a special type of bridge called a cantilever bridge. This means it's built from both ends towards the middle. The bridge helps connect different parts of Melbourne. It carries eight lanes of traffic, four going north and four going south.
Even though the main part of the bridge is about 490 metres long, the whole elevated road system it's part of stretches for 5 kilometres! This makes it one of the longest bridges in Australia. It crosses the Yarra River and Victoria Harbour in the Docklands area. The bridge is a key part of CityLink, a system of toll roads. It links major freeways like the Tullamarine Freeway with the West Gate Freeway and tunnels.
Building the Bolte Bridge
The Bolte Bridge was designed by a group of architects called Denton Corker Marshall. It was built by a company named Baulderstone Hornibrook. Construction started in 1996 and finished in 1999. The bridge cost about AU$75 million to build.
The bridge was named by Jeff Kennett, who was the Premier of Victoria at the time. He named it after Sir Henry Bolte, a former Premier of Victoria. This was because Sir Henry Bolte had planned or completed many of the freeway projects that the new bridge would connect.
How the Bridge Was Built
The Bolte Bridge is made of two separate bridges. They are built from strong, pre-stressed concrete. There is a small gap of about 1.15 metres between the two structures. This design helps the bridge handle heavy traffic and different conditions.
The bridge has two tall silver towers. These towers are about 140 metres high. You can see them on either side of the road in the middle of the bridge. These towers are just for show and do not actually hold up the bridge. They are hollow inside and have ladders leading to a small hatch at the top.
The Bolte Bridge has four main sections, called spans. Two of the main spans are 173 metres long. The two side spans are 72 metres long. The total length of the bridge, including the elevated roads, is 5000 metres. Each of the twin bridges is 15.35 metres wide. Each side has three lanes for vehicles. It's important to know that cyclists and pedestrians cannot use this bridge.
Gallery
-
Bolte Bridge, looking back to the Melbourne CBD
-
Bolte Bridge taken from the Docklands
-
Bolte Bridge from the base of the bridge
-
Bolte Bridge at dusk
-
Bolte Bridge seen from Docklands, Melbourne
- Bolte Bridge in the Structurae database
Images for kids
-
The Bolte Bridge at night, with Etihad Stadium, and Melbourne CBD in the background
