Matagarup Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Matagarup Bridge |
|
|---|---|
Matagarup Bridge nearing completion in July 2018
|
|
| Coordinates | 31°57′14″S 115°53′06″E / 31.954°S 115.885°E |
| Carries | Pedestrian and cycle traffic |
| Crosses | Swan River |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 370 m (1,210 ft) |
| Width | 9 m (30 ft) |
| Height | 72 m (236 ft) at its highest point |
| Longest span | 160 m (520 ft) |
| Clearance below | 8 m (26 ft) |
| History | |
| Constructed by | York Civil/Rizzani de Eccher joint venture |
| Construction begin | November 2015 |
| Construction cost | $91.5 million (or $247 thousand per metre) |
| Opened | 14 July 2018 |
The Matagarup Bridge is a special bridge just for people walking and cycling. It crosses the beautiful Swan River in Perth, Western Australia. You can find it between Heirisson Island and the Goongoongup Bridge. It helps people get easily between Burswood and East Perth.
This bridge is super helpful! It connects visitors going to the Burswood Peninsula (where the Perth Stadium is) with public transport and car parks in East Perth and the main part of Perth.
Contents
Building the Bridge: A Timeline
Building a big bridge like Matagarup takes a lot of planning! In February 2014, the government asked companies if they were interested in designing and building it. Several companies showed interest. A team from York Civil and Rizzani de Eccher won the job.
A company called BARDAP Hydraulics helped too. They designed a special jacking system. This system was used to put the bridge's deck sections into place.
Changes During Construction
There were some delays and issues during the building process. A company from Malaysia, Toyota Tsusho, was supposed to make parts for the bridge. However, their contract ended. Another company, Civmec, then took over this important job.
The Bridge Gets a Name
In November 2017, the government announced the bridge's official name: "Matagarup Bridge". "Matagarup" is a word from the Nyungar people. It means "place where the river is only leg deep, allowing it to be crossed". Before this, people just called it the Swan River Pedestrian Bridge.
Putting the Pieces Together
The two main arches of the bridge were lifted into place in May 2018. The Matagarup Bridge has three main sections, called spans. Each span hangs from the arches using strong cables.
Special jacking systems were used to connect the cables to each bridge section. This allowed the sections to be lowered precisely. This part of the work was finished in late June.
The bridge's cool LED lights were tested on June 18. The concrete for the bridge's walking path was finished on July 1. On July 4, important people like Premier Mark McGowan walked across the bridge.
Final Checks and Opening Day
From July 7 to 9, hundreds of volunteers walked across the bridge. This helped engineers check how the bridge moved. They could then fine-tune the bridge's mass damper to stop too much shaking.
The Matagarup Bridge officially opened to the public on July 14, 2018. Even after it opened, work continued to make the surrounding area beautiful.
Bridge Design and Features
The Matagarup Bridge is a special type of bridge called a cable-stayed bridge. It has two piers (supports) in the river. The highest point of the bridge is 72 meters tall, right in the middle. The main part of the bridge is 160 meters long. The total length for walking is 560 meters, which includes a 100-meter ramp at the East Perth end. This ramp helps keep people away from nearby homes.
What Does the Bridge Look Like?
The bridge's shape is really interesting! It looks like two flying swans, with the arches being like their wishbones. But some people also see it as a swimming dolphin, a Wagyl serpent (a creature from Aboriginal stories), or even a flowing ribbon.
The bridge is lit up at night with 900 meters of colorful LED lights. It looks amazing!
Fun Activities at the Bridge
The bridge was designed so people could actually climb it as a tourist attraction! They added handrails along the arches and a special viewing platform. There were already stairs for checking and fixing the bridge.
There were also plans for a zip-line from the top of the bridge down to the ground. Both the bridge climb and the zip-line were approved! The bridge climb opened on January 26, 2021. The zip-line from the bridge to the Burswood Peninsula was expected to open in March 2021.
Cost of the Bridge
In June 2015, the estimated cost of the bridge was $54 million. By January 2018, the construction cost had increased to $91.5 million.
Images for kids
-
Cranes positioning deck section
-
One of two temporary causeways constructed to facilitate construction of the bridge
