The Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of Australia‘s most well known and photographed landmarks.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge, also affectionately known as the ‘Coathanger’, was opened on March 19th 1932 by Premier Jack Lang, after eight years of construction.
Under the direction of Dr John Bradfield of the NSW Department of Public Works, the bridge was designed and built by British firm Dorman Long and Co Ltd of Middlesbrough.
The bridge’s design was influenced by the Hell Gate Bridge in New York City.
It is the sixth longest spanning-arch bridge in the world and the tallest steel arch bridge, measuring 134 meters (440 feet) from top to water level.
Its total length including approach spans is 1,149 meters and its arch span is 503 meters.
It was also the world’s widest long-span bridge, at 48.8 meters (160 ft) wide, until construction of the new Port Mann Bridge in Vancouver was completed in 2012.
It now carries eight vehicle lanes, two train lines, a footway and a cycleway.
The total steelwork weighs 52,800 tonnes, including 39,000 tonnes in the arch.
