Albert Bridge, Adelaide, SA
Frome Street is an important link between Adelaide and North Adelaide. The River Torrens crosses its path and from the earliest days of British Settlement a crossing suitable for carts was required.
Two timber bridges were constructed crossing the River Torrens in the early days of the colony. The first suitable for carts washed away in 1840. The second, a pedestrian only bridge, was constructed in 1861 and washed away in 1869.
The City of Adelaide awarded a contract to John Grainger and Henry Worsley for eight-thousand one hundred pounds. The foundation stone was laid on 20 August 1878.
The bridge superstructure is cast-iron imported from England supported on stone abutments. The deck was timber. The bridge opened on 7 May 1879.
The bridge’s piers consist of three cylinders of decreasing diameter filled with concrete founded 5 metres below the riverbed. The first pier was constructed with a cofferdam to dewater the area, but this proved too costly and subsequent piers were constructed using divers to sink them into the riverbed.
In 1933 the timber decking was replaced with reinforced concrete to allow for the increased mass of motorised traffic. The deck was further reinforced in 1982 with additional structural members to again to cater for increased traffic loads.
