Albert Bridge, Adelaide, SA
Frome Street is an important link between Adelaide and North Adelaide. As the road crosses the River Torrens a bridge was required. The first bridge near the site of the current Albert Bridge was opened in 1842. It was close to the present site of the University Footbridge. It was constructed by the Colonial Engineer and Surveyor-General E.C. Frome.
During floods in September 1844, it suffered substantial damage and following a significant flood in 1847 a large portion of the southern end of the bridge. The South Australian Legislative Council provided a budget to repair the bridge in 1847/48. The bridge was repaired again in 1854.
A large flood in 1855 destroyed all the bridges over the River Torrens except Taylors Bridge at Thebarton. Following the destruction of the bridge a ford was used to cross the river at the site for several years. A footbridge was built next to the ford. The footbridge was destroyed in October 1967 and was rebuilt and survived a flood in 1873.
Pressure was mounting on the authorities to provide a permanent and reliable crossing in the early 1870s. The City of Adelaide undertook a traffic survey in 1873 at the Adelaide Bridge that counted 3503 pedestrians, 172 horsemen (sic), and 1233 vehicles drawn by 1832 horses over a six-day period.
The City of Adelaide conducted a competition for the design of a new bridge, and the competition was one by J.H. Grainger of Adelaide. The tender for the construction of the bridgeworks was awarded to M.C. Davies and J. Wishart. The engineers for the project were J.H. Grainger and H.E. Worsley with the work supervised by the City Surveyor Mr Langdon.
The Foundation Stone was laid on 20 August 1878 and opened 7 May 1879.
The bridge consists of three rivetted wrought iron girders that are supported on six cast-iron cylindrical piers drive into the riverbed. The central span is 60 feet (18 metres) and the two side spans are 30 feet (9 metres). The two side spans cantilever from the from the piers and the load from the bridge is solely carried by the piers. The bridge had a 30-foot (9 metre) carriageway with two 6-foot (1.8 metre) footways.
The cast-iron piers were originally to be constructed by removing the material inside and sinking them with cast-iron kentledge causing them to sink. The first pier was constructed in this manner but the difficulty in in de-watering led to the remaining piers were installed with divers used to cut away the gravel.
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.
Further rehabilitation works were undertaken in 2000-2001.
References:
Stacy, W. "Historic Bridge No. 10 Albert Bridge", Highway - official publication of South Australian Highways Department, July 1991.
Fargher Maunsell Pty Ltd "Structural ammendmants to Albert Bridge over the River Torrens at Frome Road Adelaide", letter to Institution of Engineers Australia - Historic Relics Committee, 31 August 1982.
Connell Wagner "Albert and Adelaide Bridges Rehabilitation - 2001 Engineering Awards, Category - Heritage", June 2001
