The Birkenhead Bridge is a bascule bridge in Adelaide, Australia that crosses the Port River.

Birkenhead Bridge
Birkenhead Bridge in February 2010
Coordinates34°50′32″S 138°30′03″E / 34.84230°S 138.50093°E / -34.84230; 138.50093
CarriesNelson Street
CrossesPort River
LocaleLefevre Peninsula
OwnerDepartment of Planning, Transport & Infrastructure
Preceded byTom 'Diver' Derrick Bridge
Followed byJervois Bridge
Characteristics
DesignBascule
Total length246 metres
Width16 metres
Clearance above5.4 metres
No. of lanes4 (as built)
2 (since 2014)
History
Constructed byAdelaide Construction
Fabrication byPerry Engineering
Opened14 December 1940
Location
Map

In February 1938, the Government of South Australia awarded a contract to Adelaide Construction to build a bridge across the Port River from Birkenhead to Port Adelaide, with Perry Engineering contracted to supply the steelwork.[1] The bridge was opened on 14 December 1940 by Governor Malcolm Barclay-Harvey.[2][3] It was one of only four bascule bridges in the world adapted for use by trolleybuses.[4]

In 2014, two of the four road lanes were converted into pedestrian and bike paths.[5] In 2020, the timber road deck has been replaced with fibre reinforced polymer and the timber footpath with aluminium.[6]

The bridge is listed on the South Australian Heritage Register.[7]

References

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  Media related to Birkenhead Bridge at Wikimedia Commons