sydney harbour bridge

Location: Sydney Harbour, Australia

Architects: Dr J.J.C Bradfield

Date Completed: 19 March 1932

Height: 134 metres

Length: 1149 metres

The Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened on March 19th 1932 after six years of construction. Made of steel the bridge contains 6 million hand driven rivets. The surface area that requires painting is equal to about the surface area of 60 sports fields. The Bridge has huge hinges to absorb the expansion caused by the hot Sydney sun. You will see them on either side of the bridge at the footings of the Pylons. Sydney Harbour Bridge is the world's largest (but not longest) steel arch bridge, and, in its beautiful harbour location, has become a renowned international symbol of Australia.

Its total length including approach spans is 1149 metres and its arch span is 503 metres. The top of the arch is 134 metres above sea level and the clearance for shipping under the deck is a spacious 49 metres. The total steelwork weighs 52,800 tonnes, including 39,000 tonnes in the arch. The 49 metre wide deck makes Sydney Harbour Bridge the widest Longspan Bridge in the world.
Some interesting facts about the Bridge

Length of arch span 503 metres
Height of top of arch 134 metres above mean sea level
Height to top of aircraft beacon 141 metres above mean sea level
Width of deck 49 metres
Clearance for shipping 49 metres
Height of pylons 89 metres above mean sea level
Base of each abutment tower 68 metres across and 48 metres long
(two pylons rest on each abutment tower)
Total length of bridge 1149 metres including approach spans
Bearing pins Each of the four pins measures 4.2 metres long
and 368 millimetres in diameter
Thrust on bearings Under maximum load approximately 20,000 tonnes
on each bearing
Number of rivets Approximately 6,000,000
Largest rivet Weighed 3.5 kilograms and was 395 millimetres long
Longest hanger 58.8 metres
Shortest hanger 7.3 metres
Total weight of steelwork 52,800 tonnes including arch and mild steel approach spans
Weight of arch 39,000 tonnes
Rock excavated for foundations 122,000 cubic metres
Concrete used for bridge 95,000 cubic metres
Granite facing used on pylons and piers 17,000 cubic metres
Allowance for deck expansion 420 millimetres
Allowance for arch expansion The arch may rise or fall 18 centimetres due to heating or cooling
Number of panels in arch 28, each 18.28 metres wide
Record tonnage erected 589 tonnes of steelwork was erected on the arch in one day on 26 November 1929
Paint required 272,000 litres of paint were required to give the Bridge its initial three coats.