Bridge Over the River Torrens, Adelaide

In early 1877 a new bridge was constructed over the River Torrens replacing the existing bridge connecting North and South Adelaide.  The bridge was considered to state-of-the-art for its time, the first to use corrugated iron plates in the colony.  The following article, detailing the construction of the bridge, appeared in The Illustrated Adelaide News on Friday 1 June 1877 following the opening of the 'new' bridge on April 25: 

THE NEW BRIDGE OVER THE TORRENS.

The ceremony of formally opening the new bridge over the Torrens, between South and North Adelaide, on what was formerly known as the City Bridge-road, but which is now to be called King William-road, took place on Wednesday, April 25. The erection of such a magnificent structure as the bridge that has just been completed is not only in itself a gain to the citizens, but as showing the progress which the trade and traffic of the capital have made is an additional subject for congratulation. For many years the inconvenience, of which the narrowness of the causeway was the source, has been fully admitted by the City Corporation, who with an energy and foresight that does not always attend their proceedings, have been engaged in the execution of improvements along the road so as to render it fit eventually for the reception of a bridge worthy of the site and the city, which has now been provided. By degrees they widened the causeway and paths to twice their original width. The appearance of the bridge is very fine indeed, its chief feature being, at first indicated, its substantiality. Nevertheless contrivances have been adopted whereby its depth when seen from the sides is not so very marked, and when viewed from any position near by its aspect is remarkable and pleasing.

The erection is a wrought-iron plate girder bridge, the various parts of which have been manufactured in England from approved metal, samples of which were subjected to test strains by Mr. J. F. L. Jetter, C.E., the supervising engineer employed by the South Australian Government in London, and forwarded with his certificate attached. The roadway is composed of corrugated iron plates, the first which have been used for this purpose in this colony. The total weight of iron included in the superstructure is 200 tons, and a few days ago, when tested, it was found capable of bearing 22 tons to the square inch, the greatest depression in any of the girders only amounting to half an inch, with a distributed weight upon them of over 200 tons. No vibration is perceptible when vehicles are driving over. The roadway has been elevated to the height of five feet, the approaches on each side having been gradually raised to meet it. A very remarkable fact, in connection with the undertaking is that during the whole time the alterations have been proceeding" the traffic has never been stopped for a single day. The cost for which the work has been carried on shows the wisdom of the City Council in adopting the course which they did in not insisting that the iron should be manufactured in the colony. The work has been done under the supervision of the City Surveyor, and there has only been one accident to the labourers engaged during its progress. The view of the road, looking northwards from the south end of the bridge, is exceedingly pleasant, the tall rows of umbrageous trees on each hand forming a beautiful vista which only needs to be continued towards South Adelaide to make the whole of the thoroughfare what a portion of it may already be termed — the finest causeway in the colonies. 

The plantations to the north of the bridge have been enclosed with an ornamental fence of sawn timber, consisting of two posts and rails, the former being placed rather high on these supports. This fence will doubtless in course of time be continued southwards, and there is equally little doubt that the footpath on the west side will at no very distant date have to be widened to correspond with that on the east side, even though it necessitates the pulling down of about ,a dozen feet of the wall's of the City Baths.

Sources:

1. The New Bridge Over the Torrens (1877, June 1). The Illustrated Adelaide News (SA : 1875 - 1880), p. 7.
2. City Bridge, King William Road c. 1880 - Courtesy State Library of South Australia
3. Adelaide City Bridge, King William Road, Looking South c. 1880 - Courtesy State Library of South Australia
4. Albert Bridge c. 1890 - Courtesy State Library of South Australia