(Added 1934 collapse article) |
(Added 1934 collapse information) |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Under construction}} | {{Under construction}} | ||
:''This article refers to the bridge in Hawthorn. For information about the Swan Street Bridge near Cremorne, please see the relevant [[wikipedia:Swan Street, Melbourne|Wikipedia article]].'' | :''This article refers to the bridge in Hawthorn. For information about the Swan Street Bridge near Cremorne, please see the relevant [[wikipedia:Swan Street, Melbourne|Wikipedia article]].'' | ||
'''Wallen Road Bridge''' is a bridge that carries Swan Street across the [[wikipedia:Yarra River|Yarra River]] in [[Hawthorn]]. It | '''Wallen Road Bridge''' is a bridge that carries Swan Street across the [[wikipedia:Yarra River|Yarra River]] in [[Hawthorn]]. It has also been known as '''Richmond Park Bridge''' and '''Swan Street Bridge''' at various points of its history.<ref name="VHDWallenRoadBridge">Victorian Heritage Register. ''Wallen Road Bridge''. 18 June 2007. http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/22611, accessed: 30 July 2018</ref> | ||
==History== | |||
===Construction=== | |||
===1934 collapse=== | ===1934 collapse=== | ||
In December 1934, the bridge partially collapsed owing to damage caused to its foundations by the severe floods of that month. From 4 December, hundreds of trucks carried sandbags to the site in an attempt to shore up its supports.<ref>The Herald. ''Wallen Road Bridge Again in Danger''. 5 December 1934. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243090810, accessed: 4 August 2018</ref> Richmond Council, the authority responsible for the bridge at the time, closed to bridge to all traffic until it could be made safe again.<ref>The Age. ''Wallen Road Bridge''. 4 December 1934. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205084949, accessed: 4 August 2018</ref> | |||
[[File:Wallen Road Bridge damaged 4 December 1934.jpg|thumb|400px|right|Photo from ''The Age'' showing the damage sustained by the Wallen Road Bridge during the Victorian floods of 1934.]] | |||
There followed a re-ignited dispute with the State Government over funding for bridge maintenance and repairs. The mayor of the time, Cr Williams, is quoted as saying: "We have too many bridges to look after. Let the [State] Government take the responsibility of opening it".<ref>The Argus. ''Wallen Road Bridge''. 4 December 1934. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10998319, accessed: 4 August 2018</ref> Both Hawthorn and Richmond Councils had previously warned the State Government about the condition of the bridge.<ref>The Age. ''Wallen Road Bridge''. 24 July 1930. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202455401, accessed: 4 August 2018</ref> | |||
On 20 December, temporary repairs have been effected and the bridge reopened to trams and general traffic. However, a speed restriction of four miles per hour (around 6 km/h) was implemented to prevent the bridge from shaking.<ref>The Herald. ''Fast Traffic Makes Wallen Road Bridge Tremble''. 20 December 1934. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243090036, accessed: 4 August 2018</ref><ref>The Age. ''Trams to Eastern Suburbs''. 18 December 1934. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page19043114, accessed: 4 August 2018</ref> | |||
====Repairs and reconstruction==== | |||
After some squabbling between the various authorities, a proposal was put forward in July 1935 for a full reconstruction. The Victorian Public Works Department submitted a proposal to Richmond Council to rebuild and widen the bridge. The works would not only repair the existing damage but improve the bridge's capacity due to increasing traffic volumes in the area. It would also allow for Yarra Boulevard to run underneath the bridge's western span. The total cost of 24,000 pounds was split between the Victorian Government, [[City of Hawthorn|Hawthorn City Council]], Richmond City Council and the [[wikipedia:Metropolitan Tramways Board|Metropolitan Tramways Board]].<ref>The Age. ''Wallen Road Bridge''. 30 July 1935. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203984336, accessed: 4 August 2018</ref> | |||
The bridge ran into difficulties again during the reconstruction work. In August 1937, the river bank collapsed and resulted in construction materials falling into a pit.<ref>The Argus. ''Bank Subsides at Wallen Road Bridge''. 18 August 1937. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11116822, accessed: 4 August 2018</ref> | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 21:49, 4 August 2018
 | This page is in the process of an expansion or major restructuring and is not yet ready for use. You are welcome to assist in its construction by editing it as well. If you are the editor who added this template and you are actively editing, please be sure to replace this template with {{WIP}} during the active editing session. |
- This article refers to the bridge in Hawthorn. For information about the Swan Street Bridge near Cremorne, please see the relevant Wikipedia article.
Wallen Road Bridge is a bridge that carries Swan Street across the Yarra River in Hawthorn. It has also been known as Richmond Park Bridge and Swan Street Bridge at various points of its history.[1]
History
Construction
1934 collapse
In December 1934, the bridge partially collapsed owing to damage caused to its foundations by the severe floods of that month. From 4 December, hundreds of trucks carried sandbags to the site in an attempt to shore up its supports.[2] Richmond Council, the authority responsible for the bridge at the time, closed to bridge to all traffic until it could be made safe again.[3]
There followed a re-ignited dispute with the State Government over funding for bridge maintenance and repairs. The mayor of the time, Cr Williams, is quoted as saying: "We have too many bridges to look after. Let the [State] Government take the responsibility of opening it".[4] Both Hawthorn and Richmond Councils had previously warned the State Government about the condition of the bridge.[5]
On 20 December, temporary repairs have been effected and the bridge reopened to trams and general traffic. However, a speed restriction of four miles per hour (around 6 km/h) was implemented to prevent the bridge from shaking.[6][7]
Repairs and reconstruction
After some squabbling between the various authorities, a proposal was put forward in July 1935 for a full reconstruction. The Victorian Public Works Department submitted a proposal to Richmond Council to rebuild and widen the bridge. The works would not only repair the existing damage but improve the bridge's capacity due to increasing traffic volumes in the area. It would also allow for Yarra Boulevard to run underneath the bridge's western span. The total cost of 24,000 pounds was split between the Victorian Government, Hawthorn City Council, Richmond City Council and the Metropolitan Tramways Board.[8]
The bridge ran into difficulties again during the reconstruction work. In August 1937, the river bank collapsed and resulted in construction materials falling into a pit.[9]
References
- ↑ Victorian Heritage Register. Wallen Road Bridge. 18 June 2007. http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/22611, accessed: 30 July 2018
- ↑ The Herald. Wallen Road Bridge Again in Danger. 5 December 1934. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243090810, accessed: 4 August 2018
- ↑ The Age. Wallen Road Bridge. 4 December 1934. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205084949, accessed: 4 August 2018
- ↑ The Argus. Wallen Road Bridge. 4 December 1934. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10998319, accessed: 4 August 2018
- ↑ The Age. Wallen Road Bridge. 24 July 1930. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article202455401, accessed: 4 August 2018
- ↑ The Herald. Fast Traffic Makes Wallen Road Bridge Tremble. 20 December 1934. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243090036, accessed: 4 August 2018
- ↑ The Age. Trams to Eastern Suburbs. 18 December 1934. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-page19043114, accessed: 4 August 2018
- ↑ The Age. Wallen Road Bridge. 30 July 1935. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203984336, accessed: 4 August 2018
- ↑ The Argus. Bank Subsides at Wallen Road Bridge. 18 August 1937. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11116822, accessed: 4 August 2018