Story bridge
Coordinates: 27 ° 27 ′ 50 ″ S , 153 ° 2 ′ 9 ″ E
| Story bridge | ||
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| use | Road bridge, 6 lanes; Walkways and bike paths | |
| Crossing of | Brisbane River | |
| place | Brisbane | |
| construction | Gerber girder bridge | |
| overall length | 1072 m | |
| Longest span | 282 m | |
| Headroom | 30.4 m | |
| start of building | May 24, 1935 | |
| opening | July 6, 1940 | |
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The Story Bridge is a bridge in Brisbane , the capital of Queensland , whose silhouette has a decisive influence on the cityscape. The Story Bridge is the most famous bridge in Australia after the Sydney Harbor Bridge .
The Story Bridge spans the Brisbane River and connects the neighborhoods of Fortitude Valley and Kangaroo Point. Their total length is 1072 meters; the span between the two main pillars is 282 meters. The bridge has a clearance height of 30.4 meters at its apex.
history
In the 1920s, long-standing plans to build new bridges in Brisbane began to take shape. At that time, the Victoria Bridge , a predecessor of today's bridge of the same name, was the only way to cross the Brisbane River. In 1926, Kangaroo Point was designated as the site of a new bridge to be built. The Queensland government commissioned John Bradfield , who was then busy building the Sydney Harbor Bridge, with the construction of the new bridge to be built in Brisbane, even before it was completed.
Construction of the bridge began on May 24, 1935, based on the model of the Pont Jacques-Cartier in Montreal , which was completed in 1930 , so that both bridges appear almost identical. On July 6, 1940, the Story Bridge was opened by the Governor of Queensland. It was named after John Douglas Story , an influential government official.
today
There are six lanes on the bridge, three in each direction, as well as two combined walking and cycling paths. The road that crosses the bridge is called the Bradfield Highway in memory of its builder and is the shortest highway in Australia. It is not to be confused with the highway of the same name, which leads over the Sydney Harbor Bridge.
The Story Bridge is illuminated at night similar to the Sydney Harbor Bridge and serves as a base for large fireworks during celebrations. Guided tours, so-called Bridge Climbs , have been offered since 2005, where tourists can climb the bridge.
