* This article has been edited/updated with an artists rendering.
The footbridge at Hornsby Station will soon be replaced, with the New South Wales Government announcing this week that they will help Hornsby Shire Council construct the new bridge.
The project is now fully funded, with the Government promising to give Council up to two thirds of the estimated $7 million the project will cost.
“This is a huge win for the local community and we’re very grateful to the Government for the assistance they have provided,” Hornsby Shire Mayor Steve Russell said.
“We’re particularly grateful to Hornsby MP Matt Kean, who has been a strong advocate for the new bridge.
“This bridge does not simply provide access to Hornsby Station, it connects the two sides of Hornsby and is used by around 15,000 people every day.
Is $7m a lot of money for a bridge?
Looking at the area to be spanned by the bridge, the distance is approximately 70m, therefore the cost is roughly $100,000 per linear metre.
Some recent footbridge examples:
- The Helix footbridge in Singapore is a world-renowned bridge linking Marina Centre and Marina South was built at a cost of $69m or $270,000 per linear metre approximately.
- The Torrens Bridge in Adelaide will link the city riverfront precinct with an upgraded Adelaide Oval at a cost of $40m with a 150m span of $260,000 per linear metre approximately.
- And if we look at an old example: The old Pyrmont Bridge was built at the turn of the last century at a cost of £112,000, which with a simple inflation of 2% per annum would cost over £10m in today’s money.
So $100,000 per linear metre sounds like good value for money.
The new bridge will be significantly wider and will include two lifts to provide access for those with mobility issues.
The project will also include significant improvements to the Florence Street Mall.
Construction is expected to begin in the middle of next year and take around 12 months.
Throughout construction the existing bridge will remain open, providing ongoing access to pedestrians.
“The Mayor and I worked closely together to deliver this much-needed outcome for our community,” Mr Kean said.
“The new bridge will vastly improve transport access and also improve the amenity of our area.”
