Albert Cotter Bridge
The Albert Cotter Bridge, also known as the Tibby Cotter bridge, is a pedestrian bridge across Anzac Parade, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was built to primarily to cater for crowds exiting the Sydney Cricket Ground and Sydney Football Stadium.
Albert Cotter Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Coordinates | 33°53′24″S 151°13′14″E |
| Carries | Pedestrian traffic |
| Crosses | Anzac Parade |
| Locale | Moore Park, New South Wales, Australia |
| Official name | Albert 'Tibby' Cotter Walkway |
| Named for | Albert 'Tibby' Cotter |
| Maintained by | Roads & Maritime Services |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Helical approach ramps and a superstructure formed using two slender curved steel box beams |
| Material | Concrete |
| Total length | 440 metres (1,440 ft) |
| Width | 6 metres (20 ft) |
| History | |
| Architect | Arup |
| Constructed by | Lend Lease |
| Construction cost | A$38 million[1] |
| Opened | 27 February 2015 |
| Location | |
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History
Construction on the Albert Cotter Bridge commenced in 2014. It was opened in time for the 2015 Cricket World Cup. It was named after Albert "Tibby" Cotter, an Australian Test cricket player killed in World War I. It is a shared pedestrian and cycle pathway. The 440-metre-long (1,440 ft) bridge features concrete helical approach ramps and a superstructure formed using two curved steel box beams.[2][3]
The bridge's construction was criticised by the Auditor-General of New South Wales finding that the tight construction timeline significantly added A$25 million to its cost.[4][5][6] Additional criticism was raised by the Heritage Council of New South Wales due to the relocation of a monument on Anzac Parade and cycling lobby groups as the walkway does not connect with existing cycleways.[7]
Criticism
Since its opening, the design of the Albert Cotter bridge has been heavily criticised by pedestrians. It has been described as a "white elephant" for its inappropriate positioning and, because the helical approach forces pedestrians to walk 440 metres to travel ~200 metres, it has also been called "the worst", and "a dumb bridge because it goes around in a big circle".[8]
References
- Saulwick, Jacob (8 July 2015). "The Tibby Cotter Walkway to the SCG: a bargain at $1700 a trip". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- "Shared path bridge over Anzac Parade at Moore Park" (PDF). Roads & Maritime Services. March 2014. Archived from the original on 20 March 2015.CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
- "Albert 'Tibby' Cotter Walkway". Arup. 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- "Albert 'Tibby' Cotter Walkway". Auditor-General of New South Wales. 17 September 2015.
- McNally, Lucy (17 September 2015). "Albert 'Tibby' Cotter walkway at Sydney's Moore Park never justified, report says". ABC News. Australia.
- Saulwick, Jacob (17 September 2015). "Audit condemns Tibby Cotter bridge cost blow-out". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- Stace, Sara (February 2015). "Connectivity for the Albert Tibby Cotter Bridge". Bicycle NSW. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2016.
- Decent, Tom (18 March 2015). "Unimpressed World Cup quarter-final cricket fans belt Albert 'Tibby' Cotter Bridge for six". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 12 December 2020.