Spencer Street Bridge
The bridge is a reinforced concrete structure of balanced cantilever type, with a suspended link in the centre of cellular construction. The design, by Messrs. E. Saunders and A. Wilson, engineers, and A.R. le Geoch and W.E. Gower, architects, was the winner of a design competition held by the Victorian state government in 1975. Its winners collected a prize of 750 pounds. The bridge, of three spans, took three years to build. When the announcement that construction was about to begin, on 29th September 1927, the Victorian State Government's press release declared: "The Minister of Public Works yesterday consulted with the chief engineer, Public Works department, concerning the preparation of preliminaries in connection with the construction work. Mr. Kermode stated that, supposing all things went on in the most satisfactory possible way, the making of preparations to begin this important work would take two months - that absolutely was the minimum. Various formalities had to be attended to.Certain notices had to be given to the Harbor Trust concerning navigation, the necessary plant had to be assembled, and the right type of men selected to supervise the under-water work. He was anxious to get a start on the work as soon as possible, but nothing would be gained from raw haste. The preliminary preparations must be laid on right lines. As to the actual work, he had strong hopes that it would be well in hand before Christmas.
"Discussing the procedure to be followed in connection with the foundations and the under-water parts of the structure, Mr. Jonce said as little interference as possible would be made with navigation. Two coffer dams would be constructed, one on each side of the river. Work would proceed simultaneously in both these dams, and the middle of the stream would be left free for navigation, which would not be interfered with probably for twelve months. The bridge would be of three spans."
Spencer Street Bridge (1930), Spencer Street, Melbourne (Yarra River).
