Charles Grimes Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Charles Grimes Bridge is a twin road bridge that carries the Docklands Highway
over the Yarra River
in Melbourne
, Victoria
, Australia
. It was named after New South Wales surveyor general Charles Grimes
, who was the first European to see the Yarra River
.
As originally constructed in the 1975 it ran north - south over the river, connecting Footscray Road to the West Gate Freeway
and Montague Street. The low height of the bridge above the water resulted in the closure of a number of the river wharves on the upstream side. However with the Melbourne Docklands
redevelopment of the 1990s, Footscray Road was closed as a through route and rebuilt as Harbour Esplanade. To replace the through route, Wurundjeri Way was constructed to the west. To connect to this new road Flinders Street
was upgraded, and the north end of the Charles Grimes Bridge was rebuilt on a curve to connect to
it. Reconstruction started in June 1999, and was completed by 2001.
The bridge superstructure comprise of five 33.5m long main spans over the river, with five smaller spans between 12m and 24m in length over the existing wharf and riverbank. Each of the bridges carries four traffic lanes in one direction, and a footpath. Computer analysis was required during design due to the complex geometry of the spans.
Docklands Highway
Docklands Highway is a highway with a mix of many arterial roads in inner western Melbourne, Australia.- Otherwise Known As :There are a variety of street names which exceed the Docklands Highway status which includes:...
over the Yarra River
Yarra River
The Yarra River, originally Birrarung, is a river in east-central Victoria, Australia. The lower stretches of the river is where the city of Melbourne was established in 1835 and today Greater Melbourne dominates and influences the landscape of its lower reaches...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Victoria
Victoria (Australia)
Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It was named after New South Wales surveyor general Charles Grimes
Charles Grimes
Charles Grimes was an English-born surveyor who did some valuable work in colonial Australia. He served as surveyor-general of New South Wales and discovered the Yarra River in what is now the state of Victoria. He is perhaps best known for being the surveyor who mapped the route of the Hobart...
, who was the first European to see the Yarra River
Yarra River
The Yarra River, originally Birrarung, is a river in east-central Victoria, Australia. The lower stretches of the river is where the city of Melbourne was established in 1835 and today Greater Melbourne dominates and influences the landscape of its lower reaches...
.
As originally constructed in the 1975 it ran north - south over the river, connecting Footscray Road to the West Gate Freeway
West Gate Freeway
West Gate Freeway is a freeway in Melbourne, Australia, linking Geelong to Melbourne CBD and beyond. It is also a link between Melbourne and the west and linking industrial and residential areas west of the Yarra River with the city and port areas. The iconic West Gate Bridge is a part of the...
and Montague Street. The low height of the bridge above the water resulted in the closure of a number of the river wharves on the upstream side. However with the Melbourne Docklands
Melbourne Docklands
Docklands is an inner city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia occupying an area extending up to 2 km west of and adjacent to Melbourne's Central Business District . Its Local Government Area is the City of Melbourne...
redevelopment of the 1990s, Footscray Road was closed as a through route and rebuilt as Harbour Esplanade. To replace the through route, Wurundjeri Way was constructed to the west. To connect to this new road Flinders Street
Flinders Street, Melbourne
Flinders Street is a notable street in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Running roughly parallel to the Yarra River, Flinders Street forms the southern edge of the Hoddle Grid. It is exactly one mile in length and one and half chains in width...
was upgraded, and the north end of the Charles Grimes Bridge was rebuilt on a curve to connect to
it. Reconstruction started in June 1999, and was completed by 2001.
The bridge superstructure comprise of five 33.5m long main spans over the river, with five smaller spans between 12m and 24m in length over the existing wharf and riverbank. Each of the bridges carries four traffic lanes in one direction, and a footpath. Computer analysis was required during design due to the complex geometry of the spans.