NRS-15458 | Contract for the construction of a cantilever bridge across Sydney Harbour from Dawes Point to Milson's point - Specification"

Full description

This record series consists of a bound copy of the "Contract for the Construction of a Cantilever Bridge across Sydney Harbour from Dawes Point to Milson's Point - Specification", issued by the Department of Public Works. Applications were required to be received by 31 October 1922.

The specification is divided into the following major parts
1. Description and general;
2. Plans Stress Sheets and quantities;
3. Materials of construction for superstructure;
4. Loads and Stresses to be adopted in the design of the bridge;
5. Unit stresses and proportioning of parts;
6. Details of design;
7. Workmanship;
8. Inspection and testing;
9. Full-sized tests;
10. Shipping and erection;
11. Painting metalwork and timberwork;
12. Materials of Construction for superstructure and deck;
13. Foundations;
14. Piers and Abutments;
15. Piers and abutments of arch spans in approach.

These descriptive sections are followed by General Conditions, tender form and schedule of quantities and prices. The specification is indexed.

The plans described in part 2 are attached - viz.
1. Plan of the site;
2. Bird's Eye View;
3. Elevation Showing principal dimensions;
4. Perspective Elevation;
5. Suspended span - Railway deck and general details;
6. Suspended span- Main roadway, motor roadway and footway;
7. Location and description of bores;
8. Main piers;
9. South anchor pier;
10. Southern approach spans - General Arrangement;
11. Southern approach Spans - Piers and abutment;
12. Northern approach spans - General Arrangement;
13. Northern Approach Spans - Piers and Abutment;
14. South Portal;
15. South Anchor Arm and Approach Spans;
16. Map of New South Wales, showing the location of various Materials of Construction and Manufacturing Industries.

The erection of a bridge according to these specifications did not proceed. Bradfield worked on alternate plans for an arch bridge in 1921. The Sydney Harbour Bridge Act, 1922, which received assent on 24 November 1922, allowed for either a cantilever or an arch bridge. Fresh specifications calling for tenders for either design were issued in 1923.

Custody History
This record series was handed to the Archives Authority of NSW on 11 June 1968 by the Bradfield family. It was apparently an archival estray.