As we reflect on the contributions of so many on a day of national significance like ANZAC Day, it feels fitting, especially as engineers, to acknowledge the ANZAC Bridge.
This structure, a bold feature of Sydney’s skyline, is sometimes overshadowed by its older sibling, the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Yet the ANZAC Bridge stands as a powerful symbol of Australian civil and structural engineering excellence.
A vital link in Sydney’s infrastructure
Spanning Johnstons Bay, the ANZAC Bridge carries the eight-lane Western Distributor (A4) and links the inner suburbs of Pyrmont and Rozelle. It connects Sydney’s CBD with the Inner West and is an essential artery in the city’s transport network.
Beyond its functionality, the bridge is a statement of innovation, representing the evolution of engineering in Australia from practical necessity to architectural landmark.
A legacy of ingenuity and vision
The bridge’s story began as a response to increasing traffic on the second Glebe Island Bridge, a steel swing bridge opened in 1903. That bridge, itself a feat of early 20th-century engineering, had become a significant bottleneck by the 1980s. It replaced an even earlier timber beam bridge opened in 1862.
Construction of the new structure began in 1992 and was completed ahead of schedule in 1995 at a cost of around A$170 million. Initially named the Glebe Island Bridge, it opened to traffic on 3 December 1995.
On 11 November 1998, the 80th anniversary of Armistice Day, the bridge was officially renamed the ANZAC Bridge by NSW Premier Bob Carr, in honour of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
Today, an Australian flag flies atop the eastern pylon and a New Zealand flag on the western pylon. Bronze statues of WWI soldiers from both nations—sculpted by Alan Somerville—stand at the western end of the bridge. The Australian soldier was unveiled on ANZAC Day 2000, and the New Zealand soldier followed in April 2008.
Engineering excellence
The ANZAC Bridge is a cable-stayed design, the longest of its type in Australia at the time of completion. It features:
- Two diamond-shaped reinforced concrete pylons, each 120 metres tall from base to tip (approximately 69 metres above the bridge deck).
- 128 stay cables in a semi-fan arrangement, anchored to the pylons and supporting the bridge deck.
- A deck width of 32.2 metres, accommodating eight traffic lanes and a shared pedestrian/cycle path.
Early vibration issues in the cables caused by rain and wind-induced vibration were first managed with stabilising cables and later upgraded with hydraulic dampers, demonstrating how engineering solutions evolve over a structure’s lifecycle.
The bridge was constructed by Baulderstone Hornibrook, with foundation works carried out by Leighton Contractors. The Roads & Traffic Authority (RTA, now Transport for NSW) provided the design, led by Ken Wheeler and Ray Wedgwood.
"The ANZAC Bridge is more than engineering. It's a symbol of how infrastructure can honour history and shape the future,"
– Michael Eager, Managing Director, CJC Management
Then and now: The role of digital construction
When the ANZAC Bridge was built, digital tools were in their infancy. Today, projects of similar scale would be almost inconceivable without digital construction technologies.
At CJC Management, we know firsthand how Building Information Modelling (BIM) and other digital innovations now underpin every stage of major infrastructure delivery from planning to completion. These tools enhance collaboration, improve accuracy, and streamline processes, allowing engineering teams to deliver with confidence.
As we shape the next generation of transport and infrastructure, our commitment to sustainable engineering ensures that what we build today will serve communities for decades to come, just like the ANZAC Bridge continues to do.
Quick Facts
- Total length: 805 metres
- Main span: 345 metres
- Side spans: ~140 metres each
- Deck width: 32.2 metres
- Pylon height: 120 metres from base
- Minimum navigation clearance: 27 metres
A symbol of enduring impact
The ANZAC Bridge is more than just a road crossing. It is a tribute to the ANZACs, to the engineers and builders behind it, and to the progress of infrastructure in Australia.
Just as we honour those who have served, we also recognise the role engineers play in shaping safe, resilient, and connected communities. The legacy of the ANZAC Bridge reminds us of what’s possible when vision, technical skill, and public purpose come together.
