Goodwill Bridge, Brisbane
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The Goodwill Bridge is a pedestrian and cyclist
bridge A bridge is a structure built to Span (engineering), span a physical obstacle (such as a body of water, valley, road, or railway) without blocking the path underneath. It is constructed for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle, whi ...
which spans the Brisbane River in
Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...
,
Queensland Queensland ( , commonly abbreviated as Qld) is a States and territories of Australia, state in northeastern Australia, and is the second-largest and third-most populous state in Australia. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Austr ...
,
Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania and list of islands of Australia, numerous smaller isl ...
. The bridge connects the South Bank Parklands in South Brisbane to Gardens Point in the
Brisbane CBD Brisbane City is the central Suburbs and localities (Australia), suburb and central business district of Brisbane, the state capital of Queensland, Australia. It is also colloquially referred to as the "Brisbane CBD", "the city", or simply "to ...
. The Goodwill Bridge was opened on 21 October 2001 and takes its name from the Goodwill Games, which were held in Brisbane that year. The bridge does not carry any motorised traffic — it is shared by pedestrians, cyclists and inline skaters.


Structure

Two main components of The Goodwill Bridge are the pavilion and the arch. The pavilion is located in the middle of the Brisbane River between the arch and the city approach. It is a fundamental component of the pedestrian and cycle bridge and supports one end of the arch. The arch is in length, wide and high and weighs .


Specifications

* Width: * Height: Clearance for River Vessels from high water level to the bridge deck (same height as Victoria and Captain Cook bridges) * Arch: in length, wide and high * Bridge Deck: The bridge deck wearing surface is concrete with a broom finish to provide a safe foothold. It incorporates coloured concrete and applied finish bandings which signify areas where caution is required. * Security: Six closed circuit TV cameras are spread across the bridge and are monitored from the South Bank Security Control Room. * Architects: Cox Rayner * Design Engineer: Ove Arup and Partners * Principal Contractor: John Holland Group *Superintendent: Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads * Officially Opened: The Premier of Queensland, The Honourable Peter Beattie, officially opened The Goodwill Bridge on 21 October 2001. * Total length: * Bridge Foundations: The bridge's 45 foundation piles range in diameter from and are reinforced with 350-grade steel and of concrete. * Central Arch span:


History

The structure was built downstream at Hemmant and took three months to construct. On completion barges floated the arch upstream at low tide it was floated under the Captain Cook Bridge and then lifted as a single structure into its final resting position by two heavy lift towers. Four strategically positioned platforms and the pavilion-viewing platform provide rest points for pedestrians and cyclists. With exception of cables, all materials utilised in the construction of the arch and the pavilions were sourced from local suppliers. Controversy arose during the construction of the bridge over its growing cost, and a subsequent budgetary blow-out which resulted in the use of $20.3 million in government funds. The bridge was scheduled to be opened by Queen Elizabeth II during her visit for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting
summit A summit is a point on a surface that is higher in elevation than all points immediately adjacent to it. The topographic terms acme, apex, peak (mountain peak), and zenith are synonymous. The term (mountain top) is generally used only for ...
to be held in Brisbane, but after the postponement of that meeting and change of venue to Coolum on the Sunshine Coast in the wake of the terrorist attacks on 11 September 2001, the bridge was instead opened by Queensland Premier, Peter Beattie.


Usage

Over 40,000 people walk or cycle across the bridge each week and it is clearly established as a major access point between South Bank and the city. Spanning the Brisbane River between the southern end of South Bank Parklands and the CBD via the Queensland University of Technology campus, the bridge provides a vital link for pedestrians and cyclists, especially since the closest train station to QUT is in South Bank. The bridge is also popular amongst those who like to maintain fitness, providing a link for a continuous run. Traceurs also use the bridge not only to cross, but in strength training as a distance to travel in the Quadrupedel movement (which provides an arm and leg workout), and also refines coordination skills. The bridge innovatively includes several outspanning seating bays which allow for contemplation of the river and relaxation. The architectural design has received mixed reviews; many people see it as a work of art, while others consider it a monstrosity. This is likely due to its unconventional form; for instance, the bridge is entirely asymmetrical, and does not appear to follow any particular scheme with regards to placement of features. Between 2013 and 2022, a coffee cart was in operation. This cafe received a high level of through flow traffi


Gallery

Image:Goodwill Bridge Goodwill Bridge IMG 6044 (3389510008).jpg Image:Goodwill Bridge The Goodwill Bridge IMG 4617 (4274223609).jpg Image:Goodwill Bridge Goodwill Bridge IMG 4658 (4284657730).jpg Image:Goodwill Bridge IMG 9524 (4827774203).jpg image:Goodwill Bridge Goodwill bridge IMG 9685 (4848697082).jpg


See also

* Through arch bridge * Bridges over the Brisbane River


References


External links

* * "More than just a pedestrian link" at Bridgeforum.org {{Brisbane landmarks Bridges in Brisbane Bridges completed in 2001 Bridges over the Brisbane River Through arch bridges Pedestrian bridges in Australia Steel bridges in Australia Cyclist bridges in Australia South Brisbane, Queensland Brisbane central business district History of Brisbane Philip Cox buildings 2001 establishments in Australia