Webb Bridge, Melbourne

This remarkable bridge crosses the lower end of the River Yarra in Melbourne, connecting the Southbank Promenade and the Docklands Park. The present structure replaces a short-lived railway bridge and was designed by the architects Denton Corker Marshall  and artist Robert Owen  and constructed by Ove Arup. The project was started in 2001; the finished bridge was floated in and installed in one piece in the space of two hours, one day in 2003 and opened to the public on October 2nd of the same year.

The design of the bridge was inspired by an aboriginal eel-trap. Towards the southern end, the deck is roofed by a series of steel hoops, the whole ending in a snake-like appendix with two bends as the deck drops down and round to the quayside, forming quite a tricky manoeuvre for cyclists and wheelchair users.  It takes an aerial photograph to really comprehend the shape. The bridge is particularly spectacular at night. 

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A bridge for all users	Along the deck, looking south	Into the bend. Start of segregation into walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users	From left to right - steps, cyclists ramp, wheelchair ramp	The final bend
Out onto the Southern Promenade	The end of the tunnel	Outside view of the first bend	Inside of the bend	View from below

 

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