[COM] A9 Port River Expressway | 5.5km

[Xaragmata]

Some pics from yesterday of the level crossing work at Birkenhead ...
http://www.xaragmata.thebbs.org/album/r ... un08e.html

[Norman]

Thank you Xaragmata, great pics there. Glad I got some shots of the Birkenhead Loop when I was las there, it looks to be gone in few days.

[Xaragmata]

I was hoping they would be resurfacing the birkenhead bridge during that period, ahwell

They were doing maintenance beneath the bridge - possibly removing rust, or painting? Bridge was open to pedestrians, so I walked
across & took my time - a pleasant walk when semis aren't passing a few feet away, & making the deck bounce.

[Xaragmata]

Thank you Xaragmata, great pics there. Glad I got some shots of the Birkenhead Loop when I was las there, it looks to be gone in few days.

Thanks, Norman. The track had been lifted from across the road bridge approach, & the gap was being filled with earth.

[Xaragmata]

Large ad on p15 of this week's Weekly Times / Messenger has road bridge to open in August:

Celebration event: Friday 1 August
Open to traffic: Sunday 3 August

From the DTEI site: http://dtei.sa.gov.au/infrastructure/po ... and_3/news

Opening Celebration

On Friday 1 August between 3:30 and 6:30pm everyone is invited to come along and enjoy the opening celebrations for the Port River Expressway Road and Rail Bridges.

You can be among the first to walk across the road bridge.

There will be free parking off Ocean Steamers Road, adjacent Dock 1, and food and entertainment for the whole family.

Be sure not to miss this historic milestone. [...]

Some pics from Sunday when I went to HMAS Ballarat ... http://www.xaragmata.thebbs.org/album/c ... index.html

[Norman]

Thanks mate! I'll see you there hopefully.

And thanks for the pics. A lot has changed there by the look of things since I was there.

[AtD]

Photospam is manditory from all who attend!

[Cruise]

Went past today, looks pretty much finished. Does anyone know what those electronic signs are going to display? Surely we don't need to be constantly reminded if the bridge is open or closed?

[UrbanSG]

Finally all those semi trailers will be diverted away from the Port CBD area, which will be a huge improvement. From adelaidenow:

SAM RODRIGUES
July 25, 2008 03:30pm
FOOT traffic will have precedent over road traffic when the Port River Expressway's Diver Derrick Bridge opens to the public next week.

Final inspections are being undertaken on the $178 million project, three years in the making from design to construction and about a year overdue.

Next Friday, August 1, will see the official opening of the Bridge at 11.30am before a walk-through for pedestrians along the 300m bridge from 3.30pm to 6.30pm.

Two days later, the bridge will open to traffic from 3pm.

The deputy chief executive of the project, engineer Rod Hook, said the project had been "extremely complex" but would now enhance the Port Adelaide area while also providing a practical solution to traffic management, particularly for freight transport.

"It has been a challenging project to get up," he said.

"It's a brilliant structure which will further enhance Port Adelaide providing direct freight routes and facilitating other developments.

"It's a great era for the future of the Port."

The single-opening bridge stands taller than the Birkenhead bridge and incorporates a bike and pedestrian track, as well as a viewing platform which will be completed with a plaque blessed by the Pope on his recent Australian visit.

Designed to allow a Navy frigate through, the height has taken into account existing vessels, such as the local Dolphin Explorer, enabling the smaller boats to pass beneath the bridge without it having to be opened.

The Diver Derrick Bridge complements the parallel train bridge, the Mary MacKillop Bridge, which saw the first train crossing in May.

With the road crossing initially to be named Power Bridge, the Semaphore-Port Adelaide RSL successfully campaigned to have the name changed to acknowledge World War II hero Tom "Diver" Derrick VC, who swam in the Port River.

[Norman]

Who's coming to the opening? I know I'll be there.

[Xaragmata]

Who's coming to the opening? I know I'll be there.

I intend to be there!

[Will409]

I MAY be able to attend but I am not certain of making it at the moment.

[Cruise]

I'll be there around 5, if i see anyone with cameras there i'll ask them about this site lol

[Somebody]

Take some photos Cruisey, like you did at Broadmeadows, Munno Para & Kudla City!

[Cruise]

lol ok, i'll make up for not taking pictures of those guys that jumped out the train.