Sydney Harbour Bridge Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2750 words

Sydney Harbour Bridge - Research Paper Example With the development of techniques and craftsmanship, these engineering feats began to become more and more sophisticated and complicated, over the years from its humble beginnings of tree barks used for connecting land masses, to more sophisticated suspension, cantilever and arch bridges. These pieces of construction not only add to the visual imagery of a geographical location, but also bear testimony to the imagination, craftsmanship and engineering accomplishment of mankind, as represented by the Sydney Harbour. Introduction: â€Å"Of all the inventions, the alphabet and the printing press alone excepted, those inventions which abridge distance have done the most for the civilization of our species† Thomas B. Macaulay, 2010: 290 Bridges have historically, played a key role in the development of human civilizations. This unique piece of construction and sheer engineering marvel has contributed to the development and flourishing of human civilizations, since time immemorial. It is on account of this very reason, that bridges have been featured prominently in the development of some of the most affluent cultures and cities around the globe - including the likes of London on the river Thames, Brooklyn bridge in the city of New York; the various artistic bridges on the Seine river in the city of Paris; Howrah bridge in Kolkata etc., among many others. Not only do they add a sense of artistic imagery and beauty to the city, but also help accelerate the mobility and access to various key locations in and around the area, thus enhancing the overall vitality of the cities they are built in, ultimately contributing to the social, economical as well as cultural development (John, 2000). This paper on the Sydney Harbour Bridge, aims to discuss the various factors critical to this unique and historical piece of construction, such as the history behind its construction, the various materials used, the materials used for its construction; the various equipments use d; the availability and use of labour force used during construction; the civilizations and culture that flourished in that era etc. It also includes a brief discussion and analysis on the type of structure it would have been, if it was built in present times. The history of the Sydney Harbour Bridge: The Sydney Harbour Bridge, is one of Australia's most prominent landmarks, was open to the public on 19th March, 1932. The bridge, which is also popularly known as the â€Å"Coathanger† by the locals, is the largest (although not the longest) bridge in the world. It is not only a great engineering feat but also revered as one of the greatest economic accomplishments of the century, especially considering the fact that it was built after the world war, during the years of the Great Depression. The bridge was built using extensive labour, which included as many as 1400 men, and took almost eight years to complete (from 1925 to 1932), with an investment of six million pounds (Lalor , 2006; Sharpe, 2001; Langmead and Garnaut, 2001). It was designed by a British firm Dorman Long and Co Ltd, under the directions of Dr. J. J. C. Bradfield along with other officers of the NSW Department of Public Works. The design of this bridge was inspired by the Hell Gate Bridge in New York (Sydney Harbour Bridge, 2012). Although the construction of the bridge began in the year 1925, the foundations for the same were laid decades ago, which is evident from the various historical events that took place, as is described in the following sections. Brief Background: Events that led to the construction of the Bridge Prior to the construction of the Sydney Har