West Gate Bridge, Cable-stayed road bridge in Melbourne, Australia.
The West Gate Bridge is a cable-stayed road bridge in Melbourne, Australia, stretching 2,582 meters (8,471 feet) across the Yarra River with eight lanes for traffic. The structure links the city center to the western suburbs and rises 58 meters (190 feet) above the water, allowing large cargo ships to pass beneath.
Construction began in 1968 and finished in 1978, after a collapse in 1970 halted the project and led to new safety standards in bridge engineering. The disaster brought changes in technical regulations that were later adopted across Australia.
The name refers to its position as the western gateway from the city center, and commuters use it every day to reach the industrial suburbs. A memorial park at the bridge's base invites visitors to pause and honor the workers who died during construction, making it a place where memory and daily routine meet.
The bridge can be crossed on foot or by bike only along the outer edges, as most lanes are reserved for cars and trucks. Visitors looking for city skyline views and port scenes should come on a clear day when visibility reaches far.
The structure uses an orthotropic steel deck design that combines weight and strength, and was technically groundbreaking when completed. This construction method made it the fifth-longest bridge in Australia and still demonstrates advanced engineering today.
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