Who Built the West Gate Bridge?

A royal commission into the disaster was damning of the design and methods used by the two firms that built the bridge, John Holland and World Services, and the attempts to fix the bridge's failings.

Why did they build the West Gate Bridge?

As early as 1957, businesses in Melbourne's west demanded easier access to and from the city. After a false start, the Lower Yarra River Crossing Authority began work in 1965 to build a bridge paid for by those who used it.

Why did the West Gate Bridge fall down?

It was proposed that the taller one be weighted down with 10 concrete blocks, each weighing 8 tons, which were placed on site. The weight of these blocks caused the span to buckle, which was a sign of structural failure. When the bolts were removed, the bridge snapped back and the span collapsed.

How long did it take to build the West Gate Bridge?

about two years
The West Gate Bridge collapsed just before lunchtime on 15 October 1970 in the country's worst industrial accident. The bridge was about two years into construction at the time.

How many died in the West Gate Bridge collapse?

The death toll in the West Gate Bridge disaster stands at 32. No one knows how many men still lie beneath the tangled mess of concrete and rubble. Two bodies can be seen among the wreckage, and at least 12 and possibly 17 are unaccounted for. Eighteen men are injured, eight of them seriously.

How deep is the water under the West Gate Bridge?

The main river span is 336 meters (1,102 ft) in length and the height above the water is 58 meters (190 ft)…

35 workers
A memorial service is held each year for the 35 workers who lost their lives when a span of the West Gate Bridge collapsed at 11.50 on this day in 1970.

He suffered several serious injuries. John Laino was still wearing his John Holland safety helmet after the span went down and boilermaker George Stassoulakos from Northcote also escaped without a scratch.

How deep is the water under the West Gate Bridge?

What year did the West Gate Bridge collapse?

1965
West Gate Bridge/Construction Commenced

Is the West Gate Bridge Sinking?

A Department for Transport spokesman said: 'The West Gate Bridge is not sinking and there are no safety concerns or changes to the operation of the bridge.

What year did the West Gate Bridge collapse?

When was the construction of the West Gate Bridge completed?

Construction resumed in 1972, with World Services and Construction continuing to manufacture the boxes and carry out their sub-assembly, but with the John Holland Group completing the construction of the steel section of the bridge. The bridge was completed in 1978.

Who are the designers of Westgate Bridge?

The designers, Freeman Fox and Partners, were found guilty of incorrect structural design and the original contractors, World Services and Construction Pty Ltd, were found guilty of providing insufficient safety margins – which would have been insufficient even if the bridge had been completed.

When did the West Gate Bridge in Melbourne collapse?

An important crossing between Melbourne's CBD and the west side of Melbourne, the bridge was the scene of a terrible disaster that claimed the lives of 35 workers when the bridge collapsed on 15 October 1970, the worst industrial disaster in Victoria's history. In 1970, two years into construction…

Strauss was chief engineer responsible for the overall design and construction of the bridge project. However, because he had little understanding of or experience with cable suspension design, responsibility for much of the engineering and architecture fell to other experts.