Length:

23 km

Termini:

Northern: Mona Vale Rd (A3) and Barrenjoey Rd, Mona Vale

Southern: Warringah Fwy (M1) and Falcon St, Crows Nest

Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route:

Mona Vale, Warriewood, Narrabeen, Collaroy, Dee Why, Brookvale, Manly Vale, Balgowlah, Seaforth, Mosman, Cremorne, Neutral Bay and Crows Nest

Current: A8

Former: 10 14

Road Authority Internal Classification: ¹

MR164

General Information:

A8 is the major arterial road that links the northern beach side suburbs of Sydney to the North Sydney business precinct and eventually the Sydney CBD. The road is entirely multi-laned and divided for most of the route.

The current Spit Bridge comprises 7 spans of a total length of 745 feet 6 inches (227.28 m), has 4 traffic lanes (44 feet or 13.41 m wide) and a pedestrian walkway of 5 feet (1.5 m) on either side.

There are three spans at either end of the opening span. Each of the six fixed spans have four welded plate girders as the main members, with cross girders, but without stringers or horizontal bracing. The concrete deck is dowelled to the steelwork.The opening span (Span 4) is a single-leaf bascule. It has two main girders, with cross girders and stringers, covered by an open mesh steel deck. Recent inspection shows that the steel mesh has had a coating of bitumen applied, some of which is wearing.

The two footways are of concrete on the fixed spans, and steel on the bascule span. The piers either side of the opening span are flanked by fenders, and when the bridge is in the open position a navigation channel of 80 feet wide (24.4 m) is created. At the Mosman end the slab and two column piers rest on concrete piles driven into to the sands of the harbour bed at a depth of between 40 and 50 feet (12-15 m). At the Manly end the harbour bottom slopes up steeply to outcropping rock on which the northern abutment sits. Piers 5 and 6 are double cylinder piers sitting on bedrock below the harbour bed. The main pier which supports the bascule span is Pier 4. It rests on four cylinders taken down to sandstone bedrock at a depth of between 45 to 75 feet (14-23 m) which is 75 to 105 feet (23-32 m) below mean sea level. The pier is box-like and supports all machinery for the operation of the bascule, including the operator's cabin.

Condamine Street was named after Thomas de la Condamine, Aide-de-Camp to Governor Darling.

1925: Original Spit Bridge opened, replacing a steam punt across Middle Harbour. ²

1941: The Manly Creek Bridge constructed. ²

1951: Construction begins on the lift span bridge named The Spit Bridge over Middle harbour. ⁴

1958: Current Spit Bridge opened to traffic. ⁴

1962: The Manly Creek Bridge widened on both sides. ²

1984: Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation construction.

17 June 2006: New Falcon Street ramp for northbound traffic on the Warringah Freeway to Mosman, Neutral Bay and the northern beaches opened to traffic and feature a new north facing ramp, which provides access from the Warringah Freeway (southbound) to Military Road, Mosman and Manly and a new north facing ramp provides access from Falcon Street to the Warringah Freeway northbound. ⁴

2013: A8 replaced Metroad 10 along entire length of route.

Neutral Bay to Mona Vale

Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign approaching Military Rd (unnumbered section) at Mosman, January 2018. A8 becomes Spit Rd at this junction.

Image © Dean Sherry

Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Mosman, January 2018.

Image © Dean Sherry

NEW Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign on Pittwater Rd (A8) at Dee Why, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Oaks Avenue:

Corner of Pittwater Rd (A8) and Oaks Av in Dee Why, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW South Creek Road:

Corner of Pittwater Rd (A8) and South Ck Rd in Dee Why, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Collaroy:

Pittwater Rd (A8) passing through Collaroy town centre, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Entering Narrabeen:

Pittwater Rd (A8) entering the suburb of Narrabeen, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Pittwater Rd (A8) approaching Wakehurst Pkwy, Narrabeen, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Wakehurst Parkway:

Corner of Pittwater Rd (A8) and Wakehurst Pkwy, Narrabeen, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign on Pittwater Rd (A8) at North Narrabeen, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Jacksons Road:

Corner of Pittwater Rd (A8) and Jacksons Rd, Warriewood, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Pittwater Rd (A8) approaching Mona Vale Rd (A3) and Barrenjoey Rd, Mona Vale, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Mona Vale Road & Barrenjoey Road:

Corner of Pittwater Rd (A8), Mona Vale Rd (A3) and Barrenjoey Rd at Mona Vale, December 2017. This is the northern terminus of A8, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

Mona Vale to Neutral Bay

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Barrenjoey Rd (unnumbered) approaching Mona Vale Rd (A3) and Pittwater Rd (A8) at Mona Vale, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Corner of Barrenjoey Road, Mona Vale Road & Pittwater Road:

Barrenjoey Rd at the junction with Mona Vale Rd (A3) and Pittwater Rd (A8) at Mona Vale, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign on Pittwater Rd (A8) at Mona Vale, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Coronation Street:

Pittwater Rd (A8) at the junction with Coronation St at Mona Vale, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Jacksons Road:

Corner of Pittwater Rd (A8) and Jacksons Rd at Warriewood, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at North Narrabeen approaching Wakehurst Pkwy, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Wakehurst Parkway:

Corner of Pittwater Rd (A8) and Wakehurst Pkwy at North Narrabeen, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Narabeen Lagoon:

Pittwater Rd (A8) crossing Narrabeen Lagoon at Narrabeen, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Entering Narrabeen:

Pittwater Rd (A8) as it enters the suburb of Narrabeen, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Narrabeen, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Collaroy:

Pittwater Rd (A8) passing through Collaroy town centre, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW South Creek Road:

Corner of Pittwater Rd (A8) and South Ck Rd at Dee Why, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Block Turn Signage:

Sign indicating access to streets to the right of median is by going around the block. Dee Why, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Pittwater Road, Dee Why Parade and Kingsway Junction:

Corner of Pittwater Rd (A8), Dee Why Pde and Kingsway, Dee Why, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD approaching Warringah Rd (A38) and Harbord Rd at Dee Why, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Harbord Road & Warringah Road:

Corner of Pittwater Rd (A8), Warringah Rd (A38) and Harbord Rd at Dee Why, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Harbord Road & Warringah Road:

Corner of Pittwater Rd (A8), Warringah Rd (A38) and Harbord Rd at Dee Why, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Reassurance Directional Sign:

Distance sign at Brookvale, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Brookvale, approaching Winbourne Rd and Old Pittwater Rd, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Brookvale, approaching Cross St, Brookvale, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Cross Street:

Corner of Pittwater Rd (A8) and Cross St, Brookvale, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign at Brookvale approaching William St, Pittwater Rd (unnumbered) and Condamine St (A8), December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Pittwater Road and Condamine Street Junction:

Corner of Pittwater Rd (A8), Pittwater Rd (unnumbered) and Condamine St (A8) at Brookvale. A8 becomes Condamine St at this location, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Block Turn Signage:

Block turn AD sign approaching Koorala St at Manly Vale, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Condamine St (A8) approaching Condamine St (unnumbered) and Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation at Balgowlah, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Condamine Street & Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation:

Corner of Condamine St (A8), Condamine St (unnumbered) and Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation at Balgowlah. A8 becomes Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation at this location, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Kitchener Street:

Burnt Br Ck Dv (A8) as it passes under Kitchener St, Balgowlah, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Burnt Br Ck Dv (A8) approaching Sydney Rd and Manly Rd (A8), Balgowlah, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Burnt Bridge Creek Road, Sydney Road & Manly Road:

Corner of Burnt Br Ck Dv (A8), Sydney Rd and Manly Rd (A8), Balgowlah. A8 becomes Manly Rd at this location, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Ethel Street:

Manly Rd (A8) passing under Ethel St, Balgowlah, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Approaching Spit Bridge:

Manly Rd (A8) at Seaforth, approaching the Spit Bridge over Middle Harbour, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Spit Bridge:

Manly Rd (A8) crossing Middle Hbr via Spit Br at Seaforth, December 2017. A8 changes name to Spit Rd here.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Spit Bridge:

Spit Rd (A8) crossing Middle Hbr via Spit Br at Seaforth, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Spit Road and Pawirri Road Junction:

Corner of Spit Rd (A8) and Pawirri Rd at Mosman. Pawirri Rd is the former main road down to The Spit, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Custom Heavy Vehicle Speed Signage:

Signage for special lower heavy vehicle speed (normally 40 km/h), Spit Rd (A8), Mosman, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Custom Heavy Vehicle Speed Signage:

Signage for special lower heavy vehicle speed (normally 40 km/h), Spit Rd (A8), Mosman, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Mosman:

Spit Rd (A8) passing through Mosman near Awaba St, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Lane Allocation Signals:

Lane allocation signals on Spit Rd (A8) at Mosman, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

AD sign on Falcon St (A8) approaching Falcon St (unnumbered) and Warringah Fwy (M1) at Neutral Bay, January 2018.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Advance Directional Sign:

Changeable AD sign on Falcon St (A8) approaching Falcon St (unnumbered) and Warringah Fwy (M1) at Neutral Bay, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands

NEW Falcon Street & Warringah Freeway:

Corner of Falcon St (A8 and unnumbered) and Warringah Fwy (M1) at Neutral Bay, December 2017.

Image © Paul Rands