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Statistics:

• Length: 23 km
• Northern Terminus: Mona Vale Rd (A3) and Barrenjoey Rd, Mona Vale
  
• Southern Terminus: Warringah Fwy (M1) and Falcon St, Crows Nest
  
• Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along Route: Mona Vale, Warriewood, Narrabeen, Collaroy Beach, Dee Why, Brookvale, Manly Vale, Seaforth, Mosman, Cremorne, Neutral Bay and Crows Nest
  

Route Numbering:

• Current: A8

• Former:
• Road Authority Internal Classification: MR164 1

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.

• Spit Bridge: 2

The current Spit Bridge comprises 7 spans of a total length of 745 feet 6 inches (227.28m), has 4 traffic lanes (44feet or 13.41m wide) and a pedestrian walkway of 5 feet (1.5m) 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 (24.4m) 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 40and 50 feet (12-15m). At the Manly end the harbour bottom slopes up steeply to outcropping rock on which the northern abutment sits. Piers5 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 - 23m) which is 75 to 105 feet (23 - 32m) 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:

Condamine Street was named after Thomas de la Condamine, Aide-de-Camp to Governor Darling. 3

History:

• 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.
  

Preview:	Description:
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign approaching Military Rd at Mosman, January 2018. Image © Dean Sherry
	Reassurance Directional Sign: Distance sign at Mosman, January 2018. Image © Dean Sherry

1 Roads and Maritime Services, Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads, August 2013
1 State Library of New South Wales
2 Manly City Council
3 Roads and Maritime Services

Last updated: 02-Jan-2019 19:33

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