Bayswater Subway

The Bayswater Subway (or Bayswater Bridge) is a road under rail subway in Perth, Western Australia. Located immediately west of Bayswater railway station, it carries King William Street / Coode Street beneath the Midland line.[1]

From the north east August 2020

The bridge was first proposed in 1898,[2] but it was not until 14 February 1910 that it was opened.[3]

As part of the conversion of the Eastern Railway from narrow gauge to dual gauge, the original two lane bridge was demolished in May 1969 and rebuilt with four lanes underneath. Bayswater railway station was rebuilt at the same time.[4]: 268–269 

In September 2014, flashing low clearance signs were put on the bridge.[5] In May 2019, one of the low clearance signs fell off the bridge, landing on a vehicle and breaking its windscreen.[6]

With a low clearance of 3.8 metres (12 ft), it received significant media coverage for being frequently struck by tall vehicles.[7] Between when the Public Transport Authority started counting in 2014 and May 2019, the Bayswater Subway was struck by 36 vehicles.[8]

As part of the rebuild of Bayswater station, the bridge will be replaced by a new 4.8-metre-high (16 ft) bridge.[9][10] In April 2023, the railway closed for three weeks to allow the railway line to be aligned to operate over the new bridge and the old bridge to be demolished.[11]

Despite being the best-known bridge in Perth for being hit, the Bayswater Subway is not the lowest road-under-rail bridge in Perth. The Sutherland Street bridge, in West Perth has a clearance of 3.7 metres (12 ft),[12] and the Seventh Avenue Bridge, in Maylands had a clearance of 3.3 metres (11 ft) before it was rebuilt.[13]

It is different from the historic railway bridge over the Swan River that existed between 1897 and 1957, which at times had been referred to as the "Bayswater Bridge".[14]

See also

References
  1. "Manual – Rail Access" (PDF). Public Transport Authority. pp. 93, 96. Archived (PDF) from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  2. "Bayswater Requirements". Western Mail. 5 December 1898. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  3. "Road Board Meetings – Bayswater". The West Australian. 8 February 1910. Archived from the original on 18 July 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  4. May, Catherine (2013). Changes they've seen : the city and people of Bayswater 1827-2013. Morley, W.A.: City of Bayswater. ISBN 9780646596082.
  5. Marrapodi, Chenee. "New clearance signs for Bayswater subway". WAtoday. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  6. "The Bayswater Bridge fights back: Car left wrecked after sign falls on roof". WAtoday. Archived from the original on 5 October 2020. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  7. "How Many Days Since The Bayswater Bridge Has Been Hit?". Archived from the original on 10 August 2020. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  8. "Perth's notorious Bayswater bridge, enemy of truck drivers everywhere, claims another victim". ABC News. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  9. "Countdown on until we farewell the infamous Bayswater Bridge". Metronet. 13 March 2022. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  10. Zimmerman, Josh (13 March 2022). "WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti announces replacement of infamous Bayswater Bridge". The West Australian. Archived from the original on 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  11. "Agenda: Ordinary Council Meeting – 28 March 2023". City of Bayswater. p. 303. Archived from the original on 26 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  12. Allan-Petale, David. "Low clearance, high drama as truck gets stuck at Scitech bridge in West Perth". WAtoday. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  13. Wilson, David. Managing Low Clearances under bridges in Perth. Main Roads Western Australia.
  14. West Australian Newspapers (1957), Workers demolishing the Belmont Railway Bridge, archived from the original on 3 April 2023, retrieved 25 August 2020

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