Bayswater Subway

The Bayswater Subway (or Bayswater Bridge) is a road under rail subway near Bayswater railway station in Perth, Western Australia with a low clearance of 3.8 metres (12 ft). It has become well known in Perth and has received significant media coverage for being frequently struck by tall vehicles.[1]

From the north east August 2020

The bridge was first proposed in 1898,[2] but was not constructed until 1910, opening on February 14 of that year.[3] The bridge was torn down in May 1969, due to its two lane width not being enough, and it was rebuilt with four lanes underneath. Bayswater railway station was rebuilt at the same time as an island platform as part of the conversion of the Midland line from narrow gauge to dual gauge.[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] Between when the Public Transport Authority started counting in 2014 and May 2019, the Bayswater Subway was struck by 36 vehicles.[7]

By the end of 2022, the bridge will be replaced by a 4.8-metre-high (16 ft) bridge as part of the rebuild of Bayswater railway station.[8][9]

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),[10] and the Seventh Avenue Bridge, in Maylands had a clearance of 3.3 metres (11 ft) before it was rebuilt.[11]

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".[12]

See also

References
  1. "How Many Days Since The Bayswater Bridge Has Been Hit?".
  2. "Bayswater Requirements". Western Mail. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  3. "Road Board Meetings – Bayswater". The West Australian. 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. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  6. "The Bayswater Bridge fights back: Car left wrecked after sign falls on roof". WAtoday. Retrieved 2 October 2020.
  7. "Perth's notorious Bayswater bridge, enemy of truck drivers everywhere, claims another victim". ABC News. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  8. "Countdown on until we farewell the infamous Bayswater Bridge". Metronet. 13 March 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  9. Zimmerman, Josh (13 March 2022). "WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti announces replacement of infamous Bayswater Bridge". The West Australian. Retrieved 13 March 2022.
  10. Allan-Petale, David. "Low clearance, high drama as truck gets stuck at Scitech bridge in West Perth". WAtoday. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  11. Wilson, David. Managing Low Clearances under bridges in Perth. Main Roads Western Australia.
  12. West Australian Newspapers (1957), Workers demolishing the Belmont Railway Bridge, retrieved 25 August 2020

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