What happens when a crane falls on a bridge?

The image above is of a crane in motion, falling on a pedestrian crossing over the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

It was taken just before the crane struck and the pedestrian had to be taken to hospital for serious injuries.

What is the NSW Government doing to fix the problem?

In October this year, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the closure of the pedestrian crossing at the Swan River Bridge and the suspension of the Bridge Closure Order.

The Government has been working with stakeholders and local authorities on the design of an alternate crossing at Swan River.

A spokesperson for the NSW Department of Transport said the agency was currently reviewing the bridge design.

“The State Government is committed to a safe and functional crossing, and the design review will ensure that all elements of the design and construction of the Swan river bridge are in compliance with the bridge standards and the bridge closure order,” the spokesperson said.

“While we understand that there may be other solutions, we are committed to ensuring that Swan River bridges are built to the highest standards and ensure they have the capacity to meet future transport needs.”

What happens if a crane goes off?

The NSW Government is currently reviewing designs for the Swan Bridge Closures Order. 

The order requires the closure and replacement of all existing bridges, including Swan River bridge, if a structural problem causes a crane to fall.

Why does this matter?

The bridge closure is a major traffic safety issue, with the closure order preventing pedestrians from crossing Swan River into Sydney.

On Thursday, the State Government released a report into the Swan bridge closure.

It found that a “critical” and “major” structural issue in the bridge, caused by the suspension bridge, was not identified, but it did recommend a series of actions to be implemented.

Read more about bridge closure orders here.

Topics:bridge-closures,state-parliament,government-and-politics,government—state-issues,sydney-2000More stories from New South Wales