The world’s tallest and widest arch bridge is set to receive a major paint job as part of ongoing efforts to maintain its condition.

(above image: published under Creative Commons licence: Dietmar Rabich / Wikimedia Commons / “Sydney (AU), Harbour Bridge — 2019 — 2179” / CC BY-SA 4.0)

The NSW Government has announced that one third of the surface of the Sydney Harbour Bridge will be repainted whilst areas of rust will be treated over an eight-year maintenance program.

The program aims to bring the iconic arch up to scratch in time to mark the 100^th anniversary of its opening in 2032.

(rust is evident on parts of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The new maintenance program hopes to repair much of this. image: supplied)

Originally opened in 1932, the Bridge serves as a major transport channel and links the Sydney CBD to North Sydney across Sydney Harbour.

Each day, it moves around 160,000 road vehicles as well as 480 trains. Each year, the bridge caters for 1.3 million pedestrians and 400,000 cyclists.

The bride is also a significant cultural and architecture/engineering landmark.

In terms of architecture and engineering, the bridge weighs 52,800 tonnes and is the widest and tallest arch bridge in the world.

Its construction involved more than six million hand-driven rivets to put the bridge together as well as 272,000 litres of paint to finish the job (the total painted surface of the steel structure is 485,000 square meters.)

At its highest point, the bridge is 134 meters above sea level. The arch can rise or fall up to 18 centimetres per day due to heating or cooling.

The road deck is 49 meters above the water.

Culturally, the Bridge serves as a tourism landmark and is the centrepiece of significant celebrations.

These include the globally renowned New Years Eve and Vivid Festival events.

(The Sydney Harbour Bridge is home to events such as the annual New Years Eve festival. Image source: Sydney New Years Eve Cruises)

All up, the bridge takes 30 years to paint.

Each paint involves four coats of paint – each of which is a slightly different shade. The final coat is the heritage-listed Sydney Harbour Bridge Grey.

All up, about 150,000 square meters of steel will be repainted between now and 2032 – an increase of 30 percent over the previous eight-year period.

The latest program will address some of the most difficult sections of the bridge to access. These include lateral pieces of steel which are high in the arch and have not been painted in three decades.

The program will also treat rust patches which have become increasingly visible to the public. This is important as targets for rust treatment have not been met over recent years.

Transport for NSW is also assessing a longer-term maintenance plan. This includes the use of an arch maintenance unit that was previously procured under the former Coalition Government.

To assist with the increased painting targets, 12 new full-time painters will be recruited. These will boost the current maintenance team to more than 130 painters, riggers, electricians, fitters and engineers.

Works will be scheduled so as to minimise impacts upon BridgeClimb visitors.

(image supplied by NSW Government)

NSW Minister for Roads John Graham welcomed the announcement of the latest maintenance program.

“Sydneysiders could not be prouder of the Harbour Bridge and it is critical that it is looking its best for the centenary of its opening in 2032, but also in the best condition to serve the city for the next 100 years,” Graham said.

“I was not satisfied that the current maintenance plan would deliver that in time for 2032 and beyond and today we outline a much more intensive program for the treatment of rust and painting.

“This is tough, intricate and time-consuming work. The 12 new permanent full-time workers join one of the best, most-experienced maintenance teams in the country.

“The Bridge remains the city’s most critical road and rail corridor, but it is also a priceless tourism asset which makes this work that much more critical.”

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