A Tale Of Two Bridges

Clarence St Bridge Balgowlah

It's taken almost a year and a change of council but the timber bridge at Clarence St Balgowlah has now been restored to its former glory.

The 90-year-old footbridge, which forms part of the Manly Scenic Walkway, was found to be unsafe last December, and closed. 

Former Manly GM Henry Wong wanted to replace it with a metal  structure, but locals fought back, saying steel would be out of place in the pretty bushland setting.

They won the battle and reconstruction work started in August under the new Northern Beaches Council. using sustainable hardwood timber, sourced from Lismore.

The bridge, which is just to the north of Forty Baskets Beach, spans a rocky gully leading down to North Harbour.

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Meanwhile, back at the start of the Scenic Walkway, another timber structure has been declared structurally unsound.

Federation Point Boardwalk, which runs around the outside of Manly Pavilion, was closed last month as several of the walkway's support struts were found to be in a dangerous condition.

Repair work to replace the wooden struts, bolts and associated metal supports, is expected to take about three months in total, including a 6-8 week lead time for materials to arrive.

Northern Beaches Council, which leases the boardwalk from Roads and Maritime Services, expects the walkway to reopen in February of next year.