Melbourne Could Be Getting Its Own Version of New York City's High Line
Sandridge Bridge could be turned into quite the NYC-like aerial garden.
Melbourne's Sandridge Bridge could be in for a makeover in the style of New York's High Line. A proposal backed by Lord Mayor Robert Doyle would see the 178-metre pedestrian bridge transformed into a lush aerial garden, providing a green walkway across the Yarra connecting Southbank and Flinders Street Station. However, the plan will rely on funding from the State Government — so don’t start planning your picnic just yet.
"The bridge at the moment is a beautiful structure, but it's not at all pleasant to walk across," Doyle told The Age. "Imagine if we gave it a treatment like the famous High Line in New York, which would make it a green bridge and something very pleasant to link the north and the south of our city."
Under current plans, the Sandridge Bridge would be widened to accommodate trees and other plants. According to The Age, Doyle is currently attempting to secure funding from both the council and the Andrews governments, although he concedes that he is unsure of the amount of money that will be needed.
The bridge would have to be reinforced to support the weight of the garden – not to mention the additional foot-traffic it would presumably draw in.
Originally part of the Port Melbourne rail line, the Sandridge Bridge was reopened as a footbridge back in 2006. Plans for a refurbishment were put on hold when Premier Andrews ditched the $1 billion Flinders Street Station redesign proposed by his predecessor Denis Napthine. In February, Andrews allocated $100 million to restoration work on the station, sparking new hope for the bridge project as well.
Located on the west side of Manhattan, the High Line Garden saw a disused section of the raised railway line converted into a green aerial walkway. It now attracts more than 5 million visitors a year, and is credited with helping to breathe new life into the surrounding area.
Via The Age.
Images: Wikimedia Commons, Trav Nikov Studio.
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