A stronger bridge for years to come

Monday, 21 July 2025

Remediation works are complete on the Kidman Bridge over the River Torrens, ensuring its lifespan well into the future.

Located on Henley Beach Road in Lockleys, the Kidman Bridge was first constructed in 1936 and was named to commemorate Sir Sidney Kidman, who was known at the time as Australia’s largest landholder and ‘The Cattle King’, owning more than 600,000 cattle.

As the bridge reaches nearly 90 years of age, crucial remediation works were identified on deteriorated sections underneath the bridge.

Repair works commenced last year and were carried out on concrete piers, steelwork and decking under the bridge to strengthen its structural integrity.

To further increase structural stability, repairs were undertaken on the concrete beams under the pedestrian footpaths that run across the bridge on Henley Beach Road.

Old layers of paint underneath the bridge were also replaced with a fresh coat of new lead-free paint.

When it was first built, the old Adelaide tram network operated over the bridge up to Henley North. Today, the bridge carries more than 20,000 vehicles per day with numerous cyclists and pedestrians.

These works are funded by the State Government as part of the Bridge Maintenance Program at the cost of $3.5 million, and the project has supported 15 full time jobs during the construction period.

"Bridge remediation is a smart and much-needed investment as it extends the life of vital infrastructure, avoiding the far greater cost of emergency repairs or a complete reconstruction", a Department for Infrastructure and Transport spokesperson said.

"Risks don’t become serious issues overnight. They happen when we ignore the signs, and this work is us taking the lead and addressing these signs before they become emergencies.

"With works now complete, this bridge meets modern safety standards and will continue to stand the test of time."