The award-winning parallel-to-coast Sea Cliff Bridge was opened on December 11, 2005, at a total cost of about AU $52 million. Located some 60 kms south from central Sydney or 23 kms north of Wollongong, it forms part of the Grand Pacific Drive.
Sea Cliff Bridge provides spectacular views through its entire 665 meters in length. The grand pacific road was originally built in the 1860s to service the coal mines. This section of the road, which was carved into the cliffs 40 meters above the surf, although breathtakingly scenic, was at times extremely dangerous.
These cliffs, especially the section between Coalcliff and Clifton was notorious for rock falls, embankment slips, mud and rock slides due to high rainfall, marine erosion and weak rock.
The road faced frequent closures due to large collapses of boulders, falling from tens to hundreds of meters posed significant risk to motorists, with bouncing boulders narrowly missing school buses and cars. In 2003, a large embankment slip closed this stretch of road indefinitely.
Local community demanded a permanent fix from the New South Wales (NSW) Government. Two years later, the Sea Cliff Bridge provided that fix by bridging the Cliff and the Sea and Community.
