Hoddle Bridge

A punt was first established at this point in the river in 1842, the name soon being attached to the north-south road leading to it through Richmond, and to the road through South Yarra across the river to the south, which did not align.^[2] In 1895, a footbridge was constructed joining the two roads in connection with a new sewer line that was to cross the river, utilising steel Pratt trusses.^[3] The trusses were later reused for a stock bridge over the Maribyrnong River, now known as the Angliss Stock Bridge.^[4]

A road bridge was first urged by the Melbourne City Council in 1934, and an agreement reached with the State Government in 1936.^[5] The Country Roads Board began construction of the bridge in late 1937,^[6] with tenders for sub-contracted work (involving driving 240 concrete piles and the construction of four river piers) released. During 1937, the contractor drove all the piles and completed one pier, but owing to the slow rate of progress the contract was concluded and the work completed by direct labour under the Board's engineers. As no satisfactory tender was received for the construction of the abutments and super-structure, the work put in hand by the Board by direct labour.^[6] Total cost was A£77,009.^[7]

Before construction of the bridge began, the nearest crossing for traffic was at the Morell Bridge, a half-mile downstream. Traffic conditions at this narrow bridge were very congested, as a considerable proportion of traffic which came down from the north along Punt Road was compelled to swing to the west to cross the river and thence again to the east for an extra mile.^[7] Comparisons of traffic measurements taken in the vicinity before and after the bridge had opened had shown not only a decrease in total distance in crossing the river, but an increase of traffic of 17.38%.^[7]

The bridge was originally referred to as Punt Road Bridge,^[6] but was named after the surveyor Robert Hoddle upon opening by the Premier of Victoria Albert Dunstan on 22 December 1938.^{[8][9][10][11]}

It is a five-lane road bridge with footpaths on either side. It is constructed of reinforced concrete, supported on transverse piers aligned with the river but at an angle to the road, with five segmental arched spans of continuous T-beam construction, supported on, topped by concrete cross-beams supporting the roadway.

Decorative features are in the Art Deco style, namely wrought iron balustrade, and the pylons above each pier end, topped by more traditionally styled lamps.