Editing Sydney Harbour Bridge (section)

==Operations==
In 2010, the average daily traffic included 204 trains, 160,435 vehicles and 1650 bicycles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-inner/sydney-harbour-bridge/index.html|title=Sydney Harbour Bridge precinct|website=[[Roads & Maritime Services]]|date=17 May 2017 |access-date=12 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411152546/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-inner/sydney-harbour-bridge/index.html|archive-date=11 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Road===
{{main|Bradfield Highway, Sydney}}
[[File:Sydney CBD from the top (gun) deck of the south east pylon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.jpg|thumb|The roadway of the bridge, from the southern pylon]]
From the Sydney CBD side, motor vehicle access to the bridge is via [[Grosvenor Street]], [[Clarence Street, Sydney|Clarence Street]], [[Kent Street, Sydney|Kent Street]], the [[Cahill Expressway]], or the [[Western Distributor, Sydney|Western Distributor]]. Drivers on the northern side will find themselves on the [[Warringah Freeway]], though it is easy to turn off the freeway to drive westwards into [[North Sydney, New South Wales|North Sydney]] or eastwards to [[Neutral Bay]] and beyond upon arrival on the northern side.{{citation needed|date = March 2014}}

The bridge originally only had four wider traffic lanes occupying the central space which now has six, as photos taken soon after the opening clearly show. In 1958 tram services across the bridge were withdrawn and the tracks replaced by two extra road lanes; these lanes are now the leftmost southbound lanes on the bridge and are separated from the other six road lanes by a [[median strip]]. Lanes 7 and 8 now connect the bridge to the elevated Cahill Expressway that carries traffic to the [[Eastern Distributor]].

In 1988, work began to build a tunnel to complement the bridge. It was determined that the bridge could no longer support the increased traffic flow of the 1980s. The [[Sydney Harbour Tunnel]] was completed in August 1992 and carries only motor vehicles.

The Bradfield Highway is designated as a [[Stock route|Travelling Stock Route]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wilderness.org.au/articles/nsw-drovers-rally-to-save-historic-travelling|publisher=[[The Wilderness Society (Australia)|The Wilderness Society]]|title=NSW drovers rally to save historic travelling stock routes|access-date=5 July 2009|date=27 August 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120222021821/http://www.wilderness.org.au/campaigns/wildcountry/nsw-drovers-rally-to-save-historic-travelling|archive-date=22 February 2012}}</ref> which means that it is permissible to herd livestock across the bridge, but only between midnight and dawn, and after giving notice of intention to do so. In practice, the last time livestock crossed the bridge was in 1999 for the Gelbvieh Cattle Congress.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ellicott|first=John|date=3 March 2017|title=Can't be done for Herd of Hope? Here's proof it can|url=http://www.theland.com.au/story/4503950/cant-be-done-for-herd-of-hope-heres-proof-it-can/|access-date=27 May 2021|website=[[The Land (newspaper)|The Land]]|language=en-AU|archive-date=24 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210924213333/https://www.theland.com.au/story/4503950/cant-be-done-for-herd-of-hope-heres-proof-it-can/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Tidal flow===
The bridge is equipped for [[Reversible lane|tidal flow operation]], permitting the direction of traffic flow on the bridge to be altered to better suit the morning and evening peak hour traffic patterns.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/usingroads/managingtraffic/tmc_network.html |title=Managing the network|publisher=Roads & Maritime Services |date=6 September 2013 |access-date=9 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140610211513/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/usingroads/managingtraffic/tmc_network.html |archive-date=10 June 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

The bridge has eight lanes, numbered one to eight from west to east. Lanes three, four and five are reversible. One and two always flow north. Six, seven, and eight always flow south. The default is four each way. For the morning peak hour, the lane changes on the bridge also require changes to the [[Warringah Freeway]], with its inner western reversible carriageway directing traffic to the bridge lane numbers three and four southbound. Until September 1982, during the evening peak the tidal flow was set as six northbound and two southbound lanes.<ref>Tidal Flow Operation on the Sydney Harbour Bridge ''Main Roads'' December 1983 page 109</ref>

The bridge has a series of overhead gantries which indicate the direction of flow for each traffic lane. A green arrow pointing down to a traffic lane means the lane is open. A flashing red "X" indicates the lane is closing, but is not yet in use for traffic travelling in the other direction. A static red "X" means the lane is in use for oncoming traffic. This arrangement was introduced in January 1986, replacing a slow operation where lane markers were manually moved to mark the centre median.<ref>Annual Report for year ended 30 June 1986] [[Department of Main Roads (New South Wales)|Department of Main Roads]]</ref>

It is possible to see odd arrangements of flow during night periods when maintenance occurs, which may involve completely closing some lanes. Normally this is done between midnight and dawn, because of the enormous traffic demands placed on the bridge outside these hours.{{citation needed|date = March 2014}}

When the Sydney Harbour Tunnel opened in August 1992, lane 7 became a [[bus lane]].<ref>Harbour Bridge Public Transport Lane ''[[Fleetline (periodical)|Fleetline]]'' issue 198 January 1992 page 13</ref><ref>Opening of Sydney Harbour Tunnel & Gore Hill Freeway ''[[Australian Bus Panorama]]'' issue 8/3 October 1992 page 38</ref>

===Tolls===
[[File:Sydney Harbour Bridge toll gates, 1933.jpg|thumb|Northbound view of toll gates, 1933]]

The vehicular traffic lanes on the bridge are operated as a [[toll road]]. Since January 2009, there is a variable tolling system for all vehicles headed into the CBD (southbound). The toll paid is dependent on the time of day in which the vehicle passes through the toll plaza. The toll varies from a minimum value of $2.50 to a maximum value of $4.<ref>[https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/tolling/toll-costs-by-road Toll costs by road] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220804194507/https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boating-and-transport/tolling/toll-costs-by-road |date=4 August 2022 }} Government of New South Wales</ref> There is no toll for northbound traffic (though taxis travelling north may charge passengers the toll in anticipation of the toll the taxi must pay on the return journey). In 2017, the Bradfield Highway northern toll plaza infrastructure was removed and replaced with new overhead gantries to service all southbound traffic.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-inner/sydney-harbour-bridge/tolling-projects/northern-toll-plaza/index.html|title=Northern toll plaza precinct upgrade|work=Roads & Maritime Services|access-date=25 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925104407/https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-inner/sydney-harbour-bridge/tolling-projects/northern-toll-plaza/index.html|archive-date=25 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Following on from this upgrade, in 2018 all southern toll plaza infrastructure was also removed.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-inner/sydney-harbour-bridge/tolling-projects/southern-toll-plaza/index.html|title=Southern toll plaza precinct upgrade|work=Roads & Maritime Services|access-date=25 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180925141949/https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-inner/sydney-harbour-bridge/tolling-projects/southern-toll-plaza/index.html|archive-date=25 September 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> Only the Cahill Expressway toll plaza infrastructure remains. The toll was originally placed on travel across the bridge, in both directions, to recoup the cost of its construction. This was paid off in 1988, but the toll has been kept (indeed increased) to recoup the costs of the [[Sydney Harbour Tunnel]].<ref>At Last! Sydney Harbour Bridge Paid For ''[[Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|Daily Telegraph]]'' 25 July 1988 page 1</ref><ref>[https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/dont-we-own-the-bridge-yet/news-story/470a79a8df85451a62546f1ee5a43a1f?sv=9d46fd6e74ef2ce70a1cf9189001bdf4 Don't we own the Bridge yet?] ''The Daily Telegraph'' 15 June 2009</ref>

Originally it cost a car or motorcycle six pence to cross, a horse and rider being three pence. Use of the bridge by bicycle riders (provided that they use the cycleway) and by pedestrians is free. Later governments capped the fee for motorcycles at one-quarter of the passenger-vehicle cost, but now it is again the same as the cost for a passenger vehicle, although quarterly flat-fee passes are available which are much cheaper for frequent users.<ref>{{cite web|title = Motorcyclists|url = https://www.myrta.com/wps/portal/extvp/myrta/etoll/motorcyclists/!ut/p/b1/dcrdEkJAGIDha-kK9ls_LYdGFIuIbwcnxmjGSPkpKl19uoDO3nfmITnJVCYz0DWVkZTkXfls6nJq-q68_j7fFnCwQoESo0ehATgnxeWyRNeSSbYC9hcYlCQkBaWIL9DPXDc-4BQ-N9vhYTsUd9gnIPPF1GZMUucev8ZYRDQOcFqqwsUEe-4PIUeYG9SmpX273tnzuN8FUOlU2JFlhMOYUtyQW76vv8TAB_4!/|website=Roads & Traffic Authority|access-date = 12 June 2015|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150614025012/https://www.myrta.com/wps/portal/extvp/myrta/etoll/motorcyclists/!ut/p/b1/dcrdEkJAGIDha-kK9ls_LYdGFIuIbwcnxmjGSPkpKl19uoDO3nfmITnJVCYz0DWVkZTkXfls6nJq-q68_j7fFnCwQoESo0ehATgnxeWyRNeSSbYC9hcYlCQkBaWIL9DPXDc-4BQ-N9vhYTsUd9gnIPPF1GZMUucev8ZYRDQOcFqqwsUEe-4PIUeYG9SmpX273tnzuN8FUOlU2JFlhMOYUtyQW76vv8TAB_4!/|archive-date = 14 June 2015|url-status = live|df = dmy-all}}</ref> Originally there were six toll booths at the southern end of the bridge, these were replaced by 16 booths in 1950.<ref>Sydney Harbour Bridge ''[[Truck & Bus Transportation]]'' March 1950 page 9</ref> The toll was charged in both directions until 4 July 1970 when changed to only be applied to southbound traffic.<ref>Introduction of One-Way Toll Collection on Sydney Harbour Bridge ''[[Main Roads (periodical)|Main Roads]]'' September 1970 pages 24/25</ref><ref>Reaching the North ''[[Trolley Wire]]'' issue 200 June 1982 page 23</ref>

After the decision to build the Sydney Harbour Tunnel was made in the early 1980s, the toll was increased (from 20 cents to $1, then to $1.50 in March 1989, and finally to $2 by the time the tunnel opened) to pay for its construction.<ref>Annual report for year ended 30 June 1989] [[Roads & Traffic Authority]]</ref> The tunnel also had an initial toll of $2 southbound. After the increase to $1, a [[Median strip|concrete barrier]] on the bridge separating the Bradfield Highway from the Cahill Expressway was increased in height, because of the large numbers of drivers crossing it illegally from lane 6 to 7, to avoid the toll.

The southbound toll was increased to $2.20 in July 2000 to account for the newly imposed [[Goods and services tax (Australia)|goods and services tax]] (GST).<ref>{{cite book |url=https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system/files/media/documents/2023/shb-tolling-summary-report.pdf |title=Sydney Harbour Bridge Tolling |publisher=[[Roads & Traffic Authority]] |date=March 2011 |isbn=9781921899126 |access-date=1 August 2023 |archive-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801123319/https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/system/files/media/documents/2023/shb-tolling-summary-report.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Walker |first1=Frank |last2=West |first2=Andrew |date=1 July 2020 |url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/from-the-archives-2000-pm-howard-braves-public-s-reaction-to-gst-20200623-p555en.html |title=From the Archives, 2000: PM Howard braves public's reaction to GST |publisher=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |access-date=1 August 2023 |archive-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801123317/https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/from-the-archives-2000-pm-howard-braves-public-s-reaction-to-gst-20200623-p555en.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The toll increased again to $3 in January 2002.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2022/03/18/sydney-harbour-bridge-turns-90.html |title=The Sydney Harbour Bridge turns 90 |publisher=[[University of Sydney]] |date=18 March 2022 |access-date=1 August 2023 |archive-date=1 August 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801123319/https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2022/03/18/sydney-harbour-bridge-turns-90.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

In July 2008, a new electronic tolling system called [[e-TAG]] was introduced. The Sydney Harbour Tunnel was converted to this new tolling system while the Sydney Harbour Bridge itself had several cash lanes. The electronic system as of 12 January 2009 has now replaced all booths with E-tag lanes.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090217110129/http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/usingroads/motorwaysandtolling/200807shb_lanechanges.html?hhid=shbcashless Sydney Harbour Bridge cashless tolling] Roads & Traffic Authority</ref> In January 2017 work commenced to remove the southern toll booths.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20170106010821/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-inner/sydney-harbour-bridge/tolling-projects/southern-toll-plaza.html Southern toll plaza precinct upgrade] Roads & Maritime Services 6 January 2017</ref> In August 2020, the remaining toll booths at Milsons Point were removed.<ref>[https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/media-releases/sydney-harbour-bridge-toll-booths-to-be-removed Sydney Harbour Bridge toll booths to be removed] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200616010400/https://www.transport.nsw.gov.au/news-and-events/media-releases/sydney-harbour-bridge-toll-booths-to-be-removed |date=16 June 2020 }} Transport for NSW 15 June 2020</ref><ref>[https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-harbour-bridge/northern-toll-plaza.html Northern toll plaza precinct upgrade] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807183451/https://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/projects/sydney-harbour-bridge/northern-toll-plaza.html |date=7 August 2020 }} Roads & Maritime Services</ref> Tolls rose in October 2023 for the first time in 14 years.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20230924072042/https://www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases/sydney-harbour-bridge-and-tunnel-tolls-to-rise Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel tolls to rise] [[Transport for NSW]] 23 September 2023</ref>

===Pedestrians===
The pedestrian-only footway is located on the east side of the bridge. Access from the northern side involves climbing an easily spotted flight of stairs, located on the east side of the bridge at Broughton Street, [[Kirribilli]]. Pedestrian access on the southern side is more complicated, but signposts in [[The Rocks, New South Wales|The Rocks]] area now direct pedestrians to the long and sheltered flight of stairs that leads to the bridge's southern end. These stairs are located near Gloucester Street and Cumberland Street.

The bridge can also be approached from the south by accessing Cahill Walk, which runs along the [[Cahill Expressway]]. Pedestrians can access this walkway from the east end of Circular Quay by a flight of stairs or a lift. Alternatively it can be accessed from the [[Royal Botanic Gardens, Sydney|Botanic Gardens]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.sydneycoastwalks.com.au/sydney-harbour-bridge-walk/|title= Sydney Harbour Bridge Walk|access-date= 1 April 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190401054637/https://www.sydneycoastwalks.com.au/sydney-harbour-bridge-walk/|archive-date= 1 April 2019|url-status= live|df= dmy-all}}</ref>

===Cyclists===
{{main|Sydney Harbour Bridge cycleway}}
[[File:Sydney Harbour Bridge cyclist.jpg|thumb|A cyclist using the cycleway. Side [[welded wire mesh fence|fences]] were added to prevent people from committing [[suicide]] by jumping from the bridge.]]
The bike-only [[cycleway]] is located on the western side of the bridge. Access from the northern side involves carrying or pushing a bicycle up a staircase, consisting of 55 steps, located on the western side of the bridge at Burton Street, Milsons Point. A wide smooth concrete strip in the centre of the stairs permits cycles to be wheeled up and down from the bridge deck whilst the rider is dismounted. A campaign to eliminate the steps on this popular cycling route to the CBD has been running since at least 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sydneyharbourlink.com/page/about |title=HarbourLink |publisher=Sydneyharbourlink.com |access-date=9 June 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126184320/http://www.sydneyharbourlink.com/page/about |archive-date=26 January 2014  }}</ref><ref>[http://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/www/html/5539-harbourlink-project.asp HarbourLink – North Sydney Council] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121022020136/http://www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/www/html/5539-harbourlink-project.asp |date=22 October 2012 }}</ref> On 7 December 2016 the [[Minister for Transport (New South Wales)#Minister for Roads|NSW Roads Minister]] [[Duncan Gay]] confirmed that the northern stairway would be replaced with a {{AUD}}20 million ramp alleviating the needs for cyclists to dismount. At the same time the NSW Government announced plans to upgrade the southern ramp at a projected cost of {{AUD}}20 million. Both projects are expected to be completed by late 2020.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-07/sydney-harbour-bridge-cyclists-due-for-$35-million-ramp-upgrade/8100856 |title=Sydney Harbour Bridge cyclists can expect $35 million bike ramp and upgrade by 2020 |work=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |location=Australia |date=7 December 2016 |access-date=7 December 2016 |author=McNally, Lucy |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207205619/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-12-07/sydney-harbour-bridge-cyclists-due-for-$35-million-ramp-upgrade/8100856 |archive-date=7 December 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/new-ramps-and-cycleways-for-sydney-harbour-bridge-20161207-gt5niy.html |title=New ramps and cycleways for Sydney Harbour Bridge |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=7 December 2016 |access-date=7 December 2016 |author=Stempien, Filip |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161207182717/http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/new-ramps-and-cycleways-for-sydney-harbour-bridge-20161207-gt5niy.html |archive-date=7 December 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-sydney/plan-in-the-works-to-ramp-up-access-to-sydney-harbour-bridge/news-story/94ae236ba37dcb8744fdce006da6e4a0 |title=Plan in the works to ramp up access to Sydney Harbour Bridge |work=[[Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|Daily Telegraph]] |location=Australia |date=8 August 2016 |access-date=7 December 2016 |author=McNab, Heathery |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115193210/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/central-sydney/plan-in-the-works-to-ramp-up-access-to-sydney-harbour-bridge/news-story/94ae236ba37dcb8744fdce006da6e4a0 |archive-date=15 November 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref> Access to the cycleway on the southern side is via the northern end of the Kent Street cycleway and/or Upper Fort Street in [[The Rocks, New South Wales|The Rocks]].<ref name=finder>{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/bicycles/cyclewayfinder/index.html |title=Cycleway Finder |edition=Version 3 |work=[[Roads & Maritime Services]] |publisher=Government of New South Wales |year=2016 |access-date=4 December 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161229181959/http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/roads/bicycles/cyclewayfinder/index.html |archive-date=29 December 2016 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

===Rail===
[[File:Crossing over Harbour Bridge-North to South.webm|thumb|Crossing over the bridge from [[North Sydney railway station]] to [[Wynyard railway station, Sydney|Wynyard railway station]]]]
The bridge lies between [[Milsons Point railway station|Milsons Point]] and [[Wynyard railway station, Sydney|Wynyard]] railway stations, located on the north and south shores respectively, with two tracks running along the western side of the bridge. These tracks are part of the [[North Shore railway line]].

In 1958, tram services across the bridge were withdrawn and the tracks they had used were removed and replaced by two extra road lanes; these lanes are now the leftmost southbound lanes on the bridge and are still clearly distinguishable from the other six road lanes. The original ramp that took the trams into a terminus at the underground [[Wynyard railway station, Sydney|Wynyard railway station]] is still visible at the southern end of the main walkway under lanes 7 and 8, although around 1964, the former tram tunnels and station were converted for use as a carpark for the Menzies Hotel and as public parking. One of the tunnels was converted for use as a storage facility after reportedly being used by the NSW police as a pistol firing range.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/news/wynyard-stations-secret-old-stairs-revealed-after-more-than-50-years/|title=Hidden stairs revealed at Wynyard Station after more than 50 years|date=21 March 2016|website=Commercial Property & Real Estate News|access-date=12 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405001944/https://www.commercialrealestate.com.au/news/wynyard-stations-secret-old-stairs-revealed-after-more-than-50-years/|archive-date=5 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Maintenance===
[[File:Sydney Harbour Bridge maintenance, 18 September 1945.jpg|thumb|Maintenance worker Stan Giddings painting the bridge, 1945.]]
The Sydney Harbour Bridge requires constant inspections and other maintenance work to keep it safe for the public, and to protect from [[corrosion]]. Among the trades employed on the bridge are [[House painter and decorator|painter]]s, [[ironworker]]s, [[boilermaker]]s, [[machinist|fitter]]s, [[electrician]]s, [[plasterer]]s, [[carpenter]]s, [[plumber]]s, and [[Rigger (industry)|riggers]].<ref name=repaint-rta />

The most noticeable maintenance work on the bridge involves painting. The steelwork of the bridge that needs to be painted is a combined {{convert|485000|m2|acre|abbr=on}}, the equivalent of sixty football fields. Each coat on the bridge requires some {{convert|30000|L|impgal|abbr=on}} of paint.<ref name=repaint-rta /> A special fast-drying paint is used, so that any paint drops have dried before reaching the vehicles or bridge surface.<ref name=tia-shb /> One notable identity from previous bridge-painting crews is Australian comedian and actor [[Paul Hogan]], who worked as a bridge rigger before rising to media fame in the 1970s.<ref name="culture.gov" />

In 2003 the Roads & Traffic Authority began completely repainting the southern approach spans of the bridge. This involved removing the old [[Lead paint|lead-based paint]], and repainting the {{convert|90000|m2|acre|abbr=on}} of steel below the deck. Workers operated from self-contained platforms below the deck, with each platform having an air extraction system to [[Air filter|filter]] [[airborne particles]]. An [[abrasive blasting]] was used, with the lead waste collected and safely removed from the site for disposal.<ref name=repaint-rta />

Between December 2006 and March 2010 the bridge was subject to works designed to ensure its longevity. The work included some strengthening.<ref name=shb-upgrade>{{cite web|url=http://www.freyssinet.com.au/images/job-sheets/Sydney%20Harbour%20Bridge%20Upgrade.pdf|access-date=16 September 2014|title=Sydney Harbour Bridge Upgrade|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904021220/http://www.freyssinet.com.au/images/job-sheets/Sydney%20Harbour%20Bridge%20Upgrade.pdf|archive-date=4 September 2015|url-status=live}}</ref>

Since 2013, two grit-blasting robots specially developed with the [[University of Technology, Sydney]] have been employed to help with the paint stripping operation on the bridge.<ref>{{cite web |author=Wendy Frew |url=http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/spick-and-span-20130717-2q1av.html |title=Spick and span |work=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=18 July 2013 |access-date=9 June 2014 |archive-date=24 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924100444/https://www.smh.com.au/technology/spick-and-span-20130716-2q1av.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The robots, nicknamed Rosie and Sandy,<ref>{{cite web |last=Bryant |first=Chris |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7d398f90-ec8e-11e3-8963-00144feabdc0.html#slide0 |title=Dawn of a robot revolution as army of machines escape the factory |work=[[Financial Times]]|date=5 June 2014 |access-date=9 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140608215640/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/7d398f90-ec8e-11e3-8963-00144feabdc0.html#slide0 |archive-date=8 June 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref> are intended to reduce workers' potential exposure to dangerous lead paint and [[asbestos]] and the blasting equipment which has enough force to cut through clothes and skin.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23352958 |title=Grit-blasting robots clean Sydney Harbour Bridge |publisher=bbc.co.uk |date=18 July 2013 |access-date=9 June 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140106185621/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-23352958 |archive-date=6 January 2014 |url-status=live  }}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed-hover" heights="200px">
File:Painting Sydney Harbour Bridge 1945 04.jpg|Stan Giddings, maintenance worker painting Sydney Harbour Bridge, 1945, by Alec Iverson
File:Sydney Harbour Bridge DSC01595.JPG|Maintenance crew painting the bridge
File:SydneyHarbourBridgeHangers.jpg|Bridge arch after strengthening, with some new steel outlined in red
</gallery>