Sydney Harbor Bridge The Sydney Harbor Bridge is the main crossing of Sydney Harbor carrying rail, vehicular, and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district (CBD) and the North Shore. The dramatic water vista of the bridge together with the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic image of both Sydney and Australia. The bridge is colloquially referred to as the Coathanger[1] because of its arch-based design, although this usage is less prevalent than it once was. The 75th anniversary of this iconic bridge was celebrated on March 18, The bridge was the city's tallest structure until According to Guinness World Records, it is the widest long-span bridge in the world and is the largest steel arch bridge with the top of the bridge standing 134 meters above the harbor.