George Chaffey Bridge

Bridge in New South Wales, Australia

34°11′3″S 142°10′23″E / 34.18417°S 142.17306°E / -34.18417; 142.17306CarriesSturt HighwayCrossesMurray RiverLocaleBuronga, New South Wales, AustraliaBeginsBurongaEndsMildura, VictoriaNamed forGeorge ChaffeyOwnerNSW Roads & Maritime ServicesPreceded byRobinvale BridgeFollowed byAbbotsford BridgeCharacteristicsMaterialConcreteTotal length331 metres (1,086 ft)Width9.8 metres (32 ft)No. of spans9Piers in water5HistoryOpened12 March 1985 (1985-03-12)ReplacesMildura Bridge (1927–1985)Location Map

The George Chaffey Bridge is a road bridge in Australia that carries the Sturt Highway across the Murray River from Buronga to Mildura.

History

Old Mildura Bridge

The previous Mildura Bridge was opened on 22 October 1927.^[1] The design allowed for it to carry both road and railway traffic, but railway tracks were never laid.^[2] It was a lift-span bridge supported by concrete pylons, with two approach spans on each side. Two of the truss spans and the lift span are now in the Mildura Marina.^[3]

Current bridge

Named in honour of engineer George Chaffey, the current bridge opened on 12 March 1985, by the Federal Minister of Transport the Hon. Peter Morris, the Minister for Roads (New South Wales) the Hon. Laurie Brereton, and the Minister of Transport (Victoria) the Hon. Steve Crabb.^[4] The project was funded under the Australian Bicentennial Road Development Programme, constructed at an estimated cost of $14 million.^[4]^[5]

The nine-span, 331 metres (1,086 ft) long and 9.8 metres (32 ft) wide, prestressed concrete bridge was designed and constructed by the Department of Main Roads (New South Wales). The Victorian approach is 500 metres (1,600 ft) long, with a six-span, high-strength reinforced concrete I-beam floodway bridge, 80.4 metres (264 ft) long. The New South Wales approach to the main bridge crossing is 1.3 kilometres (0.81 mi) long, and includes three floodway bridges.^[6]^[4]

References

^ "Opening of Murray Bridge". The Argus. Melbourne. 26 October 1927. p. 21. Retrieved 18 January 2020 – via Trove.
^ "Mildura Bridge". Daily Telegraph. Sydney. 10 December 1924. p. 6. Retrieved 18 January 2020 – via Trove.
^ "Old Mildura Bridge". Heritage places and items. Office of Environment & Heritage, Government of New South Wales. 28 September 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Road Construction Authority of Victoria. Annual Report for the year ended 30 June 1985". Road Construction Authority of Victoria. Melbourne: Victorian Government Library Service. 25 October 1984. p. 9.
^ Mildura Chaffey Bridge opening 12th March 1985. STV8. Retrieved 19 January 2020.
^ Mildura Main Roads March 1984 page 18

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to George Chaffey Bridge.

Daryl Jackson Pty Ltd Architects; KLM Gerner Consulting Group (March 2005). "Mildura Riverfront Masterplan" (PDF). Council Services. Mildura Rural City.