Macleay River Bridge

Macleay Valley Bridge
Coordinates 31°02′50″S 152°53′03″E / 31.047272°S 152.884197°E / -31.047272; 152.884197Coordinates: 31°02′50″S 152°53′03″E / 31.047272°S 152.884197°E / -31.047272; 152.884197
Carries Motor vehicles
Crosses Macleay River
Locale Frederickton, New South Wales,  Australia
Official name Macleay Valley Bridge
Other name(s) 'yapang gurraarrbang gayanddugayigu' (long track to the other side)
Maintained by Roads and Traffic Authority
Characteristics
Design Girder bridge
Material Concrete
Total length 3,200 metres (10,500 ft)
Width 21.6 metres (71 ft)[1]
Longest span 34 metres (112 ft)
Number of spans 94
History
Constructed by Abigroup
Construction begin July 2010
Construction end February 2013
Opened 27 March 2013

The Macleay Valley Bridge is a road bridge over the Macleay River and its floodplain near the settlement of Frederickton, New South Wales, Australia. The bridge is part of the Pacific Highway new alignment which bypasses Kempsey and Frederickton. The 3.2 kilometres (2.0 mi) long bridge carries four lanes of traffic; two lanes in each direction, each lane 3.5 metres (11 ft).

It is currently the longest road bridge in Australia.[2] The bridge is constructed of 941 concrete beams supported by 93 piers. Installation of all support beams was completed in October 2012. On 24 February 2013 the bridge was opened to visitors for a preview walk and it was opened to traffic on 27 March 2013.[3]

The bridge was constructed by Abigroup as part of the A$618 million project funded by the Australian Government from the Building Australia Fund.[4]

Bridge name

Following bridge completion, local community has been invited by the Department of Roads and Maritime Services to suggest the name for the new bridge. The name Macleay River Bridge was to be selected if there was no clear preference. There were about 70 names suggested which recognised the history of the area, local people and the community.[5]

In February 2013 the local indigenous Dangghati people requested to name the bridge Yapang gurraarrbang gayandugayigu, which translates in English to a very long track to the other side. The group’s submission received a support of the Macleay Coast Tourism Association and the Slim Dusty Centre.[6]

The final name of the bridge was expected to be announced in 2014.[7]

The bridge was officially named the 'Macleay Valley Bridge' on the 1st December 2015, it has also been given the secondary name of 'yapang gurraarrbang gayanddugayigu' (or long track to the other side) underneath the main name.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Design and construction planning of the Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge". Transportation Research Board. National Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  2. ↑ "Mid-year start for project to complete Kempsey Bypass". Media Monitors. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  3. ↑ "A chance to walk Australia's longest bridge". Coffs Coast Advocate. North Coast News. 12 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  4. ↑ "Australia's Longest Bridge Marks Pacific Highway Progress" (PDF). RTA. 17 February 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  5. ↑ Todd Connaugton (July 2, 2013). "Bypass bridge naming delay". The Macleay Argus. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  6. ↑ Klein, Thom (1 February 2013). "Aboriginal painting supports bridge name". Macleay Argus. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  7. ↑ "Wait continues for naming of Australia's longest bridge". The Macleay Argus. Fairfax Media. December 27, 2013. Retrieved 22 December 2014.


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