Forgan Bridge
The Forgan Bridge is a road bridge over the Pioneer River in Mackay, Queensland, Australia.
Forgan Bridge | |
---|---|
New bridge finished construction, April 2010 | |
Coordinates | 21°08′15″S 149°11′17″E |
Carries | Motor vehicles, Pedestrians |
Crosses | Pioneer River |
Locale | Mackay, Queensland, Australia |
Preceded by | Sydney Street Bridge (-1938), Forgan Bridge (1938-2011) |
Characteristics | |
Design | Pre-Cast Beam Superstructure |
Material | Prestressed concrete |
Total length | 485 metres (1,591 ft) |
Width | 26 metres (85 ft) |
History | |
Designer | GHD |
Constructed by | Golding Contractors Pty Ltd[1] |
Construction start | May 2008 |
Opened | 14 August 2011 |
Statistics | |
Daily traffic | (30,000 vehicles per day) |
The construction of the duplication and replacement of the old Forgan Bridge commenced in May 2008 and was completed in August 2011.[2]
History
The original Forgan Bridge was opened on 30 March 1938 by Mrs Forgan Smith, wife of the Queensland Premier William Forgan Smith,[3] as a replacement for the earlier Sydney Street Bridge.[4] The bridge was named in memory of Mary Forgan, the mother of former Queensland premier William Forgan Smith.[4]
The construction of a new 485-metre (1,591 ft) long, 4-lane bridge commenced in May 2008. The A$148 million Forgan Bridge Replacement and Duplication Project included replacement of two bridges; the Forgan Bridge and the Barnes Creek Bridge, and widening of Barnes Creek Road. The existing two-lane bridges and road were replaced with new four-lane bridges and road. The project was delivered in two stages; stage 1 included construction of new two-lane bridges and stage 2 included demolition of the existing bridges and construction of new two-lane bridges in their place.
Construction Project timeframe:
- May 2008: Construction commenced
- January 2010: Demolition of existing Barnes Creek Bridge
- April 2010: Completion of Forgan Bridge Stage 1 and diversion of traffic onto the new bridge
- May 2010: Commence demolition of existing Forgan Bridge
- August 2010: Completion of Barnes Creek Bridge
- Mid-2011: Project completed, both bridges open to traffic.
References
- "Forgan Bridge Replacement". Golding Contractors Pty Ltd. Archived from the original on 17 August 2010. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
- "New bridge opens with big party". Kate Bastable. Dailymercury. 13 August 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
- "Mackay Timeline". Mackay Historical Society. 19 September 2007. Retrieved 8 March 2010.
- "Forgan Bridge commemorates city pioneers" (PDF). Tim Mulherin, M.P. 29 January 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 8 March 2010.