Macleay Valley Bridge

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 (A1) new alignment which bypasses Kempsey and Frederickton. At the time of its official opening in 2013, the bridge was the longest road bridge in Australia.[2][3]

Macleay Valley Bridge

Yapang gurraarrbang gayanddugayigu
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates31°04′11″S 152°53′06″E
CarriesPacific Highway
CrossesMacleay River
LocaleFrederickton, New South Wales, Australia
Other name(s)
  • Macleay River Bridge
  • Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge
OwnerRoads and Maritime Services
Characteristics
DesignGirder bridge
MaterialConcrete
Total length3,200 metres (10,500 ft)
Width21.6 metres (71 ft)
Longest span34 metres (112 ft)
No. of spans94
No. of lanes4; divided highway
History
Contracted lead designerArup Group
Constructed byAbigroup
Construction startJuly 2010 (2010-07)
Construction endFebruary 2012 (2012-02)
Construction costA$618 million
Inaugurated27 March 2013 (2013-03-27)
by Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development
References
[1][2]

Description

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 then to traffic on 27 March 2013 following an official opening by Anthony Albanese MP, the Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development.[4]

The 3.2-kilometre-long (2.0 mi) bridge carries four lanes of traffic, part of a 14.5-kilometre (9 mi) stretch of divided highway; two lanes in each direction, each lane 3.5 metres (11 ft) wide.

The bridge was constructed by Abigroup as part of the A$618 million project funded by the Australian Government from the Building Australia Fund.[5]

Bridge name

Following completion of the bridge the Department of Roads and Maritime Services invited the local community to suggest a name for the new bridge. The names Macleay River Bridge or the Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge were to be selected if there was no clear preference. Approximately 70 names were suggested which recognised the history of the area, local people, and the community.[6]

In February 2013 the indigenous Dangghati people requested to name the bridge in the local Dhanggati language Yapang gurraarrbang gayandugayigu, translated to English to mean a very long track to the other side. The group's submission received the support of the Macleay Coast Tourism Association and the Slim Dusty Centre.[7][8]

The bridge was officially named the Macleay Valley Bridge on 1 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.[9]

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See also

References
  1. "Design and construction planning of the Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge". Transportation Research Board. National Academy of Sciences. Archived from the original on 12 January 2016. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  2. "Australia's longest bridge crosses the Macleay River in Northern NSW". Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge, Kempsey, NSW. Arup Group. March 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  3. "Mid-year start for project to complete Kempsey Bypass". Media Monitors. 1 March 2011. Retrieved 1 April 2011.
  4. "A chance to walk Australia's longest bridge". Coffs Coast Advocate. 12 February 2013. Archived from the original on 15 February 2013. Retrieved 6 March 2013.
  5. "Australia's Longest Bridge Marks Pacific Highway Progress" (PDF). RTA. 17 February 2011. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 March 2011. Retrieved 22 February 2011.
  6. Connaugton, Todd (2 July 2013). "Bypass bridge naming delay". The Macleay Argus. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  7. Klein, Thom (1 February 2013). "Aboriginal painting supports bridge name". Macleay Argus. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 6 February 2013.
  8. "Wait continues for naming of Australia's longest bridge". The Macleay Argus. 27 December 2013. Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  9. Connaughton, Todd (1 December 2015). "It's the Macleay Valley Bridge (and the 'yapang gurraarrbang gayandugayigu')". Macleay Argus. Retrieved 4 April 2020.


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