Martin Bridge

The Martin Bridge is a road bridge that carries the Manning River Drive across the Manning River in Taree, in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia. In 2010 the bridge was added to New South Wales State Heritage Register.[1][2][3]

Martin Bridge
Martin Bridge
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates31°55′05″S 152°27′33″E
Carries
CrossesManning River
LocaleTaree, Mid North Coast, New South Wales, Australia
BeginsTaree
EndsSouth Taree
Named forLewis Martin MP
Preceded byTinonee Road Bridge, Tinonee
Followed by
  • Ella Simon Bridge
  • Henry "Hawkeye" Edwards Bridge
Characteristics
DesignTruss bridge
MaterialSteel
Pier constructionConcrete
Total length463 metres (1,519 ft)
Longest span37.1 metres (122 ft)
No. of spans11
History
Construction start1938
Construction end1940
Construction costA£97,000
Inaugurated18 May 1940 (1940-05-18) by Alexander Mair, Premier of New South Wales
ReplacesSteam-driven timber punt (1902-1937)
Replaced by
  • Ella Simon Bridge
  • Henry "Hawkeye" Edwards Bridge
(since 1997: concurrent use)
Official nameMartin Bridge over the Manning River; RTA Bridge No. 1800
TypeState agency heritage register
Designatedc. 2010
Reference no.s.170
TypeRoad Bridge
CategoryTransport - Land

Description

The Martin Bridge is a steel truss bridge of eleven spans, each 37.1 metres (122 ft) long, on concrete supports, with three steel girder approach spans each 12.2 metres (40 ft) long. The total bridge length is 463 metres (1,519 ft). Originally it had a lifting span with two concrete counterbalances. The bridge was opened on 18 May 1940 by the Premier of New South Wales, Alexander Mair, and replaced a steam-driven timber ferry service, in operation since 1902, located at the end of Pulteney Street (the redundant section of approach road on the southern bank of the Manning River leading to the ferry was renamed Old Punt Road).[4] The construction cost was A£97,000.[5]

In an article published in the Newcastle Herald it was reported that the men who built the bridge had to work in air where the pressure was 241 kilopascals (35 psi) and that the cylinders which formed the legs of the bridge were sunk to a depth of 21 metres (70 ft). The article stated that:[6]

"This is the story of men who have to yawn or blow through their noses for 17 minutes before they begin their daily work; who have to wave their heads and legs and arms about and exercise all their joints for 38 minutes before they finish."

— Newcastle Herald, n.d.

The bridge is named in honour of Lewis Martin, the Member for Oxley and the Minister for Works and Local Government at the time of construction. The bridge was the major piece of engineering on a deviation of the Pacific Highway from the previous crossing of the Manning River upstream at Tinonee. The location of the crossing of the Manning River by the Pacific Highway was changed yet again in December 1997 when the Taree bypass opened and two bridges, namely the Ella Simon Bridge and the Henry "Hawkeye" Edwards Bridge, that crossed the Manning River via Dumaresq Island.[7] As a result, most of the traffic now carried by the Martin Bridge is local traffic.

The bridge is spoofed in the popular 2004 action-adventure video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas with the same name.

gollark: How *dare* it occasionally go down?
gollark: SiC?
gollark: Yes, just like [EVERY MINECRAFT BLOCK].
gollark: <@362342259922042892> Bedrock Edition, remember?
gollark: "A hazmat suit is required to visit this location. This is necessary to avoid dying immediately."

See also

References
  1. "Martin Bridge over the Manning River". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  2. "Martin Bridge". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  3. "Martin Bridge". New South Wales Heritage Database. Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  4. "BRIDGE OVER THE MANNING RIVER AT TAREE". The Manning River Times and Advocate for the Northern Coast Districts of New South Wales. 18 May 1940. p. 10. Retrieved 4 April 2020 – via Trove, National Library of Australia.
  5. "The Martin Bridge". Manning Valley Historical Society. Retrieved 31 January 2011.
  6. "Taree". The Sydney Morning Herald. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 4 April 2020.
  7. Watson, Janine (11 October 2016). "Ella Simon: A lady of distinction". Manning River Times. Retrieved 4 April 2020.


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