List of crossings of the Murray River

The Murray River in south-eastern Australia has been a significant barrier to land-based travel and trade. This article lists and briefly describes all of the recognised crossing points. Many of these had also developed as river ports for transport of goods along the Murray. Now almost every significant town along the river has a bridge or vehicle-carrying cable ferry nearby.

The crossings are listed in order starting from the Murray Mouth and proceeding upstream.

South Australia

ImageCrossingCoordinatesLocationBuiltDescriptionNotes
Hindmarsh Island Bridge35°30′17″S 138°47′21″E / 35.50472°S 138.78917°E / -35.50472; 138.78917 (Hindmarsh Island Bridge)Hindmarsh Island-Goolwa2001The controversial bridge replaced a ferry in March 2001
Narrung Ferry35°30′46″S 139°11′17″E / 35.51278°S 139.18806°E / -35.51278; 139.18806 (Narrung Ferry)Narrungcrosses The Narrows between Lake Alexandrina and Lake Albert
Wellington Ferry35°19′51″S 139°23′8″E / 35.33083°S 139.38556°E / -35.33083; 139.38556 (Wellington Ferry)Wellington
Tailem Bend Ferry35°15′26″S 139°27′8″E / 35.25722°S 139.45222°E / -35.25722; 139.45222 (Tailem Bend Ferry)Tailem Bend-Jervois
Swanport Bridge35°08′51″S 139°18′33″E / 35.14750°S 139.30917°E / -35.14750; 139.30917 (Swanport Bridge)Murray Bridge1979At the end of the South Eastern Freeway
Murray Bridge35°06′55″S 139°16′48″E / 35.11528°S 139.28000°E / -35.11528; 139.28000 (Murray Bridge)1927Railway bridgeMelbourne–Adelaide railway
Murray Bridge35°06′55″S 139°16′48″E / 35.11528°S 139.28000°E / -35.11528; 139.28000 (Murray Bridge)1879Shared road and rail bridge from 1886 until separate rail bridge built
Mannum Ferry34°54′37″S 139°19′7″E / 34.91028°S 139.31861°E / -34.91028; 139.31861 (Mannum Ferry)MannumTwo parallel ferries
Purnong Ferry34°51′17″S 139°37′0″E / 34.85472°S 139.61667°E / -34.85472; 139.61667 (Purnong Ferry)PurnongThis is the narrowest crossing in South Australia
Walker Flat Ferry34°45′13″S 139°34′8″E / 34.75361°S 139.56889°E / -34.75361; 139.56889 (Walker Flat Ferry)Walker Flat
Swan Reach Ferry34°33′51″S 139°35′50″E / 34.56417°S 139.59722°E / -34.56417; 139.59722 (Swan Reach Ferry)Swan Reach
Old Blanchetown Bridge34°20′43″S 139°37′2″E / 34.34528°S 139.61722°E / -34.34528; 139.61722 (Blanchetown Bridge)Blanchetown1963The first major prestressed concrete highway bridge in South Australia.Replaced a ferry crossing established in 1869. In the 1990s it was found to not be structurally sound enough to safely carry B-double trucks. Until a new bridge could be built, these were diverted from near Monash via Morgan on the Goyder and Thiele Highways to rejoin the Sturt Highway at Gawler, thus travelling further but avoiding the Kingston and Blanchetown bridges.
Blanchetown Bridge34°20′43″S 139°37′2″E / 34.34528°S 139.61722°E / -34.34528; 139.61722 (Blanchetown Bridge)1998Incrementally launched post tensioned concrete box-girder bridge, built by York Civil.[1]Replacement bridge on the Sturt Highway immediately north of the 1963 bridge.
Morgan Ferry34°02′19″S 139°40′24″E / 34.03861°S 139.67333°E / -34.03861; 139.67333 (Morgan Ferry)Morgan
Cadell Ferry34°01′32″S 139°45′45″E / 34.02556°S 139.76250°E / -34.02556; 139.76250 (Cadell Ferry)Cadell
Waikerie Ferry34°10′30″S 139°59′13″E / 34.17500°S 139.98694°E / -34.17500; 139.98694 (Waikerie Ferry)Waikerie
Kingston on Murray bridge34°13′37″S 140°21′59″E / 34.22694°S 140.36639°E / -34.22694; 140.36639 (Kingston on Murray bridge)Kingston-on-Murray1969Sturt Highway A bridge replaced a ferry
Berri Bridge34°17′22″S 140°35′59″E / 34.28944°S 140.59972°E / -34.28944; 140.59972 (Berri Bridge)Berri1997A bridge replaced two ferries
Lyrup Ferry34°15′8″S 140°38′54″E / 34.25222°S 140.64833°E / -34.25222; 140.64833 (Lyrup Ferry)Lyrup
Paringa Bridge34°10′51″S 140°46′33″E / 34.18083°S 140.77583°E / -34.18083; 140.77583 (Paringa Bridge)Paringa-Renmark1926Sturt Highway, liftspan bridge - one lane of traffic each way with pedestrian/bike path in the middle on the former railway alignment.
Ferry nameboard

As the ferries are registered as boats, each one has a name, usually named after a waterbird. As of August 2010, the ferry names are:[2]

In Victoria and New South Wales

The south bank of the river forms the border between these two states and former colonies, so in many cases there is a town on each side of the river. If two towns are named in this list, the Victorian one is first for clarity and consistency.

Most of the bridges downstream of Echuca are liftspan bridges to enable paddlesteamer traffic to pass underneath even in times of high water flow.

The Hume, Newell and Sturt Highway bridges are owned and managed by the Federal Government. The others are the responsibility of New South Wales and Victoria.

ImageCrossingCoordinatesLocationBuiltDescriptionNotes
Abbotsford Bridge34°06′50″S 141°59′17″E / 34.11389°S 141.98806°E / -34.11389; 141.98806 (Abbotsford Bridge)Yelta to Curlwaa1928235 metres (771 ft) long, single lane lift bridge
George Chaffey bridge34°10′59″S 142°10′24″E / 34.18306°S 142.17333°E / -34.18306; 142.17333 (George Chaffey Bridge)Mildura to Buronga1985high arched bridge carrying the Sturt Highway, 331 metres (1,086 ft) long, 9.8 metres (32.2 ft) wide
Robinvale-Euston Bridge34°34′40″S 142°46′3″E / 34.57778°S 142.76750°E / -34.57778; 142.76750 (Robinvale/Euston Bridge)Robinvale to Euston2006Replaced a liftspan bridge that was built as part of abandoned railway extension in 1924..
Tooleybuc Bridge35°01′49″S 143°20′7″E / 35.03028°S 143.33528°E / -35.03028; 143.33528 (Tooleybuc Bridge)Piangil to Tooleybuc1925timber and steel truss, single lane restriction on lift span
Nyah Bridge35°10′22″S 143°23′30″E / 35.17278°S 143.39167°E / -35.17278; 143.39167 (Nyah Bridge)Nyah to Koraleigh1941104 metres (341.2 ft), central lift span
Speewa Ferry35°12′49″S 143°30′31″E / 35.21361°S 143.50861°E / -35.21361; 143.50861 (Speewa Ferry)Speewa2-car capacity, 8 tonne (8.8 t) load limit. Upstream is a private ferry to Beveridge Island (part of Victoria); it crosses a Little Murray anabranch, but that is now the main navigable channel.
Swan Hill Bridge35°20′16″S 143°33′46″E / 35.33778°S 143.56278°E / -35.33778; 143.56278 (Swan Hill Bridge)Swan Hill18962 lanes except central lift span; 116 metres (380.6 ft)
Gonn Crossing Bridge35°30′13″S 143°57′24″E / 35.50361°S 143.95667°E / -35.50361; 143.95667 (Barham Bridge)Murrabit to Ballbank1926103 metres (338 ft)
Barham Bridge35°37′50″S 144°07′29″E / 35.63056°S 144.12472°E / -35.63056; 144.12472 (Barham Bridge)Koondrook to Barham1904liftspan bridge, 99 metres (325 ft)
Echuca-Moama Bridge (road)36°07′19″S 144°45′13″E / 36.12194°S 144.75361°E / -36.12194; 144.75361 (Echuca/Moama Bridge)Echuca to Moama1879built as joint road/rail bridge, proposed for replacement/bypass
Echuca-Moama Bridge (rail)36°07′19″S 144°45′13″E / 36.12194°S 144.75361°E / -36.12194; 144.75361 (Echuca Rail Bridge)1989rail
Barmah Bridge36°01′8″S 144°57′19″E / 36.01889°S 144.95528°E / -36.01889; 144.95528 (Barmah Bridge)Barmah1966168 metres (551.2 ft) replaced ferry
Tocumwal Rail Bridge35°48′50″S 145°33′24″E / 35.81389°S 145.55667°E / -35.81389; 145.55667 (Tocumwal Rail Bridge)Tocumwal1895originally a road/rail bridge
Edward Hillson Bridge35°48′47″S 145°33′32″E / 35.81306°S 145.55889°E / -35.81306; 145.55889 (Newell Highway Bridge)1987Newell Highway 212 metres (695.5 ft) long, 12 metres (39.4 ft) wide
Cobram-Barooga Bridge (old)35°54′57″S 145°40′9″E / 35.91583°S 145.66917°E / -35.91583; 145.66917 (Cobram-Barooga Bridge (old))Cobram to Barooga1902Old liftspan timber truss bridge (now pedestrian only)
Cobram-Barooga Bridge (new)35°54′58″S 145°40′9″E / 35.91611°S 145.66917°E / -35.91611; 145.66917 (Cobram-Barooga Bridge (new))2006New concrete bridge built immediately upstream of the old bridge
Yarrawonga Weir36°00′31″S 145°59′57″E / 36.00861°S 145.99917°E / -36.00861; 145.99917 (Yarrawonga Weir)Yarrawonga to Mulwala1939Weir Road, one lane along the weir wall - originally designated as a stock route
Yarrawonga Rail Bridge36°00′29″S 145°59′59″E / 36.00806°S 145.99972°E / -36.00806; 145.99972 (Yarrawonga Rail Bridge)1989railway bridge, replaced earlier wooden bridge and earthen embankment
Mulwala Bridge36°00′20″S 146°00′18″E / 36.00556°S 146.00500°E / -36.00556; 146.00500 (Mulwala Bridge)1924Crosses Lake Mulwala, 488 metres (1,601 ft)
John Foord Bridge36°00′25″S 146°23′43″E / 36.00694°S 146.39528°E / -36.00694; 146.39528 (John Foord Bridge)Wahgunyah to Corowa1892retained for local traffic
Federation Bridge35°59′8″S 146°24′40″E / 35.98556°S 146.41111°E / -35.98556; 146.41111 (Federation Bridge)2005Two lanes wide and 195 metres (639.8 ft) long, with a 95 metres (311.7 ft) approach bridge on the NSW side.
John Conway Bourke Bridge35°59′37″S 146°37′15″E / 35.99361°S 146.62083°E / -35.99361; 146.62083 (John Conway Bourke Bridge)Howlong2001
Lincoln Causeway/Union Bridge36°05′29″S 146°54′23″E / 36.091318°S 146.906524°E / -36.091318; 146.906524 (Old Hume Highway Bridge)Wodonga to Albury19614 lanes, 92 metres (301.8 ft) long, widened 1990
Albury-Wodonga Rail Bridge36°05′59″S 146°54′34″E / 36.099738°S 146.909314°E / -36.099738; 146.909314 (Albury/Wodonga Rail Bridge)1888Originally double track - one Broad gauge plus one Standard gauge. Broad gauge track disconnected following conversion of the North East Victorian broad gauge line to standard gauge in 2010.
Spirit of Progress Bridge36°06′02″S 146°54′34″E / 36.100518°S 146.909486°E / -36.100518; 146.909486 (Hume Freeway Bridge)2006New Hume Highway bridge, named for the former Spirit of Progress train.[3]
Island Road Bridge36°04′42″S 146°57′20″E / 36.078262°S 146.955684°E / -36.078262; 146.955684 (Waterworks Bridge)Thurgoona to the Island
Heywood Bridge36°05′57″S 147°01′19″E / 36.09917°S 147.02194°E / -36.09917; 147.02194 (Heywoods Bridge)Hume Dam to Bonegilla1984124 metres (406.8 ft) long. Between Albury and here there is a bridge near the airport, to Bonegilla Island.
Bonegilla Bridge36°06′26″S 147°01′56″E / 36.10722°S 147.03222°E / -36.10722; 147.03222 (Bonegilla Bridge)Hume Dam to Bonegilla1941The Hume Weir wall, now closed to motorised traffic. single lane, 91 metres (298.6 ft)
Bethanga Bridge36°05′25″S 147°03′31″E / 36.09028°S 147.05861°E / -36.09028; 147.05861 (Bethanga Bridge)Bellbridge1930on the Riverina Highway across Lake Hume
Wymah Ferry36°02′23″S 147°15′56″E / 36.03972°S 147.26556°E / -36.03972; 147.26556 (Wymah Ferry)Wymahupstream end of Lake Hume, 2-car capacity, 11 tonne (12.1 t) load limit
Jingellic Bridge35°55′53″S 147°42′5″E / 35.93139°S 147.70139°E / -35.93139; 147.70139 (Jingellic Bridge)Jingellic1959156 metres (511.8 ft)
Tintaldra Bridge36°2′44″S 147°55′56″E / 36.04556°S 147.93222°E / -36.04556; 147.93222 (Tintaldra Bridge)Tintaldra1959steel truss bridge 185 metres (607 ft)
Towong Bridge36°7′26″S 147°59′46″E / 36.12389°S 147.99611°E / -36.12389; 147.99611 (Towong Bridge)Towong193861 metres (200.1 ft) long
Bringenbrong Bridge36°10′8″S 148°01′31″E / 36.16889°S 148.02528°E / -36.16889; 148.02528 (Bringenbrong Bridge)Bringenbrong196187 metres (285.4 ft) long, near Corryong on the Alpine Way
Indi Bridge36°14′46″S 148°02′5″E / 36.24611°S 148.03472°E / -36.24611; 148.03472 (Indi Bridge)1961Connects the Indi homestead in NSW to the Upper Murray Road. Steel girder, with concrete piles and a concrete deck. Single lane, 3.7 metres (12 ft) wide.[4]
Biggara Bridge36°17′46″S 148°02′17″E / 36.29611°S 148.03806°E / -36.29611; 148.03806 (Biggara Bridge)Biggara1951
Tom Groggin Bridge36°31′20″S 148°08′13″E / 36.522085°S 148.136998°E / -36.522085; 148.136998 (Tom Groggin Bridge)Tom GrogginPrivate bridges to Tom Groggin Station: low level for vehicles; higher-level suspension bridge for pedestrians when the other is flooded.

See also

Media related to Bridges over the Murray River at Wikimedia Commons
Media related to Cable ferries on the Murray River at Wikimedia Commons

References

  1. "Blanchetown Bridge, Murray River". York Civil. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
  2. "Ferry Locations and Operational Status". Government of South Australia, Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure. 12 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
  3. "Spirit of Progress bridge sign up today". Border Mail. 24 May 2007. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  4. "Indi Bridge over Murray River". Roads and Transport Authority. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
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