Milperra Bridge

Milperra Bridge
Coordinates 33°55′45″S 150°58′44″E / 33.929225°S 150.978989°E / -33.929225; 150.978989
Carries Newbridge Road
Crosses Georges River
Owner Roads & Maritime Services
Preceded by Governor Macquarie Drive bridge
Followed by M5 Motorway bridge
Characteristics
Material pre-stressed concrete
No. of spans 3
Piers in water 2
No. of lanes 7
History
Construction end 1965
Replaces composite truss version (1930)
Statistics
Daily traffic road

Milperra Bridge is a bridge across the Georges River adjacent to Henry Lawson Drive and the Bankstown Airport. It carries Newbridge Road, the continuation of Canterbury Rd/Milperra Rd from Bankstown into Liverpool.

History

Prior to the bridge being built, there was no crossing of the Georges River between Moorebank and Milperra, though the road to Canterbury was built up to the east bank. The road over the Liverpool Weir and its later 1894 truss bridge went south east toward Wollongong and Engadine.

There was call for access between the two military settler camps, Moorebank and Milperra, to have access and a punt was proposed in the early 1920s.[1]

The early design by the Main Roads Dept showed a height above water of only 12 ft[2] which was much decried by the locals, advising to the Dept that it be higher for the commercial and sporting interests of the area. The Dept replied with a proposal of 17 ft.[3]

After long use, the old narrow bridge was not able to cope with the increase in traffic and was slated for replacement.[4]

The current concrete structure supersedes the earlier truss bridge built circa 1930[5] as a wider and higher crossing of the river.


composite truss version (1930)
Coordinates 33°55′46″S 150°58′44″E / 33.929441°S 150.978890°E / -33.929441; 150.978890
Carries Newbridge Road
Crosses Georges River
Other name(s) Moorebank Bridge[6]
Owner Department of Main Roads
Characteristics
Design composite truss
Material wood
Total length 237 feet (72 m)
Width 20 feet (6.1 m)[7]
Longest span 90 feet (27 m)
No. of spans 6
Piers in water 5
Clearance below 17 feet (5.2 m)
History
Opened 18 April 1931[8]
Collapsed 1965
Replaced by current bridge


References

  1. ↑ "MEETING AT CHIPPING NORTON". The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers' Advocate. XXXVI, (2890). New South Wales, Australia. 2 December 1922. p. 5 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ↑ "TOO LOW". The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers' Advocate. XL, (3576). New South Wales, Australia. 2 September 1929. p. 1 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "Will Block Launches". The Biz. New South Wales, Australia. 30 August 1929. p. 7 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ↑ ""Bottleneck" bridge to go". The Biz (2943). New South Wales, Australia. 14 November 1962. p. 2 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ↑ "Advertising". The Sydney Morning Herald (28, 753). New South Wales, Australia. 1 March 1930. p. 22 – via National Library of Australia.
    "MILPERRA BRIDGE". The Biz. New South Wales, Australia. 28 March 1930. p. 1 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ↑ "NEW GEORGES RIVER BRIDGE". The Biz. New South Wales, Australia. 21 November 1930. p. 6 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ↑ "Advertising". The Biz. New South Wales, Australia. 1 November 1929. p. 5 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ↑ "NEW BRIDGE". The Sydney Morning Herald (29, 105). 17 April 1931. p. 12 – via National Library of Australia.
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