Grafton Bridge (New South Wales)

The Grafton Bridge is a heritage-listed bascule truss bridge that carries the Summerland Way and North Coast railway line across the Clarence River in Grafton, New South Wales, Australia. The bridge links the Grafton central business district with South Grafton, and was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999.[2]

For the bridge in Auckland, New Zealand, see Grafton Bridge.

Grafton Bridge
View of Grafton Bridge from the north bank of the Clarence River, in 2005
Location in New South Wales
Coordinates29°41′53″S 152°56′32″E
Carries
CrossesClarence River
LocaleGrafton, New South Wales, Australia
Maintained byRoads and Maritime Services
Characteristics
DesignBascule truss bridge
MaterialSteel
Pier constructionConcrete
Piers in water7
Clearance above12 metres (38 ft)
Clearance below3 metres (11 ft)
History
Constructed byNSW Public Works Department
Construction start1922 (1922)
Construction end1932 (1932)
Construction costA£500,000
Inaugurated19 July 1932 (1932-07-19) by
Sir Isaac Isaacs, Governor-General of Australia
Replaced byNew Grafton Bridge (since 2019)
(Concurrent use as a road bridge)
References
[1]

A parallel New Grafton Bridge, located 70 metres (230 ft) east of the original bridge and initially consisting of two lanes, opened to traffic on 12 December 2019.[3][4]

History

A bridge over the Clarence River in Grafton was first conceived in 1915. The original design called for a railway bridge with a footway, but in 1922 the design was changed to accommodate vehicular traffic as well. The bridge was built from 1927 to 1932, although planning for the bridge had been under way as early as 1921. The bridge was designed and built by the New South Wales Public Works Department with steelwork from Clyde Engineering. The department decided to construct the bridge itself after being unhappy with the high cost proposed by private tenderers for the project.[5] It was formally opened by Governor-General of Australia Sir Isaac Isaacs on 19 July 1932.[6]

First bridge

The upper level of the bridge supports a two way road for traffic via Bent Street (Summerland Way), and its lower level supports a rail bridge that carries the North Coast railway line, a water main, and footbridges on either side.

There is provision for a second track across the bridge but at this time it is being used as an easement for a water main.[7]

The bascule span was operational from its opening in 1932 until 1969.[8] The bascule can no longer be raised due to an added water main. With the decline in shipping along the Clarence River, the opening span was sealed shut and it can no longer be opened.

The bridge heritage listing also includes the three remnant spans of the 1915 timber viaduct south of Grafton railway station, which now remain in situ amidst parkland.[2][9]

Heritage listing

This bridge is a double-deck road/rail structure, the only one of its type in New South Wales. There is a lift span to allow passing of river traffic that is no longer in use. The bridge presents a commanding visual reminder of rail and road to residents of Grafton. Opening of the bridge in 1932 completed the North coast standard gauge line between Sydney and Brisbane, avoiding the winding route via Tenterfield.[2]

The viaduct along with the wharf remains are important relics of the development of the north coast railway. The viaduct is representative of similar structures constructed at a range of locations, many of which have been replaced.[2]

The Grafton Bridge was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 2 April 1999 having satisfied the following criteria.[2]

The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales.

This item is assessed as historically rare. This item is assessed as scientifically rare. This item is assessed as arch. rare. This item is assessed as socially rare.[2]

Second bridge
New Grafton Bridge
Coordinates 29°41′52″S 152°56′31″E
CarriesIolanthe Street (motor vehicles)
OwnerCity of Grafton
Characteristics
DesignGirder bridge
MaterialSteel
Trough constructionConcrete
Pier constructionConcrete
Total length525 metres (1,722 ft)
No. of lanes2
History
Constructed byFulton Hogan
Construction startNovember 2016 (2016-11)
Construction costA$240 million
Inaugurated12 December 2019 (2019-12-12) by
Chris Gulaptis, Member for Clarence
ReplacesGrafton Bridge (since 2019)
(Concurrent use as a road bridge)
References
[4][10]

In 2002, the NSW Government commissioned a study into an additional crossing over Clarence River, released in early 2003.[7]

In October 2008, federal, state and local government representatives inspected the existing bridge. It was claimed that this bridge was not coping with the increasing volume of traffic. Estimates of replacing the bridge were in the range of A$100 million.[11] In December 2012, the Roads and Maritime Services (RMS) announced that a preferred option of an additional crossing of the Clarence River had been identified and went on public display for comment. RMS also announced that a final decision was expected during 2013.[12] Construction commenced on the new crossing, known as New Grafton Bridge, in November 2016 and the bridge was opened on 12 December 2019 by Chris Gulaptis, the Member for Clarence.[3][13] The New Grafton Bridge consists of two lanes and has been designed to be increased to four lanes when traffic levels require it. The bridge also carries a grade-separated footpath and cycleway.[4]

  • Grafton Bridge showing Bascule span lifted to let shipping through; c. 1932
  • Historic timber viaduct remains

See also

References
  1. McLennan, Maxwell (19 July 1932). "Grafton Bridge: Today's opening". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 16 March 2013 – via Trove, National Library of Australia.
  2. "Grafton rail and road bridge over Clarence River". New South Wales State Heritage Register. Office of Environment and Heritage. H01036. Retrieved 2 June 2018.
  3. "New Grafton bridge crossing opens to traffic". NSW Nationals. 12 December 2019. Archived from the original on 19 December 2019. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  4. Roads & Maritime Services (February 2020). "New Grafton bridge: Project update" (PDF). Transport for NSW. Government of New South Wales. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  5. "Grafton rail and road bridge over Clarence River". New South Wales Heritage Database. Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  6. "Grafton Bridge". The Sydney Morning Herald. 19 July 1932. p. 9. Retrieved 30 March 2020 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. "Additional Crossing of the Clarence River: Feasibility Study Report" (PDF). NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. February 2003. ISBN 0731053702. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  8. Hauff, Maria (13 June 2007). "Grafton Bridge turns 75". ABC News. Australia: Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  9. "Railway Timber Viaduct". State Heritage Inventory. Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
  10. "Site Visit to Grafton Bridge Construction". Engineers Australia. n.d. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  11. "Funding doubts over second Grafton bridge". ABC News. Australia. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
  12. "Additional crossing of the Clarence River at Grafton: Recommended preferred option display" (PDF). Community update. Roads and Maritime Services. December 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  13. "New Grafton bridge - additional crossing of the Clarence River". Roads and Maritime Services. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.

Attribution

This Wikipedia article contains material from Grafton rail and road bridge over Clarence River, entry number 01036 in the New South Wales State Heritage Register published by the State of New South Wales and Office of Environment and Heritage 2018 under CC-BY 4.0 licence, accessed on 2 June 2018.

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