Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest Bridge
The Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest Bridge is a road bridge that carries Myall Street across the Myall River, connecting the two townships of Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest in the Mid-Coast Council local government area in the Mid North Coast region of New South Wales, Australia.
Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest Bridge | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Location in New South Wales | |
| Coordinates | 32°40′09″S 152°10′06″E |
| Carries | Myall Street |
| Crosses | Myall River |
| Locale | Mid-Coast Council, Mid North Coast, New South Wales, Australia |
| Begins | Tea Gardens |
| Ends | Hawks Nest |
| Other name(s) | Singing Bridge |
| Named for | Tea Gardens and Hawks Nest |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Box girder |
| Material | Prestressed and reinforced concrete |
| Total length | 304.3 metres (998 ft) |
| Width | 10.3 metres (34 ft) |
| Longest span | 35.3 metres (116 ft) |
| No. of spans | 9 |
| Piers in water | 8 |
| Clearance below | 10.6 metres (35 ft) (high water level) |
| History | |
| Opened | 6 April 1974 |
| |
The concrete box girder bridge is commonly known as the Singing Bridge, derived from the musical sounds its railings generate during strong winds acting as a wind harp.[1]
History
About 1928, a ferry service started carrying passengers between the two townships across the Myall River. Later, cars were added, resulting in peak queues during holiday periods of up to six hours.[1] The Tea Gardens-Hawks Nest Bridge was completed and opened by the New South Wales Minister for Public Works on 6 April 1974.[2]:8 In response to this demand a A$1.2 million bridge was placed immediately downstream, eliminating the ferry service.[1]
Description
The bridge is of girder construction, made of both prestressed and reinforced concrete. It is 304.3 metres (998 ft) long, with seven 35.3-metre (116 ft) and two 28.3-metre (93 ft) spans. It carries a two-lane road 7.3 metres (24 ft) wide and two pedestrian walkways 1.5 metres (5 ft) wide.[2]:33 Clearance is 10.6 m (34.8 ft) at high water.[3]
The Jean Shaw Koala Reserve is located at its northeastern end, part of a wildlife corridor to the Myall Lakes. Koalas have been known to cross the bridge at night.[4]
References
- Engel, Brian A.; Winn, Janis; Wark, John (March 2001). "Tea Gardens Walk". Brian A. Engel. p. 6. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- "Annual Report 1973-74" (PDF). NSW Department of Public Works. 1975. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 October 2009. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
- "Myall River Map" (PDF). New South Wales Maritime. Retrieved 15 September 2009.
- "Hawks Nest and Tea Gardens Endangered Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Population" (PDF). Approved NSW Recovery Plan. NSW Department of Environment and Conservation. July 2003. p. 9. Retrieved 15 March 2009.
External links
- Kelly, Matthew (10 August 2015). "Myall dredging campaign brings clarity". Newcastle Herald.
- View of Tea Gardens from the bridge. Landcare NSW.
