Abbotsford Bridge

Abbotsford Bridge

Photograph of Abbotsford Bridge spanning the Murray River

Abbotsford Bridge from the riverbank on the Victorian side
Coordinates 34°06′51″S 141°59′16″E / 34.1141°S 141.9879°E / -34.1141; 141.9879Coordinates: 34°06′51″S 141°59′16″E / 34.1141°S 141.9879°E / -34.1141; 141.9879
Carries Silver City Highway[1][2] (as Calder Highway[3])
Crosses Murray River
Locale Curlwaa, New South Wales, Australia
Characteristics
Design Allan truss
Total length Approx 240 m (790 ft)[4]
Clearance below
  • 7.1 m (23.3 ft) (closed)
  • 16.0 m (52.5 ft) (open)
History
Opened 1928

Abbotsford Bridge is a steel Allan truss-type bridge spanning the Murray River between Curlwaa, New South Wales, and Yelta, Victoria. It is the only remaining steel truss bridge with a lift span that crosses the Murray. It was also the second last lift span bridge to be built along the river after the Nyah Bridge opened in 1941.[5] It was built in 1928 by the New South Wales (NSW) Department of Public Works and was designed by Percy Allan.

The bridge was originally planned to carry the Mildura railway line over the Murray River and into New South Wales, though the line was never extended to the bridge. The bridge currently carries a single lane of road controlled by traffic lights. Abbotsford bridge was built largely to service significant cross-border traffic relating to the fruit production industry. It was constructed over a three-year period from 1925 onwards; but was not originally planned to take so long to build, as there were delays due to problems with a contractor and industrial action.

In 1931, there was a major accident at the bridge when a paddle steamer clipped the lift span, tearing apart the upper deck of the boat.

Description

Abbotsford Bridge is a steel Allan truss bridge that is approximately 240 m (790 ft) in length.[4] The bridge also contains a single lift span approximately 20 m (66 ft) in length; this span is still in working order.[6][7] It is two lanes wide through most of its length, though the lift span is only capable of carrying a single lane.[6] The entire bridge has been marked with a single lane and has traffic lights on both ends to control vehicular flow.[8]

The bridge was completed in 1928 by the NSW Department of Public Works. The bridge was designed to be able to carry the loads required for a railway;[6] and although opened as a traffic bridge, it was intended to be converted to allow rail once the Mildura railway line was extended to the bridge.[9][10] The line was never extended beyond Yelta, where the terminus remains to this day.[11][12] The location of this bridge was thought of as convenient, as it provided a link to the Sturt Highway without travelling farther upstream to Mildura. It is the only remaining steel truss bridge with a lift span along the river. The bridge was built after the decline in commercial river traffic on the Murray, and was the last lift span bridge of any type to be built over the river.[6] Due to its significance to the local area, it has been listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.[2]

History

The nearby town of Wentworth was an important river port from which wool was shipped to the coast, and as such there was a variety of traffic in the area. In the 1890s, irrigated farming greatly expanded in Sunraysia region which is known for its fruit production, and traffic volumes increased further. It was decided to install a punt at this location (then known as Abbot's Ford).[6][13]

New South Wales and Victoria had signed an agreement towards constructing bridges for railways over the Murray to serve the settlements on the northern side. In 1923, a report was released that recommended going ahead with the building of four bridges, one of those being the future Abbotsford Bridge. It was said a bridge in this area would benefit Curlwaa, Wentworth, and a proposed irrigation scheme to the north. The cost was estimated at £78,000. It had been considered that it might be appropriate to combine these four bridges with locks, but this idea was rejected due to siting concerns.[14][15]

In 1924, residents of nearby settlements urged construction of the railway line to the proposed bridge site, but they were told this extension of the line was to be delayed.[16] Within that year it was decided that a bridge was to be constructed due to increased traffic volume, and tenders were let for manufacture of the bridge spans, construction of abutments and piles, and transport of materials to the future construction site.[6][17]

Early in 1925, a foundation pile and some tents could be found at the site of the future bridge. Men in the region were also awaiting employment on the structure, and by the middle of the year unemployment problems were becoming a serious issue. Similarly government debt was increasing, although it was still expected the railway line to Abbotsford Bridge would be completed.[18][19] In November, construction started and it was expected that the bridge would be opened around 25 September the following year.[20]

During May 1926, the approach road between Wentworth and the bridge was being progressively metalled, but could not be completed in its entirety until construction of the bridge itself was complete.[21] In June, construction was halted due to contract requirements not being met.[22]

By February the next year, construction had resumed.[23][24] On 8 April 25 men working on the bridge went on strike. This was of concern due to time dependent concreting being undertaken at that time. As the construction was considered unemployment relief, the constructing authority began to look for men who would do the work in their places.[25] By 13 April, further details had emerged; the number of the men on strike was actually 32, and it had been caused by the alleged wrongful dismissal of three men who had left for their lunch break early. The strike continued until at least 21 April.[26][27] Work had resumed by early May, and the bridge was reported as being a little over half completed at that time.[10]

It was reported in mid-May that construction work was in progress on the last two piers of the bridge, though low river levels meant that staging could not be installed to allow further work on the bridge framework. The estimated time of completion at this point was by the end of the year.[28] It was noted in early September that the extension of the railway from Yelta was expected to occur once the bridge was completed.[29]

The bridge was still under construction in January 1928, and at that time the estimated date of completion was only a month away.[30] The bridge finally opened to traffic on 14 April.[31][32] The official opening of the bridge by the NSW Governor Dudley de Chair occurred on 10 July, and was celebrated by the a cutting of the ribbon and an opening of the gates at each end of the lift span. In return he was presented with a silver cigarette case.[33][34]

A major accident occurred at the bridge in August 1931. The paddle steamer E.R.O. struck the lift span of the bridge. The span had not been raised to a high enough level, causing it to clip the top of the steamer's funnel and rip apart the upper deck. High pressure steam was released during the accident causing some onlookers to believe the boat was on fire. It was at first thought the captain would be found amongst the wreckage of the upper deck, but he had been navigating the boat from the lower deck at that time. The captain displayed considerable skill; he immediately realised that further raising of the span despite being given the all clear meant it was not quite high enough. And through his actions as the boat progressed downstream caught in the current, he prevented the boat becoming stuck at the bridge.[35]

Much like in its early days, the bridge still carries much traffic related to the fruit production industry, especially during picking and harvesting seasons. Bridge lifts are timed to try and avoid traffic delays.[7] The local community considers the bridge inadequate, and feel it now impedes commercial activity.[6]

References

  1. ↑ "Schedule of Classified Roads and Unclassified Regional Roads" (PDF). Roads and Maritime Services. August 2013. pp. 0, 3, 7. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
  2. 1 2 "Abbotsford Bridge Over Murray River". State Heritage Register. NSW Environment and Heritage. 1998–2009. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  3. ↑ Google (28 August 2013). "Silver City Highway–Calder Highway intersection (Streetview)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  4. 1 2 Google (28 August 2013). "Abbotsford Bridge" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  5. ↑ "Nyah Lift Span Bridge". Wakool Shire Council. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Abbotsford Bridge over Murray River". Heritage and conservation register. Roads and Maritime Services. 2009 [1998]. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  7. 1 2 "Wentworth Shire announces new procedures associated with bridge span lifts". Mildura Independent. 4 February 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  8. ↑ Google (28 August 2013). "Abbotsford Bridge (Streetview)" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
  9. ↑ "Border Railways". The Argus (Melbourne). 28 October 1924. p. 17. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Outback Conditions". The Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW). 5 May 1927. p. 3. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  11. ↑ Waugh, Andrew (February 2003). "Midura–Yelta" (PDF). Signalling Histories. pp. 4–5. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  12. ↑ "Interactive Map". Land Channel. Department of Environment and Primary Industries. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  13. ↑ Hassell Planning Consultants Pty Ltd, in association with Colin Pardoe (September 2001). "Heritage of the Wentworth Shire". Wentworth Shire Heritage Study. Wentworth Shire Council. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "Border Railways". The Argus (Melbourne). 22 September 1923. p. 33. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "New Bridge Over Murray". The Argus (Melbourne). 22 September 1923. p. 33. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  16. ↑ "Country News". The Argus (Melbourne). 23 February 1924. p. 21. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  17. ↑ "Border Railways". The Argus (Melbourne). 28 October 1924. p. 17. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  18. ↑ "Up River News". Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA). 13 February 1925. p. 1. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  19. ↑ "Unemployment". The Argus (Melbourne). 22 July 1925. p. 16. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  20. ↑ "News in Brief". Albury Banner and Wodonga Express (NSW). 27 November 1925. p. 34. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  21. ↑ "Curlwaa Irrigation Area". The Land (Sydney). 21 May 1926. p. 3. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  22. ↑ "Country News". The Argus (Melbourne). 10 June 1926. p. 17. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  23. ↑ "Engine Depot at Mildura". The Argus (Melbourne). 17 February 1927. p. 7. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  24. ↑ "Opportunities". Construction and Local Government Journal (NSW). 23 February 1927. p. 18. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  25. ↑ "Work and Wages". The Argus (Melbourne). 9 April 1927. p. 38. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  26. ↑ "Abbotsford Bridge Strike". Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW). 13 April 1927. p. 1. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  27. ↑ "Untitled". Barrier Miner (Broken Hill, NSW). 21 April 1927. p. 2. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  28. ↑ "Abbotsford and Mildura Bridges". Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA). 13 May 1927. p. 12. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  29. ↑ "On The Way To Griffith". Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA). 9 September 1927. p. 9. Retrieved 29 August 2013.
  30. ↑ "Country News". The Argus (Melbourne). 24 January 1928. p. 10. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  31. ↑ "Country News". The Argus (Melbourne). 14 April 1928. p. 18. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  32. ↑ "Country News". The Argus (Melbourne). 20 April 1928. p. 10. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  33. ↑ "Border Railways". The Argus (Melbourne). 11 July 1928. p. 19. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  34. ↑ "The Governor". The Sydney Morning Herald. 11 July 1928. p. 15. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  35. ↑ "'E.R.O's' Top Deck Smashed". Murray Pioneer and Australian River Record (Renmark, SA). 28 August 1931. p. 4. Retrieved 30 August 2013.

External links

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