Bridge in New South Wales, Australia
The
Stockton Bridge
is a
road bridge
that carries Nelson Bay Road across the
Hunter River
, between
Kooragang
and
Stockton
in the
Hunter Region
of
New South Wales
, Australia. The bridge and Nelson Bay Road serve as the main transport route between
Newcastle
and the
Tilligerry
and Tomaree peninsulas in
Port Stephens
. The bridge carries motor vehicles and a central
grade-separated
shared
cycleway
and
footpath
.
History
[
edit
]
Prior to the construction of the bridge, the
Department of Main Roads
operated a
car ferry
service between Wharf Road in
Newcastle
and
Stockton
.
[1]
[2]
In May 1955, the Newcastle Harbour Crossing Committee was formed by the
Newcastle City Council
to investigate options to cross the
Hunter River
. Options investigated included bridges from
Hunter Street
and
Nobbys Head
to Stockton and an underwater tunnel. All were rejected as not feasible.
[1]
The Kooragang Island reclamation project provided an answer. An initial plan to build a bridge from
North Carrington
to Stockton was rejected as it would interfere with shipping. The
Tourle Street Bridge
opened in February 1965 from
Mayfield
to Kooragang Island, but it would not be until 1968 that construction commenced on the Stockton Bridge. A two lane
vertical-lift bridge
was proposed before it was decided to build a four lane, 23-span
concrete arch bridge
with a 30-metre (98 ft) clearance over the shipping lane.
[1]
[3]
The Stockton Bridge was officially opened by
Premier
Robert Askin
on 1 November 1971.
[4]
[5]
[6]
At 1,024 m (3,360 ft), at the time of its opening, it was the longest bridge to have been built by the Department of Main Roads and the second longest bridge in New South Wales after the
Sydney Harbour Bridge
.
[1]
[7]
References
[
edit
]
External links
[
edit
]
Media related to
Stockton Bridge
at Wikimedia Commons
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