Hexham Bridge, New South Wales

The Hexham Bridge is a pair of road bridges that carry the Pacific Highway across the Hunter River from Tarro to Tomago in the Hunter Region of New South Wales, Australia. It comprises two separate structures; a steel truss bridge opened in 1952 and a concrete opened in 1987.

Hexham Bridge
First bridge in April 1957
Coordinates32.8232°S 151.6855°E / -32.8232; 151.6855
CarriesPacific Highway
CrossesHunter River
LocaleTarro, New South Wales
OwnerTransport for NSW
Followed byStockton Bridge
Characteristics
No. of lanes4
History
Opened17 December 1952
July 1987 (duplicated)
Location

History

Prior to the construction of the bridge, the Department of Main Roads operated a car ferry to carry the Pacific Highway across the Hunter River. In November 1945, a contract was awarded to build a steel truss bridge with a central lifting span.[1] However, due to a shortage of materials following World War II, it was not completed until December 1952.[2][3][4]

A concrete high-level fixed bridge opened to the west of the original bridge in July 1987 to carry northbound traffic, with the original converted to carry southbound traffic only.[5][6]

References
  1. Hexham Bridge Raymond Terrace Examiner & Lower Hunter & Port Stephens Advertiser 1 December 1945 page 2
  2. Vital Bridge Link Opened Newcastle Sun 17 December 1952 page 1
  3. New bridge at Hexham The Sun 17 December 1952 page 24
  4. Bridge Opened at Hexham Sydney Morning Herald 18 December 1952 page 5
  5. The Hexham Bridge Duplication Project Main Roads March 1984 pages 11-14
  6. Annual report year ended 30 June 1988 Department of Main Roads page 19

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