Nowra Bridge

The Nowra Bridge is a road bridge that carries the Princes Highway over the Shoalhaven River, at Nowra in the Shoalhaven Council local government area, on the South Coast of New South Wales, Australia. The bridge joins the main area of Nowra to North Nowra and Bomaderry.

Nowra Bridge
Nowra Bridge
Coordinates34°51′51″S 150°36′07″E
CarriesPrinces Highway
CrossesShoalhaven River
LocaleNowra, Shoalhaven Council, South Coast, New South Wales, Australia
BeginsNorth Nowra and Bomaderry (north)
EndsNowra (south)
Official nameNowra Bridge over the Shoalhaven River
Other name(s)RTA Bridge No. 713
Characteristics
DesignTruss bridge
MaterialSteel
Total length309 metres (1,013 ft)
No. of lanesTwo; southbound only
History
DesignerCharles Shaler Smith
Fabrication byEdge Moor Iron Co.
Construction end1881
Replaced byConcrete bridge
(concurrent use; northbound)
Statistics
Daily traffic51,000 (August 2019)
New South Wales Heritage Database
(Local Government Register)
Official nameNowra Bridge over the Shoalhaven River
TypeLocal heritage (built)
TypeRoad Bridge
CategoryTransport - Land
BuildersEdge Moor Iron Co.
Location
References
[1]

Description

The bridge was originally intended to carry a double railway track, as part of the proposed extension of the South Coast line to Jervis Bay and possibly Eden. However, the railway was never extended past Bomaderry station where trains still terminate today, so the bridge was converted for road traffic, as the residents of Nowra wanted a road bridge that connected Bomaderry to Nowra.

The bridge was designed by American engineer Charles Shaler Smith and is considered to be of local historical significance.[1] The bridge was completed in 1881 and is built from wrought iron with a steel approach span. The bridge had a timber deck for 100 years until in 1981 reinforced concrete was laid over steel Armco decking. The pairs of cast iron piers are original and were supplied locally by the Atlas Foundry, Sydney. It was the largest bridge project in New South Wales prior to the 1889 Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge. Its full length is 342 metres (1,122 ft).[1]

The two-lane bridge currently carries southbound traffic only. A newer concrete three-lane bridge opened in 1981 carries northbound traffic on the Princes Highway.[2]

Replacement bridge

In August 2019 Infrastructure Australia approved the construction of a new four-lane bridge immediately to the west (upriver) of the existing bridges. This new bridge would become the new crossing for northbound traffic. The existing northbound bridge would be converted for southbound traffic, allowing the bridge built in 1881 to be re-purposed as a pedestrian and cycle bridge.[3] The replacement bridge is expected to cost A$342 million;[4] with funding to be shared between the Commonwealth and New South Wales governments, and the private sector.[5] Work commenced in early 2020 and is expected to be completed in 2024.[6]

See also

References
  1. "Nowra Bridge over the Shoalhaven River". New South Wales Heritage Database. Office of Environment and Heritage. Retrieved 8 April 2020.
  2. "Piling begins for new Nowra Bridge". Transport for NSW - Roads and Maritime. 25 November 2020. Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  3. "Nowra Bridge". Infrastructure Australia. Australian Government. 23 August 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  4. Crawford, Robert (6 March 2020). "Preliminary work starts on Nowra bridge project". South Coast Register. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  5. "New Nowra Bridge". Infrastructure Partnerships Australia. 28 February 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  6. "Nowra Bridge project - Princes Highway upgrade". Roads and Maritime Services; Transport for New South Wales. Government of New South Wales. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2020.


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