Gee Gee Bridge

{{Use Australian English|date=June 2018}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox bridge | name = Gee Gee Bridge | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = | image_upright = | alt = | caption = | coordinates = {{Coord|-35.3298|143.9278|region:AU-NSW_type:landmark|display=inline,title|format=dms}} | os_grid_reference = | qid = | refs = | carries = Noorong Road | crosses = [[Wakool River]] | locale = [[New South Wales]], Australia | starts = [[Cunninyeuk]] | ends = [[Wetuppa]] | official_name = | other_name = | named_for = | owner = [[Murray River Council]] | maint = | heritage = | id = | id_type = | website = | preceded = | followed = | design = [[truss bridge#Allan truss|Dare-type Allan truss]] | material = Timber | material1 = | material2 = Timber | length = {{convert|72.5|m}} | width = {{convert|5.5|m}} | height = | depth = | traversable = | towpath = | mainspan = {{convert|27.7|m}} | number_spans = 1 | piers_in_water = | load = | clearance_above = | clearance_below = | lanes = 2 | life = | first_length = | first_diameter = | second_length = | second_diameter = | third_length = | third_diameter = | capacity = | num_track = | track_gauge = | structure_gauge = | electrification = | architect = | designer = | contracted_designer = | winner = | engineering = Harvey Dare | builder = | fabricator = | begin = | complete = {{start date|1929|||df=y}} | cost = | open =  | inaugurated = | rebuilt = | collapsed = | closed = | replaces = | replaced_by = | traffic = | toll = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 14 | mapframe-width = | mapframe-height = | mapframe-marker = | mapframe-marker-color = | mapframe-lat = | mapframe-long = | extra =  {{Infobox historic site | embed = yes |designation1 = New South Wales State Heritage Register |designation1_offname = Gee Gee Bridge over Wakool River (Revoked) |designation1_type = State heritage (built) |designation1_date = 20 June 2000 |delisted1_date = 2 March 2018 |designation1_partof = |designation1_number = 1469 |designation1_free1name = Type |designation1_free1value = Road Bridge |designation1_free2name = Category |designation1_free2value = Transport – Land |designation1_free3name = Builders |designation1_free3value= }} }}

The '''Gee Gee Bridge''' was a [[heritage register|heritage-listed]] [[road bridge]] that carried Noorong Road across the [[Wakool River]], connecting [[Cunninyeuk]] with [[Wetuppa]] in [[New South Wales]], Australia. The bridge was designed by Harvey Dare and opened in 1929. Owned by the [[Murray River Council]] it was replaced by a concrete structure in May 2020 and demolished.

==History== Timber truss road bridges have played a significant role in the expansion and improvement of the NSW road network. Prior to the bridges being built, river crossings were often dangerous in times of rain, which caused bulk freight movement to be prohibitively expensive for most agricultural and mining produce. Only the high priced wool clip of the time was able to carry the costs and inconvenience imposed by the generally inadequate river crossings that often existed prior to the trusses construction. Timber truss bridges were preferred by the [[NSW Public Works|Public Works Department]] from the mid 19th to the early 20th century because they were relatively cheap to construct, and used mostly local materials. The financially troubled governments of the day applied pressure to the Public Works Department to produce as much road and bridge work for as little cost as possible, using local materials. This condition effectively prohibited the use of iron and steel, as these, prior to the construction of the [[BHP]] steel works at [[Newcastle, New South Wales|Newcastle]] in the early 20th century, had to be imported from England.<ref name="nswshr-1469">{{cite NSW SHR|5051371|Gee Gee Bridge over Wakool River (under consideration for removal)|hr=01469|fn=EF14/5765|access-date=2 June 2018}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20060824022632/http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/cgi-bin/index.cgi?action=heritage.show&id=4300138 Gee Gee Bridge over Wakool River] [[Roads & Traffic Authority]]</ref>

Harvey Dare, the designer of Dare truss and other bridges, was a leading engineer in the Public Works Department, and a prominent figure in early 20th century NSW.<ref name=nswshr-1469/>

Timber truss bridges, and timber bridges generally were so common that NSW was known to travellers as the "timber bridge state".<ref name=nswshr-1469/>

The 1929 bridge was replaced under the [[Roads & Maritime Services]] Timber Truss Bridge Strategy. The old bridge was demolished as part of the replacement. Work commenced in September 2018 with the new bridge opened in May 2020.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20211221073437/https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/about/news-events/news/ministerial/2020/200501-new-gee-gee-bridge-opens-to-traffic-ahead-of-schedule.html New Gee Gee Bridge opens to traffic ahead of schedule] [[Transport for NSW]] 1 May 2020</ref> The original bridge was subsequently demolished.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20211221080831/https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/projects/gee-gee-bridge/ Replacement of Gee Gee Bridge] Transport for NSW</ref>

==Description== Gee Gee Bridge was a Dare-type timber [[truss bridge#Allan truss|Allan truss]] road bridge. It has a single timber truss span of {{convert|27.7|m}}. There are three timber approach [[Span (architecture)|spans]] at one end and two at the other giving the bridge an overall length of {{convert|72.5|m}}.<ref name=nswshr-1469/>

The super structure was supported by timber trestles and provided a dual-lane carriage way with a minimum width of {{convert|5.5|m}}. A timber post and rail guard rail extended the full length of the bridge. In the 1990s strengthening of the timber trestles took place.<ref name=nswshr-1469/>

==References== {{reflist}}

[[Category:New South Wales State Heritage Register]] [[Category:Murray River Council]] [[Category:Road bridges in New South Wales]] [[Category:Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 1929]] [[Category:Buildings and structures demolished in 2020]] [[Category:1929 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:2020 disestablishments in Australia]] [[Category:Truss bridges in Australia]] [[Category:Wooden bridges in Australia]] [[Category:Bridges in the Riverina]]