{{Short description|Road bridge in New South Wales, Australia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}} {{Infobox bridge | name = Holt-Bragg Bridge | image = | caption = | coordinates = {{Coord|-33.419|151.286|region:AU-NSW_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | os_grid_reference = | qid = | refs = | carries = [[Pacific Highway, Australia|Old Pacific Highway]] {{AUshield|NSW|B83}} | crosses = Piles Creek | locale = [[Somersby, New South Wales]], Australia | starts = | ends = | official_name = | other_name = | named_for = {{unbulleted list|Adam Holt|Roslyn Bragg|Madison Holt|Jasmine Holt|Travis Bragg}} | owner = | maint = [[Central Coast Council (New South Wales)|Central Coast Council]] | heritage = | id = | id_type = | website = | preceded = | followed = | design = [[Arch bridge]] | material = | material1 = | material2 = | length = | width = | height = | depth = | traversable = | towpath = | mainspan = | number_spans = | piers_in_water = | load = | clearance_above = | clearance_below = | lanes = | 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 = | builder = [[Roads & Traffic Authority]] | fabricator = | begin = | complete = | cost = $1.9 million | open = {{start date|2009|06|30|df=y}} | inaugurated = | rebuilt = | collapsed = | closed = | replaces = Concrete culvert 1986-2007 | replaced_by = | traffic = | toll = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 14 | mapframe-width = | mapframe-height = | mapframe-marker = | mapframe-marker-color = | mapframe-lat = | mapframe-long = | extra = | references = <ref name="CCEA04062009">{{cite web |first=Denice |last=Barnes |title=New bridge to open two years after highway collapse killed five |url=http://express-advocate-gosford.whereilive.com.au/news/story/new-bridge-to-open-two-years-after-highway-collapse-killed-five/ |work=Central Coast Express Advocate |date=4 June 2009 |access-date=2009-06-07}}</ref><ref name=NH06062009/> }}
The '''Holt-Bragg Bridge''' is an [[arch bridge|arch]] [[road bridge]] that carries the [[Pacific Highway, Australia|Old Pacific Highway]] (B83) across Piles Creek at [[Somersby, New South Wales|Somersby]] on the [[Central Coast, New South Wales]], Australia. It was opened on 30 June 2009 as a replacement for the previous bridge that collapsed [[2007 New South Wales storms|two years earlier during severe weather]]. The bridge is named in honour of the five people who perished when the bridge collapsed.<ref name="CCEA04062009" />
The Pacific Highway is the main road link from [[Sydney]] to [[Brisbane]] and travels alongside the coast. The section from [[Cowan, New South Wales|Cowan]] to [[Kariong]], where the Holt-Bragg Bridge is, follows a scenic winding route, however, with the majority of traffic using the [[Pacific Motorway (Sydney-Newcastle)|Pacific Motorway]].<ref name="ORSR83">{{cite web |title=Ozroads: NSW State Route 83 |work=Ozroads |url=http://www.ozroads.com.au/NSW/RouteNumbering/State%20Routes/83/sr83.htm |access-date=2015-11-17}}{{Self-published source|date=December 2012}}</ref> The original bridge was built around 1986, during the construction of the [[Calga]] to Somersby section of the Pacific Motorway. It was a concrete culvert bridge.
==Culvert collapse== On 8 June 2007 the Central Coast was battered by [[Wind|strong winds]] and [[Rain|torrential rain]] caused by an [[Low-pressure area|intense low pressure system]] a short distance out to sea.<ref name="BOMQB07">{{cite web | title= The Queen's Birthday East Coast Low: 8–9 June 2007 | url= http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw/sevwx/facts/events/june-07-ecl/e1-8-9jun.shtml | work= [[Bureau of Meteorology]] | location= Australia | access-date= 2009-06-07 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090601210427/http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/nsw/sevwx/facts/events/june-07-ecl/e1-8-9jun.shtml | archive-date= 1 June 2009 | url-status=dead | df= dmy-all }}</ref> The damage as a result of these storms resulted in them being declared a [[natural disaster]]. At approximately 4pm the road above Piles Creek gave way, leaving a {{convert|5|m|ft|adj=mid|-wide}} by {{convert|10|m|ft|adj=mid|-deep}} fissure.<ref name="TA09062007">{{cite web |first=Caroline |last=Marcus |author2=Dasey, Daniel |author3=Gilmore, Heath |title=Rescuers find bodies of family in road collapse |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/rescuers-find-bodies-of-family-in-road-collapse/2007/06/09/1181089398452.html |work=[[The Age]] |date=10 June 2007 |access-date=2009-06-07}}</ref> The collapse of the road was not visible to motorists travelling and as a result the car fell into the creek. Holt, along with his wife Roslyn Bragg, their daughters Madison and Jasmine and nephew Travis Bragg were all killed.<ref name="CCEA16032009">{{cite web |first=Terry |last=Collins |title=Human error blamed for fatal Pacific Highway collapse |url=http://express-advocate-gosford.whereilive.com.au/news/story/human-error-blamed-for-fatal-pacific-highway-collapse/ |work=Central Coast Express Advocate |date=16 March 2009 |access-date=2009-06-07}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
A [[Coroner's Court of New South Wales|coroner's inquest]] was established to discover the cause of deaths. It found that the failure of the [[Roads & Traffic Authority]] (RTA) and [[City of Gosford|Gosford City Council]] to take action or initiative to fix problems with the bridge led to the collapse.<ref name=NH18092008>{{cite web |first=Joanne |last=Mccarthy |title=Gosford council neglect in road culvert deaths |url= https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/488062/gosford-council-neglect-in-road-culvert-deaths/ |work=[[Newcastle Herald]] |date=18 September 2008 |access-date=2009-06-07}}</ref><ref name=SMH01042013>{{cite web |first=Linton |last=Besser |title= Hidden hazard: officials sitting on a ticking time bomb |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/hidden-hazard-officials-sitting-on-a-ticking-time-bomb-20130331-2h1dn.html |work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=1 April 2013 | access-date=2013-07-21}}</ref>
Adam Holt was found by the coroner as being a hero. Only concerned with the welfare of his wife and children. He could have been saved, but told rescuers to help his wife and children.
The bridge was first identified as being in need of maintenance in 1984 when an RTA scientific officer had drawn attention to the [[corrosion]] of [[Galvanization|galvanised iron]] pipes used in the [[culvert]]. In 1995, responsibility for the road was transferred from the RTA to Gosford City Council; however, the problems with the section were not identified to council [[engineer]]s. In April 2000 the bridge slumped, however nothing was done to alleviate the problem until 2002 when the council requested an estimation for a major reconstruction of the culvert.<ref name=SMH01072008>{{cite web |first=Malcolm |last=Brown | author-link=Malcolm Brown (Australian journalist) | title=Council blamed for deadly highway collapse |url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/deadly-highway-collapsefailure-to-act/2008/07/01/1214678012993.html| work=[[Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=1 July 2008 |access-date=2009-06-07}}</ref> In 2004, pavement repairs triggered a request by the council to ask for quotes for concrete lining of the culvert with [[Call for bids|tenders]] called. However, the information was not entered into the record system and no follow up action was taken.<ref name="CCEA16032009" />
==Current bridge== To replace the collapsed culvert, a replacement bridge was constructed by the RTA and opened on 30 June 2009, at a cost of $1.9 million. Responsibility for maintenance of the bridge is with the [[Central Coast Council (New South Wales)|Central Coast Council]] (formerly the Gosford City Council) since its opening. The RTA named the bridge the Holt-Bragg Bridge in memory of the deceased. Two [[bronze]] [[commemorative plaque]]s are located at either end of the bridge on Somersby sandstone.<ref name="CCEA04062009" /><ref name="NH06062009">{{cite web |first=Joanne |last=Mccarthy |title=Bridge name to honour Pasha Bulker storm victims |url=https://www.newcastleherald.com.au/story/496907/bridge-name-to-honour-pasha-bulker-storm-victims/ |work=[[Newcastle Herald]] |date=6 June 2009 |access-date=2009-06-07}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Central Coast Bridges}} {{Road infrastructure in regional New South Wales}}
[[Category:Road bridges in New South Wales]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 2009]] [[Category:Transport on the Central Coast (New South Wales)]] [[Category:Pacific Highway (Australia)]] [[Category:2009 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Arch bridges in Australia]] [[Category:Central Coast Council (New South Wales)]]