Macleay Valley Bridge

{{Short description|Bridge over the Macleay River, New South Wales}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2012}} {{Infobox bridge |bridge_name = Macleay Valley Bridge |native_name = ''Yapang gurraarrbang gayanddugayigu'' |native_name_lang = [[Dhanggati language|Dhanggati]] |image = |image_size = |alt = |caption = |coordinates = {{Coord|-31.040519029158492|152.88793445321983|display=inline,title|format=dms|region:AU-nsw_type:landmark}} |official_name = |other_name = {{ubl|Macleay River Bridge|Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge}} |carries = [[Pacific Highway (Australia)|Pacific Highway]] {{AUshield|NSW|A1}} {{bulleted list|[[Motor vehicle]]s only}} |crosses = [[Macleay River]] |locale = [[Frederickton, New South Wales]], Australia |maint = | owner = [[Transport for NSW]] |designer = |design = [[Girder bridge]] |material = [[Concrete]] |length = {{convert|3200|m}} |width = {{convert|21.6|m|ft}} |mainspan = {{convert|34|m|ft}} |height = |spans = 94 |pierswater = |load = | lanes = 4; [[motorway|divided highway]] |clearance = |below = |life = | cost = {{AUD}}185 million<ref name=ANCR/> | contracted_designer = [[Arup Group]] |builder = [[Abigroup]] |begin = {{start date|2010|07||df=y}} |complete = {{end date|2012|02||df=y}} | inaugurated = {{start date|2013|03|27|df=y}}<br/>by [[Anthony Albanese]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MP}}, [[Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development#List of ministers for infrastructure, transport and regional development|Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development]] |toll = |traffic = |preceded = |followed = |heritage = |collapsed = |closed = |replaces = | mapframe = yes | mapframe-zoom = 11 | mapframe-width = | mapframe-height = | mapframe-marker = | mapframe-marker-color = | mapframe-lat = | mapframe-long = |lat = |long = |extra = | references = <ref>{{cite web|url=http://trid.trb.org/view.aspx?id=1138118|title=Design and construction planning of the Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge|work=Transportation Research Board|publisher=National Academy of Sciences|access-date=6 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112205008/http://trid.trb.org/view.aspx?id=1138118|archive-date=12 January 2016|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=ARUP/> }}

The '''Macleay Valley Bridge''' is a [[road bridge]] over the [[Macleay River]] and its [[floodplain]] near the settlement of [[Frederickton, New South Wales]], [[Australia]]. The bridge is part of the [[Pacific Highway (Australia)|Pacific Highway]] (A1) new alignment which bypasses [[Kempsey, New South Wales|Kempsey]] and Frederickton. At the time of its official opening in 2013, the bridge was the longest road bridge in Australia.<ref name=ARUP>{{cite web |url=https://www.arup.com/projects/macleay-river-and-floodplain-bridge |title=Australia's longest bridge crosses the Macleay River in Northern NSW |work=Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge, Kempsey, NSW |publisher=[[Arup Group]] |date=March 2013 |access-date=4 April 2020 }}</ref><ref name="Media Monitors">{{cite news|title=Mid-year start for project to complete Kempsey Bypass|publisher=Media Monitors|date=1 March 2011|url=http://media.mediamonitors.com.au/ArticlePresenter.aspx?GUID=d22baf2f-6448-4c24-99aa-6240777bfc31&ArticleID=96150313&output=pdfsearchable|access-date=1 April 2011}}{{Dead link|date=March 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

== Description == The bridge is constructed of 941 concrete beams supported by 93 piers. Installation of all support beams was completed in October 2012. On 24 February 2013 the bridge was opened to visitors for a preview walk, and then to traffic on 27 March 2013 following an official opening by [[Anthony Albanese]] {{post-nominals|country=AUS|MP}}, the [[Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development#List of ministers for infrastructure, transport and regional development|Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/news/publics-chance-walk-australias-longest-road-bridge/1750965/|title=A chance to walk Australia's longest bridge|access-date=6 March 2013|date=12 February 2013|work=Coffs Coast Advocate|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130215051609/http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/news/publics-chance-walk-australias-longest-road-bridge/1750965/|archive-date=15 February 2013|url-status=live}}</ref>

The {{convert|3.2|km|mi|adj=mid|-long}} bridge carries four lanes of traffic, part of a {{convert|14.5|km|mi|0|adj=on}} stretch of [[motorway|divided highway]]; two lanes in each direction, each lane {{convert|3.5|m|ft}} wide.

The bridge was constructed by [[Abigroup]] as part of the {{AUD}}618 million Kempsey Bypass project funded by the [[Government of Australia|Australian Government]] from the Building Australia Fund;<ref>{{cite news|title=Australia’s Longest Bridge Marks Pacific Highway Progress|publisher=RTA|date=17 February 2011|url=http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/port_macquarie_coffs_harbour/kempsey_bypass/documents/kb_aus_longest_bridge_marks_pacific_highway_progress.pdf|access-date=22 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110316061645/http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/port_macquarie_coffs_harbour/kempsey_bypass/documents/kb_aus_longest_bridge_marks_pacific_highway_progress.pdf|archive-date=16 March 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> within this budget, the bridge itself cost $185 million.<ref name=ANCR>{{citation | url = http://ancr.com.au/macleay_river_&_floodplain_bridge.pdf | title = NSW PROJECT FEATURE: MACLEAY RIVER & FLOODPLAIN BRIDGE | publisher = Australian National Construction Review }}</ref>

==Bridge name== Following completion of the bridge, [[Roads & Maritime Services]] invited the local community to suggest a name for the new bridge. The names '''Macleay River Bridge''' or the '''Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge''' were to be selected if there was no clear preference. Approximately 70 names were suggested which recognised the history of the area, local people, and the community.<ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.macleayargus.com.au/story/1610462/bypass-bridge-naming-delay/|title=Bypass bridge naming delay|author=Connaugton, Todd|date=2 July 2013|work=The Macleay Argus|access-date=22 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222060044/http://www.macleayargus.com.au/story/1610462/bypass-bridge-naming-delay/|archive-date=22 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

In February 2013 the [[Indigenous Australians|indigenous]] [[Djangadi|Dangghati people]] requested to name the bridge in the local [[Dhanggati language]] ''Yapang gurraarrbang gayandugayigu'', translated to English to mean a ''very long track to the other side''. The group's submission received the support of the Macleay Coast Tourism Association and the [[Slim Dusty]] Centre.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.macleayargus.com.au/story/1273061/aboriginal-painting-supports-bridge-name/|title=Aboriginal painting supports bridge name|last=Klein|first=Thom|date=1 February 2013|work=Macleay Argus|access-date=6 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141222060822/http://www.macleayargus.com.au/story/1273061/aboriginal-painting-supports-bridge-name/|archive-date=22 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url =http://www.macleayargus.com.au/story/1993902/wait-continues-for-naming-of-australias-longest-bridge/|title=Wait continues for naming of Australia's longest bridge|date=27 December 2013|work =The Macleay Argus|access-date=22 December 2014|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20141222060006/http://www.macleayargus.com.au/story/1993902/wait-continues-for-naming-of-australias-longest-bridge/|archive-date=22 December 2014|url-status=live}}</ref>

The bridge was officially named the ''Macleay Valley Bridge'' on 1 December 2015; it has also been given the secondary name of ''Yapang gurraarrbang gayanddugayigu'' (or long track to the other side) underneath the main name.<ref>{{cite news |author=Connaughton, Todd |url=http://www.macleayargus.com.au/story/3529782/its-the-macleay-valley-bridge-and-the-yapang-gurraarrbang-gayandugayigu/ |title=It's the Macleay Valley Bridge (and the 'yapang gurraarrbang gayandugayigu') |work=Macleay Argus |date=1 December 2015 |access-date=4 April 2020 }}</ref>

==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|Transport|Engineering|Australian roads|New South Wales}}}} *[[List of longest bridges]] *[[List of bridges in Australia]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/port_macquarie_coffs_harbour/kempsey_bypass/index.html Kempsey Upgrade at RTA website] * [http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadprojects/projects/pac_hwy/port_macquarie_coffs_harbour/fredrickton/documents/information_and_displays/kempsey_bypass_map.pdf Kempsey Upgrade Map] * {{cite web |url=http://www.abigroup.com.au/ProjectDetail.aspx?PageID=79&ProjectID=202 |title=Bridge |publisher=Abigroup website |access-date=13 December 2011 |archive-date=26 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926131010/http://www.abigroup.com.au/ProjectDetail.aspx?PageID=79&ProjectID=202 |url-status=dead }}

[[Category:2013 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Beam bridges in Australia]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 2013]] [[Category:Concrete bridges in Australia]] [[Category:Girder bridges in Australia]] [[Category:Mid North Coast]] [[Category:Pacific Highway (Australia)]] [[Category:Road bridges in New South Wales]] [[Category:Viaducts in Australia]]