# McGees Bridge > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/McGees_Bridge > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/McGees_Bridge.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McGees_Bridge > Source revision: 1270986004 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Road bridge in Tasmania, Australia McGees Bridge Coordinates 42°48′23″S 147°31′33″E / 42.80639°S 147.52583°E / -42.80639; 147.52583 Carries Tasman Highway Crosses Pitt Water Locale Hobart, Tasmania, Australia Maintained by Department of State Growth Characteristics Design Post-tensioned trough-girder bridge Total length 460 metres (1,509 ft) (bridge only) Width 15 metres (49 ft) History Designer GHD Constructed by John Holland Opened December 2002 Location Interactive map of McGees Bridge **McGees Bridge** is a [road bridge](/source/Road_bridge) that carries the [Tasman Highway](/source/Tasman_Highway) across [Pitt Water](/source/Pitt_Water_(Tasmania)), near [Sorell](/source/Sorell%2C_Tasmania) in the south-east of [Tasmania](/source/Tasmania), Australia. The bridge and adjacent [Sorell Causeway](/source/Sorell_Causeway) provide vital links between [Hobart](/source/Hobart) and two of Tasmania's principal tourist attractions - [Port Arthur](/source/Port_Arthur%2C_Tasmania) on the [Tasman Peninsula](/source/Tasman_Peninsula) and the picturesque East Coast via the Tasman Highway. ## History The [Tasmanian Government](/source/Government_of_Tasmania) decided in the mid 19th century that if a crossing at Pitt Water could be made, it would considerably reduce the time to reach Sorell. It was decided to build a [causeway](/source/Causeway) for two-thirds of the length of Pitt Water and use a bridge to complete the rest of the crossing. A single-lane timber bridge was the first construction, but continuing maintenance on a major highway bridge became a significant problem. As a result, Australia's first post-tensioned [beam and slab bridge](/source/Beam_bridge) was completed in 1957.[1][2] A feature of the bridge was that the voids for the tendons were created using inflated rubber tubes which were withdrawn after the concrete had set. The bridge was given a 50-year life span. In 2001 it became apparent that the ingress of chlorides had caused the bridge to deteriorate seriously. The State Government awarded [John Holland](/source/John_Holland_Group) a design/build contract to replace the ageing bridge. The new bridge (designed by [GHD](/source/GHD_Group)) is thought to be the first match-cast precast-segmental channel-type road bridge outside [France](/source/France) and the [United States](/source/United_States).[1] The $20 million McGees Bridge was the largest single infrastructure project funded by the State Government for more than 15 years.[3] The new bridge was named as a tribute to Dr Rodney William McGee, who died after a long battle with cancer on 1 February 2002, aged 47. At the time of his death he was a senior engineer with the [Department of Infrastructure, Energy & Resources](/source/Department_of_Infrastructure%2C_Energy_%26_Resources) and was recognised interstate and internationally for his expertise in bridge engineering.[3] The project was marked by extensive community involvement and particular attention to safeguarding the local environment, as the bridge is in an internationally recognised wetlands site and designated heritage area.[3] The [Premier of Tasmania](/source/Premier_of_Tasmania), [Jim Bacon](/source/Jim_Bacon_(politician)) was present at the official opening ceremony which was also attended by the Minister for Infrastructure, [Jim Cox](/source/Jim_Cox_(Australian_politician)), the Mayor of Sorell, Carmel Torenius, and members of Rod McGee's family.[3] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-JohnHolland_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-JohnHolland_1-1) [CIAconference](https://web.archive.org/web/20070411063032/http://www.ghd.com.au/aptrixpublishing.nsf/AttachmentsByTitle/PP+SorellCauseway+PDF/$FILE/CIAconference.pdf) [John Holland](/source/John_Holland_Group) 2003 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** *A Constant Challenge: A History of the John Holland Group 1949 - 1986*. John Holland. 1994. p. 88. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0 646 21060 2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0_646_21060_2). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-DIER_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-DIER_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-DIER_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-DIER_3-3) ["Secretary's Overview"](https://web.archive.org/web/20061010121410/http://www.dier.tas.gov.au/annual_reports/2003_annual_report/secretarys_overview). [Department of Infrastructure, Energy & Resources](/source/Department_of_Infrastructure%2C_Energy_%26_Resources). 2003. Archived from [the original](http://www.dier.tas.gov.au/annual_reports/2003_annual_report/secretarys_overview) on 10 October 2006. Retrieved 11 April 2007. ## External links Media related to [Mcgees Bridge](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Mcgees_Bridge) at Wikimedia Commons v t e Road infrastructure in Greater Hobart Highways Brooker Highway Channel Highway (Kingston Bypass) Domain Highway East Derwent Highway Huon Highway Lyell Highway Midland Highway (Brighton Bypass) South Arm Highway Southern Outlet Tasman Highway Major roads Algona Road Davey Street Goodwood Road Macquarie Street Rosny Hill Road Sandy Bay Road Bridges Bowen Bridge Blair Street Bridge Bridgewater Bridge Jordan River Bridge McGees Bridge Sorell Causeway Tasman Bridge Interchanges Kingston Interchange Lindisfarne Interchange Proposals Bagdad Bypass Eastern Ring Road Hobart Area Transportation Study Hobart Bypass Rokeby Bypass Southern Transport Investment Program Department of State Growth Highways in Hobart Transport in Hobart v t e Hobart landmarks Buildings and structures 5–7 Sandy Bay Road Cadbury's Chocolate Factory Calvary Hospital Cascade Brewery Canopus Hill Observatory Davey Street Congregational Church General Post Office Hobart Cenotaph Holy Trinity Church Hope and Anchor Tavern Hotel Grand Chancellor Hydro-Electric Commission Building Icon Complex Iron Pot Lighthouse Incat Ingle Hall Kelly's Steps Hobart Mosque Mount Pleasant Radio Observatory NAB House Nyrstar Hobart The Old Woolstore Apartment Hotel Hobart Private Hospital Princes Wharf Queen Alexandra Hospital Railway Roundabout Royal Hobart Hospital Taroona Shot Tower St David's Cathedral St John's Anglican Church St Mary's Cathedral Hobart Synagogue Trafalgar Building Institutions Anglesea Barracks Australian Antarctic Division College of Arts, Law and Education Derwent Barracks Government House The Hedberg Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies Menzies Institute for Medical Research Parliament House Parliament Square State Library Supreme Court Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music Town Hall Entertainment Avalon Theatre City Hall Federation Concert Hall MyState Bank Arena Odeon Theatre Royal Hobart Showground State Cinema Theatre Royal Wrest Point Hotel Casino Galleries and museums Campbell Street Gaol Cascades Female Factory Grote Reber Museum Lady Franklin Gallery Maritime Museum Tasmania Mawson's Huts Replica Museum Moonah Arts Centre Museum of Old & New Art Salamanca Arts Centre Tasmanian Museum & Art Gallery Tasmanian Transport Museum Sports Baskerville Raceway Bellerive Yacht Club Clarence Aquatic Centre Derwent Sailing Squadron Domain Athletic Centre Doone Kennedy Hobart Aquatic Centre Elwick Racecourse Empire Couriers Park MyState Bank Arena Macquarie Point Stadium Hobart International Tennis Centre KGV Oval KGV Park Kingborough Sports Centre Ninja Stadium North Hobart Oval Queenborough Oval Hobart Real Tennis Club Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania Tasmanian Hockey Centre TCA Ground Wentworth Park Transport Hobart Airport Bowen Bridge Bridgewater Bridge Brooke Street Pier Cambridge Aerodrome Constitution Dock Hobart Bus Mall Jordan River Bridge McGees Bridge Sorell Causeway Tasman Bridge Victoria Dock Nature and parks Alum Cliffs Ancanthe Park Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary Botanical Gardens East Risdon Nature Reserve Flagstaff Hill Franklin Square Glenorchy Art and Sculpture Park Gunners Quoin Hobart Rivulet Hobart Zoo and Aquarium Kunanyi / Mount Wellington Moorilla Estate Mount Direction Mount Nelson Queens Domain St David's Park Precincts Cat and Fiddle Arcade Eastlands Shopping Centre Channel Court Elizabeth Street Mall Macquarie Point Northgate Shopping Centre Salamanca Sullivans Cove Beaches and islands Bellerive Beach Betsey Island Blackmans Bay Beach Bruny Island Clifton Beach Frederick Henry Bay Hinsby Beach Howrah Beach Iron Pot Kingston Beach Lords Beach Long Beach Nutgrove Beach Taroona Beach --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [McGees Bridge](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McGees_Bridge) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McGees_Bridge?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.