{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2012}} {{Infobox bridge |bridge_name = Red Bridge |native_name = |native_name_lang = en |image = Red Bridge - Campbell Town, Tasmania.JPG |image_size = 250 |alt = |caption = Red Bridge, Tasmania |official_name = |other_name = |carries = [[Motor vehicle]]s and [[Pedestrian]]s |crosses = [[Elizabeth River (Tasmania)|Elizabeth River]] |locale = [[Campbell Town, Tasmania|Campbell Town]], [[Tasmania]], {{AUS}} |maint = |designer = [[James Blackburn (architect)|James Blackburn]] |design = [[Arch bridge]] |material = [[Brick]] and [[Stone]] |length = |width = |height = |mainspan = {{convert|7.6|m}} |spans = 3 |pierswater = |load = |clearance = |below = |life = |builder = |begin = 1836 |complete = July 1838 |open = |toll = |traffic = |preceded = |followed = |heritage = [[Register of the National Estate|Registered]] |collapsed = |closed = |replaces = |map_cue = |map_image = |map_alt = |map_text = |map_width = |coordinates = |lat = |long = |extra = }}

The '''Red Bridge''' in [[Tasmania]] crosses the [[Elizabeth River, Tasmania|Elizabeth River]] at [[Campbell Town, Tasmania|Campbell Town]]. Built in 1838 using [[penal labour]], it is the oldest surviving [[brick]] [[arch bridge]] in [[Australia]],<ref name=CINTEC>{{cite web|url=https://cintec.com/reinforcement-anchoring/civil-engineering/masonry-arch-bridge-strengthening/road-bridges/|title=Road Bridges|publisher=Cintec International|accessdate=2021-08-01}}</ref> as well as the oldest bridge anywhere on the [[National Highway (Australia)|National Highway]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dotars.gov.au/department/statements/1999_2000/media/ABudget4_99.aspx | title=Tasmania – Transport Spending | publisher=Australia Department of Transport and Regional Services | date=11 May 1999 | accessdate=2007-08-10 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070912061726/http://www.dotars.gov.au/department/statements/1999_2000/media/ABudget4_99.aspx <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archivedate = 2007-09-12}}</ref> The bridge contains three arch spans of 7.6&nbsp;m (25&nbsp;ft) each and holds two lanes of traffic as well as pedestrian walkways. It lies on the [[Midland Highway (Tasmania)|Midland Highway]], roughly halfway between [[Hobart]] and [[Launceston, Tasmania|Launceston]], carrying over two million vehicles per year.

It is said to have been designed by [[James Blackburn (architect)|James Blackburn]], [[architect]] to [[Melbourne]] and a convict himself.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tco.asn.au/oac/local_attractions.cgi?oacID=47 | title=Local Attractions | publisher=Campbell Town Online Access Centre | accessdate=2007-08-10 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904195149/http://www.tco.asn.au/oac/local_attractions.cgi?oacID=47 | archivedate=4 September 2007 }}</ref> It was constructed of 1,250,000 handmade bricks on dry land, and after its completion the river was diverted to flow under the bridge.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thegardensfamily.com/cemeteries/CampbellTown/Bricks/index.htm | title=Tasmanian Memorials – Campbell Town Convict Brick Trail | publisher=The Gardens Family | accessdate=2007-08-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312125008/http://www.thegardensfamily.com/cemeteries/CampbellTown/Bricks/index.htm | archive-date=12 March 2013 | url-status=live }}</ref>

The Red Bridge is registered on the [[Register of the National Estate]] since 1978.

The bridge received an Engineering Heritage National Marker from [[Engineers Australia]] as part of its [[Engineers Australia#Engineering Heritage Recognition Program|Engineering Heritage Recognition Program]].<ref>{{cite web | url = https://portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/heritage/red-bridge | title = Red Bridge | publisher = Engineers Australia | access-date = 2020-05-07 }}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{commons category|Red Bridge (Tasmania)}} * [http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/ahdb/search.pl?mode=place_detail;search=place_name%3Dbridge%3Bstate%3DTAS%3Bkeyword_PD%3Don%3Bkeyword_SS%3Don%3Bkeyword_PH%3Don%3Blatitude_1dir%3DS%3Blongitude_1dir%3DE%3Blongitude_2dir%3DE%3Blatitude_2dir%3DS%3Bin_region%3Dpart;place_id=13065 Bridge on the Australian Heritage Database]

{{Road infrastructure in Tasmania}}

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[[Category:Road bridges in Tasmania]] [[Category:1838 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 1838]] [[Category:Midlands (Tasmania)]] [[Category:Tasmanian places listed on the defunct Register of the National Estate]] [[Category:Tasmanian Heritage Register]] [[Category:Stone arch bridges in Australia]] [[Category:Brick bridges]] [[Category:Recipients of Engineers Australia engineering heritage markers]]