Sheahan Bridge

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox bridge |bridge_name = Sheahan Bridge |image = Aerial view of Sheahan Bridge.jpg |caption = Aerial view of Sheahan Bridge in May 2021, with the original bridge furthest from the camera |coordinates = {{coord|35|4|21.66020|S|148|5|41.34451|E|region:AU-NSW_type:landmark|display=title;inline}} |carries = [[Hume Highway]] |crosses = [[Murrumbidgee River]] |number_spans = 27 |lanes = 4 |locale = [[Gundagai]], [[New South Wales]] |named_for = [[Bill Sheahan (politician)|Bill Sheahan]] |owner = [[Transport for NSW]] |material = Steel, Concrete |length = {{convert|1.14|km}} (northbound bridge)<br>{{convert|1.15|km}} (southbound bridge) |builder = [[Transfield Holdings|Transbridge]] (northbound bridge)<br>[[Fulton Hogan]] (southbound bridge) |open = {{start date|1977|03|25|df=y}} (northbound bridge)<br>{{start date|2009|05|25|df=y}} (southbound bridge) |mapframe-zoom = 14}}

'''Sheahan Bridge''' is a dual carriageway bridge over the [[Murrumbidgee River]] on the [[Hume Highway]] in [[Gundagai]], [[New South Wales]]. It is the third longest bridge in New South Wales after the [[Macleay Valley Bridge]] and [[Sydney Harbour Bridge]], which at {{Convert|1.149|km|mi|abbr=on}} is only slightly longer than the Sheahan Bridge's {{Convert|1.141|km|mi|abbr=on}}.<ref name="CanberraTimes" />

==History== The now northbound bridge was built by [[Transfield Holdings|Transbridge]] in 1977 to replace the [[Prince Alfred Bridge]] over the Murrumbidgee River and as part of a {{Convert|7.4|km|mi|abbr=on}} deviation of the [[Hume Highway]] built to bypass [[Gundagai]].<ref>New bridges to help traffic flow on the Hume Highway ''[[Truck & Bus Transportation]]'' May 1977 page 163</ref> It was constructed using steel-box girder with a single lane of traffic in each direction.<ref name=TfNSW>{{Cite web|title=Sheahan Bridge duplication|url=https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/about/environment/protecting-heritage/hume-highway-duplication/history/sheahan-bridge.html|access-date=2021-05-21|website=[[Transport for NSW]]}}</ref><ref name=RMS>{{Cite book|url=https://roads-waterways.transport.nsw.gov.au/documents/about/environment/protecting-heritage/hume-highway-duplication/history-begins-with-a-road.pdf|title=The Old Hume Highway History begins with a road|publisher=[[Roads & Maritime Services]]|year=2018}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Mason|first=Edwina|date=2021-05-28|title=Gundagai's heritage bridge survives troubled waters, only to be toppled by a truck|url=https://aboutregional.com.au/gundagais-heritage-bridge-survives-troubled-waters-only-to-be-toppled-by-a-truck|access-date=2021-06-01|website=About Regional|language=en}}</ref> It was officially opened to traffic by the [[Premier of New South Wales]], [[Neville Wran]] on 25 March 1977.<ref name=CanberraTimes>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article110730324 |title=Wran opens new Gundagai bridge |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=51 |issue=14,644 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=26 March 1977 |accessdate=22 May 2021 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref name="Trove-94296869">{{Cite web | title=Sheahan Bridge over the Murrumbidgee River on the Hume Highway at Gundagai : official opening by The Hon. N.K. Wran, Q.C., M.L.A., Premier of New South Wales, at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, 25th March, 1977 | publication-date=1977 | publisher=[[Department of Main Roads (New South Wales)|Department of Main Roads]] | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/94296869}}</ref> The bridge was named after local politician [[Bill Sheahan (politician)|Bill Sheahan]], who had held the seat of [[Electoral district of Burrinjuck|Burrinjuck]] in the [[New South Wales Legislative Assembly]].<ref name=CanberraTimes/> It has three spans over the main river channel and a further 24 south of the river, forming a [[viaduct]] over its flood-plain.<ref name=CanberraTimes/> At the time of completion, it was the second longest bridge in New South Wales and the longest bridge built by the [[Department of Main Roads (New South Wales)|Department of Main Roads]].<ref name=RMS/><ref>Sheahan Bridge Gundagi Construction Completed ''[[Main Roads (periodical)|Main Roads]]'' June 1977 pages 117-120</ref>

The bridge was duplicated with a new bridge built immediately to the east of the existing structure by [[Fulton Hogan]] in 2008/09.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article259373803 |title=Looks deceive |newspaper=Air Force News |volume=51 |issue=5 |date=2 April 2009 |accessdate=22 May 2021 |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Sheahan Bridge |work=Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government |publisher=Nation Building program |url=http://www.nationbuildingprogram.gov.au/projects/natnet/NSW/NSWUA002.aspx |accessdate=29 June 2009 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091024083233/http://www.nationbuildingprogram.gov.au/projects/natnet/NSW/NSWUA002.aspx |archivedate=24 October 2009}}</ref><ref name=RTA>{{cite book|title=Annual Report|date=30 June 2010|publisher=[[Roads & Traffic Authority]]|page=25}}</ref> The new bridge was officially opened to traffic by [[Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development|Minister for Infrastructure and Transport]], [[Anthony Albanese]] on 25 May 2009.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Webster|first=Michelle|date=25 May 2009|title=All systems go for bridge|url=https://www.dailyadvertiser.com.au/story/728035/all-systems-go-for-bridge/|access-date=2021-05-21|website=[[The Daily Advertiser (Wagga Wagga)|The Daily Advertiser]]|language=en-AU}}</ref><ref name=TfNSW/> Duplication of the bridge had been planned since 1995.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://www.opengov.nsw.gov.au/publications/17421|title=Sheahan's Bridge duplication and associated road works: Gundagai NSW : review of environmental factors|work=R.A. Young & Associates|publisher=[[Roads & Traffic Authority]]|year=1995}}</ref> It initially carried traffic in both directions while the 1977 built bridge was refurbished. From December 2009, it carried southbound traffic only.<ref name=RTA/>

Prior to 2021, [[Higher Productivity Vehicle]]s had been unable to use the northbound bridge, due to the low design standards. Since March 2021, Higher Productivity Vehicles have been allowed to use the northbound bridge under permit.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 May 2021 |title=TfNSW prepares for action on Sheahan Bridge |url=https://www.fullyloaded.com.au/industry-news/2105/tfnsw-prepares-for-action-on-sheahan-bridge |access-date=2021-05-22 |website=[[Australasian Transport News]]}}</ref> {{Clear}}

== See also == {{stack|{{Portal|Transport|Engineering|Australian roads|New South Wales}}}}

* [[List of bridges in Australia]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category-inline}}

[[Category:Box girder bridges in Australia]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 1977]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 2009]] [[Category:Bridges in New South Wales]] [[Category:Gundagai]] [[Category:Hume Highway]] [[Category:1977 establishments in Australia]]