{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=November 2016}} {{Infobox Bridge |bridge_name = The Entrance Bridge |image = TheEntranceBridge.JPG |image_size = 250px |caption = The ''1968'' Entrance Bridge |official_name = |named_for = The Entrance [[Channel (geography)|Channel]] |carries = {{nowrap|[[Central Coast Highway]] {{AUshield|NSW|A49}} /}} Wilfred Barrett Drive {{bulleted list|[[Motor vehicle]]s|[[Grade separation|Grade-separated]] pedestrian footpath|Grade-separated cycleway}} |crosses = [[Tuggerah Lakes]] |locale = {{NSWcity|The Entrance}}, [[Central Coast, New South Wales|Central Coast]], [[New South Wales]], Australia |maint = [[Transport for NSW]] |heritage = |id = |id_type = |website = |preceded = |followed = |design = [[Girder bridge]] |material = [[Concrete]] |material1 = |material2 = |length = {{convert|467|m}} |width = |height = |depth = |traversable = |towpath = |mainspan = |number_spans = 18 |piers_in_water = |load = |clearance_above = |clearance_below = |lanes = |life = |num_track = |track_gauge = |structure_gauge = |electrification = |architect = |designer = |contracted_designer = |winner = |engineering = |builder = |fabricator = |begin = {{start date|1967|07|17|df=y}} |complete = |cost = |open = {{end date|1968|12|20|df=y}} |inaugurated = {{start date|1969|04|14|df=y}} by the [[Robert Askin|Hon. Robert Askin]], [[Premier of New South Wales|NSW Premier]] |rebuilt = |collapsed = |closed = |replaces = Entrance Bridge {{small|(1934–{{circa|1968}})}} |replaced_by = |traffic = |toll = |coordinates = {{coord|-33.337377|151.500478|region:AU-NSW_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}} | references = <ref name=cycleway>{{cite web |url=http://www.theentrance.org.au/explore/cycleway |title=Tuggerah Lakes cycleway |publisher=The Entrance Town Centre Management |date=2016 |access-date=26 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="rms January2014">{{cite web |url=http://www.rms.nsw.gov.au/documents/projects/central-coast/the-entrance-bridge/the-entrance-bridge-community-update-201401.pdf |title=The Entrance Bridge maintenance, Community update |work=[[Roads & Maritime Services]] |publisher=Government of New South Wales |date=January 2014 |access-date=26 November 2016}}</ref> }} [[File:Crossing The Entrance Bridge.webm|thumb|A video of a car crossing The Entrance Bridge during sunset.]] '''The Entrance Bridge''' is a [[road bridge]] that carries the [[Central Coast Highway]] (A49) across the [[Tuggerah Lakes]] Entrance [[Channel (geography)|Channel]] and joins the towns of [[The Entrance, New South Wales|The Entrance]] and The Entrance North, located on the [[Central Coast, New South Wales|Central Coast]] of [[New South Wales]], Australia. The 18-span, {{convert|467|m|ft|adj=mid|-long}}<ref name="rms January2014"/> [[concrete]] [[girder bridge|girder]] bridge carries road traffic, as well as a [[grade separation|grade-separated]] pedestrian footpath and [[cycleway]],<ref name=cycleway/> across Wilfred Barrett Drive as part of the Central Coast Highway.
The bridge is maintained by [[Transport for NSW]],<ref name="rms January2014"/> an [[government agency|agency]] of the [[Government of New South Wales]].
==History== Opened for traffic on 15 December 1934, the inaugural Entrance Bridge was originally a wooden single lane bridge with bypass bays at intervals that allowed traffic travelling in the opposite direction to pass. The original bridge was adequate until 1965 as it only served traffic travelling as far as The Entrance North.<ref name="tetcm">{{cite web |title=Crossing Tuggerah Lake: The Bridge |work=theentrancetcm.com.au | url=http://www.theentrancetcm.com.au/history/tent_city.html | access-date=2 July 2006}}</ref>
Around 1955, the Number 11 bus operated by [[Red Bus CDC NSW|Red Bus Services]] crashed through a wooden [[retaining wall]] and landed in The Entrance Channel after its [[brake]]s failed while turning onto The Entrance Bridge. The [[Bus driver|driver]] and three passengers were uninjured, although the boat that the bus landed on was heavily damaged.<ref name="Wyong history">{{cite book |title=History of Wyong Shire: 1947-1997 }}</ref>{{rp|129}}
In 1965, Wilfred Barret Drive was opened by the [[Deputy Premier of New South Wales|Deputy Premier]] [[Pat Hills]]. The road was named after Councillor Wilfred Barret who was a member of the first [[Wyong Shire Council]]. The road continues to be an important link between The Entrance and [[Toukley]], passing through [[Wyrrabalong National Park]].<ref name="Wyong history"/>{{rp|113}}
By the end of 1965 the bridge was dangerous and too costly to maintain. The traffic flow over the old bridge at The Entrance increased to such an extent the structure was under constant repair. Work began on the current two lane, concrete structure on 17 July 1967 after a successful tender by [[Transfield Holdings|Transbridge]]. The bridge was opened to traffic on 20 December 1968 and officially opened by [[Premier of New South Wales|Premier]] [[Robert Askin]] on 18 April 1969.<ref name="Wyong history"/>{{rp|113–114}}
==See also== {{stack|{{Portal|Transport|Engineering|New South Wales|Australian roads}}}} * [[List of bridges in Australia]] * [[Tuggerah Lakes]]
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Central Coast Bridges}} {{Road infrastructure in regional New South Wales}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Entrance}} [[Category:Road bridges in New South Wales]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 1934]] [[Category:Transport on the Central Coast (New South Wales)]] [[Category:1934 establishments in Australia]] [[Category:The Entrance, New South Wales]] [[Category:Concrete bridges in Australia]] [[Category:Girder bridges in Australia]] [[Category:Bridges completed in 1968]] [[Category:1968 establishments in Australia]]