The Echuca bridges: meeting the engineering, historic and user needs

The 19th century iron bridge over the River Murray was designed and built to cater for both rail and road traffic and was completed in 1878. The bridge consists of a wrought iron superstructure supported on cast iron piers and has a total length of 444 metres. It is currently included in the Register of the National Estate, and is classified by the National Trust. Historically, it is one of the four most important metal girder bridges still existing in Australia. In the 1920's the bridge was strengthened by welding and an external pedestrian footway added. In the 1980's analysis indicated that the bridge was overstressed and deficient in many areas for both road and rail loads. It could be strengthened for road loadings, but not for rail loadings. It became necessary to build a new rail bridge and improve the road crossing of the Murray. Accordingly environmental assessments were undertaken with public participation and covered engineering, environmental, social, heritage and economic factors. The assessments met the requirements of the Victorian, NSW and Federal legislation. The outcome of the environmental assessments was that V/Line would build a new rail bridge of an unusual design 15 metres upstream from the existing structure. The existing bridge will be rehabilitated for road traffic after the new rail bridge is brought into service and in accordance with a conservation plan currently being prepared. A supplementary road bridge will be considered when warranted by additional traffic (A).

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/isbn/085825414
• Authors:
  • Atkinson, W J
  • Burke, K J
  • Deutsch, G P
  • Selby Smith, P
  • Wedgwood, R
• Conference:
  • National Conference on Engineering Heritage, 4th, 1988, Sydney, Australia
• Publication Date: 1988-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 34-41
• Monograph Title: Fourth National Conference on Engineering Heritage, 4th, 1988, Sydney, 5-8 December 1988; preprints of papers
• Serial:
  • Issue Number: 88/14

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Bridge design; Bridge management systems; Bridges; Engineering; Environment; History
• ATRI Terms: Bridge design; Bridge maintenance; Bridge planning; Engineering history; Environment
• Subject Areas: Bridges and other structures; History;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01429933
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• ISBN: 085825414
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 24 2012 3:42PM