Tharwa Bridge

Tharwa Bridge is a four span Allan truss bridge which provides a high-level crossing point across the Murrumbidgee River, allowing traffic between Canberra and Tharwa village. It is the oldest surviving bridge in the Australian Capital Territory and was opened on 27 March 1895.

For its opening a public holiday was declared in the region, a parade was held in Tharwa and 1500 people watched Mrs Elizabeth McKeahnie open the bridge. [ "Exploring the ACT and Southeast New South Wales", J. Kay McDonald, Kangaroo Press, Sydney, 1985, p46 ISBN 0-86417-049-1 ] The bridge is significant in its contribution to the landscape and its relationship with the river, the village of Tharwa and the hills beyond. The deck level of the bridge was based on the highest recorded flood level prior to building the bridge. A flood has not overtopped the bridge since construction. There is a mark on the concrete pier on the Western side of the river showing the flood level in 1991.

The Tharwa Bridge and its site are historically and technically significant because of the Allan truss structure, having form and structural integrity which have survived virtually intact. It is the archetypal example of the application of the new technology by Percy Allan to the construction of timber road bridges in New South Wales during a major development phase for bridge and road construction during the last decade of the nineteenth century.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 1998 | url = http://www.hansard.act.gov.au/Hansard/1998/week07/2016.htm | title = Legislative Assembly for the ACT: 1998 Week 7 Hansard (22 September), p. 2016 | format = | work = | publisher = ACT Government| accessdate = 2006-10-25]

Tharwa Bridge is highly valued by the local community as an integral part of the village of Tharwa. It continues to contribute in social, economic and aesthetic terms to the community. The bridge and its site have associative significance with the period of nineteenth century European settlement and development of the region.

The bridge was temporarily closed in early April 2005 when a routine inspection identified extensive wood rotting (caused by termites) of a number of critical, structural elements of the bridge. During July and August 2005, Tharwa Bridge was strengthened with bailey panels to provide a temporary crossing for vehicles up to five tonne. This arrangement was to have been in place until 2008. However, on 19 September 2006 ACT Roads advised that the Tharwa Bridge would be closed for three months. Later radio announcements advised the bridge is now closed for an indefinite period. Barriers have been put in place to close off the bridge to road, cycle and pedestrian traffic. Traffic for Tharwa must divert north to Point Hut low level crossing. In the event of that crossing being closed due to flooding, the only other high level bridge in the area is at the Cotter.

On 13 October 2006 the ACT Government announced its decision to construct a single lane concrete bridge with a pedestrian walkway adjacent to the existing bridge. Construction was intended to begin in 2007, however conservation of the existing bridge was further investigated.cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | year = 2006 | url = http://www.roads.act.gov.au/bridges/new_bridge_for_tharwa | title = New Bridge for Tharwa | format = | work = | publisher = Roads ACT | accessdate = 2006-10-25] , leading to a new decision to restore the old bridge, with construction getting underway in April, 2008.

References

ee also

* List of buildings and structures in the Australian Capital Territory

External links

* [http://www.roads.act.gov.au/bridges/tharwabridge Historic Tharwa Bridge]
* [http://www.wcities.com/en/record/,138305/267/record.html Tharwa Bridge Reserve]
* [http://www.urbanservices.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/36701/MR1909TharwaBridgeClosure.pdf#search=%22tharwa%20bridge%22 Notification of bridge closure]
* [http://www.friendsoftharwabridge.com Friends of Tharwa Bridge]