Milperra Bridge Explained

Milperra Bridge
Carries:Newbridge Road
Crosses:Georges River
Locale:Between Bankstown and, in South Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Named For:Milperra
Owner:Transport for NSW
Preceded:Governor Macquarie Drive bridge
Followed:M5 Motorway bridge
Design:Pre-stressed concrete
Material:Concrete
Number Spans:3
Piers In Water:2
Lanes:7
Complete:1965
Replaces:Composite truss version (1930)

Milperra Bridge is a road bridge that carries Newbridge Road across the Georges River, located between Bankstown and, in South Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. The bridge is located adjacent to Henry Lawson Drive and the Bankstown Airport; and Newbridge Road serves as a continuation of Canterbury and Milperra Roads.

History

Prior to the bridge being built, there was no crossing of the Georges River between Moorebank and Milperra, though the road to Canterbury was built up to the east bank. The road over the Liverpool Weir and its later 1894 truss bridge went south east toward Wollongong and Engadine.

There was call for access between the two military settler camps, Moorebank and Milperra, to have access and a punt was proposed in the early 1920s.[1]

The early design by the Department of Main Roads (DMR) showed a height above water of only 120NaN0[2] which was much decried by the locals, advising to the Dept that it be higher for the commercial and sporting interests of the area. The DMR replied with a proposal of 170NaN0.[3]

After long use, the old narrow bridge was not able to cope with the increase in traffic and was slated for replacement.[4]

The current concrete structure supersedes the earlier truss bridge built circa 1930[5] as a wider and higher crossing of the river.

Milperra Bridge
Carries:Newbridge Road
Crosses:Georges River
Other Name:Moorebank Bridge[6]
Owner:Transport for NSW
Design:Composite truss
Material:Timber
Length:2370NaN0
Width:200NaN0[7]
Mainspan:900NaN0
Number Spans:6
Piers In Water:5
Clearance Below:170NaN0
Open:18 April 1931[8]
Collapsed:1965
Replaced By:Current bridge

Notes and References

  1. News: MEETING AT CHIPPING NORTON. . . XXXVI . 2890 . New South Wales, Australia . 2 December 1922 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  2. News: TOO LOW . . XL . 3576 . New South Wales, Australia . 2 September 1929 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  3. News: Will Block Launches . . New South Wales, Australia . 30 August 1929 . 7 . National Library of Australia.
  4. News: "Bottleneck" bridge to go . . 2943 . New South Wales, Australia . 14 November 1962 . 2 . National Library of Australia.
  5. News: Advertising . . 28,753 . New South Wales, Australia . 1 March 1930 . 22 . National Library of Australia.
    News: MILPERRA BRIDGE. . . New South Wales, Australia . 28 March 1930 . 1 . National Library of Australia.
  6. News: NEW GEORGES RIVER BRIDGE . . New South Wales, Australia . 21 November 1930 . 6 . National Library of Australia.
  7. News: Advertising . . New South Wales, Australia . 1 November 1929 . 5 . National Library of Australia.
  8. News: NEW BRIDGE . . 29,105 . 17 April 1931 . 12 . National Library of Australia.