Nowra Bridge | |
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Nowra Bridge
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Carries | Automobiles |
Crosses | Shoalhaven River |
Locale | Nowra, New South Wales |
Heritage status | |
Characteristics | |
Design | Truss bridge |
Material | Steel |
Total length | 342 metres (1,122 ft) |
History | |
Designer | C Shaler Smith |
Construction end | 1881 |
The Nowra Bridge joins the main area of Nowra to North Nowra and Bomaderry. It carries the Princes Highway over the Shoalhaven River and was originally intended to carry a double railway track, as part of the proposed extension of the South Coast line to Jervis Bay and possibly Eden. Due to budget constraints, however, the railway was never extended past Bomaderry station where trains still terminate today, so the bridge was converted for road traffic. The bridge was designed by American engineer C Shaler Smith and is considered to be of historical significance. It is shadowed by a newer, concrete bridge built to support increased traffic flows in the area.
The bridge was completed in 1881 and is built from cast iron and steel. It was originally decked with timber but this was replaced by concrete in 1981. Its full length is 342 m.