Tom Uglys Bridge

Tom Uglys Bridge
The Pratt truss spans of the 1929 Tom Uglys Bridge, as viewed from the north
Coordinates	34°00′12″S 151°06′48″E / 34.00336111°S 151.1133778°E / -34.00336111; 151.1133778Coordinates: 34°00′12″S 151°06′48″E / 34.00336111°S 151.1133778°E / -34.00336111; 151.1133778
Carries	Motor vehicles via six lanes of the Princes Highway (A36), pedestrians and bicycles
Crosses	Georges River
Locale	Southern Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Owner	Roads and Maritime Services
Heritage status	NSW Heritage Register not listed
Preceded by	Alfords Point Bridge
Followed by	Captain Cook Bridge
Characteristics
Design	Pratt truss bridge Box girder
Material	Steel Concrete
Total length	499 m (1,637 ft) 570 m (1,870 ft)
Longest span	69.5 m (228 ft) 70 m (230 ft)
No. of spans	9 9
History
Designer	Percy Allan unknown
Constructed by	State Monier Works unknown
Fabrication by	Lindapter International unknown
Construction begin	February 1925 unknown
Construction end	26 April 1929 (1929-04-26) 17 October 1987 (1987-10-17)
Opened	11 May 1929 (1929-05-11) 17 October 1987 (1987-10-17)
Replaces	Tom Ugly's Punt
Statistics
Toll	1929–1952 no toll
References

Tom Uglys Bridge is composed of two bridges, completed in 1929 and 1987, that cross the Georges River in southern Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia.

The 1929 Pratt truss bridge is listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register and carries three lanes of northbound vehicular traffic on the Princes Highway (A36). The 1987 concrete box girder bridge was built to the east of the older bridge and carries the three southbound lanes of the highway. Both bridges have shared bicycle and pedestrian pathways. The bridges link the St George area at Blakehurst to the Sutherland Shire at Sylvania. The Tom Uglys Bridge is one of three major road crossings of the Georges River.

Tenders were called to construct a punt for Tom Ugly's Point in 1864. A hand operated punt service from Tom Uglys Point to Horse Rock Point commenced. The ferry service was improved and expanded over the years. In 1882 a steam-driven ferry, guided by steel cables, was installed. It crossed the river in less than ten minutes. The punt was 16 metres (54 ft) long, had an 3.4-metre (11 ft) wide roadway. and was capable of carrying six horse-drawn vehicles. By 1898 a larger steam-driven ferry began operation. It was capable of carrying one hundred passengers and fifteen vehicles. A new punt capable of carrying 28 vehicles and making the crossing in three minutes was installed in 1922. By 1929 there were two cable ferries operating, and delays of several hours were experienced on weekends and public holidays.

Following a long campaign by local councils and motoring authorities, a New South Wales Government loan to Sutherland Shire Council was used to finance the replacement of one the punt services across the Georges River. The Bill for the building of a bridge across the Georges River was introduced into New South Wales Parliament in 1923, and the foundation stone for the bridge was laid on 7 June 1924. The funds borrowed by Sutherland Shire Council were to be repaid by a bridge toll once it was opened. As use of the punt was free the bridge toll was controversial. The crossing was first opened for traffic on 26 April 1929, and officially opened by the Governor of New South Wales on 11 May 1929. It was known as the "George's River Bridge".