The historic Narooma Bridge, built of steel and concrete, is under investigation as it approaches its century – an age which could potentially see it replaced.
Following feedback and insights gathered in 2024 by The Narooma Bridge and Transport Improvements Study, Transport for NSW (TfNSW) said further investigations over the coming six months would inform the next stage.
The bridge investigations are related to safety and efficiency improvements of the Princes Highway in southern NSW which traverses Narooma. A key theme of the feedback to the study revealed support for retaining and repurposing the 1931 bridge, that spans the Wagonga Inlet, if a new one is built.
The Narooma Bridge, a Strauss-type bascule structure, was constructed over three years under two contracts: BHP in Newcastle with Morrison and Bearby doing the steel fabrication, and the State Monier Pipe and Reinforced Concrete Works responsible for the foundations, approaches and erection of the steel work – all for £42,267, 7 shillings and 6 pence.
This total included a budget blow-out of around £13,000 as the rock under the piers was less substantial than the geotechnical investigation ascertained, which made it necessary to sink the northern pier five feet (152 cm) and the southern pier eight feet (2.44 m) further into the ground.
Narooma Bridge’s substructure consists of reinforced abutments and piers, the northern abutments being founded on rock, which required heavy cutting, while the southern abutment is on timber piles driven 35 feet into the sand, 26 below water.
With a steel single leaf opening span of 62 feet and two Pratt-type truss approach spans of 160 feet and 161 feet, the bridge’s deck is 6.1 m wide between kerbs and has a 2.6 m wide footway and sits about 4.25 m above the waterline at high tide.
Sold off to private investors by the NSW Government in 1936, State Monier Pipe and Reinforced Concrete Works evolved into the Monier of today – International Bronze member of the Concrete Institute of Australia.
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Image: Ay Arktos via Wikimedia
About the author
Desi Corbett
Desi is the Editor of Concrete in Australia, at the helm since December 2013, and our weekly news writer since 2016. Focused on concrete and construction for more than 11 years, her expertise in this field forms part of a journalism career spanning three decades. To get in touch please email desi@corbettcomms.com.