Mcgees Bridge
Encyclopedia
Mcgees Bridge and causeway crosses Pitt Water within the greater area of Hobart
, Tasmania
.
The bridge provides a vital link between Hobart and two of Tasmania's principal tourist attractions - Port Arthur
Historic Site on the Tasman Peninsula
and the picturesque East Coast via the Tasman Highway
.
decided in the mid 19th century that if a crossing at Pitt Water could be made, it would considerably reduce the time to reach Sorell
. It was decided to build a causeway
for two-thirds of the length of Pitt water and have a bridge
complete the rest of the crossing. Australia's first Post-tensioned beam and slab bridge
was completed in 1957.
A feature of the bridge is that the voids for the tendons were created using inflated rubber tubes which were withdrawn after the concrete had set. The bridge was given a 50 year life span.
In 2001 it became apparent that the ingress of chlorides had caused the bridge to deteriorate seriously. The State government awarded John Holland P/L a design/build contract to replace the ageing bridge.
The new Bridge (designed by GHD) is thought to be the first match-cast precast-segmental channel-type road bridge outside France
and the USA
. The $20 million McGees Bridge was the largest single infrastructure project funded by the State Government for more than 15 years..
The new bridge was named as a tribute to Dr Rodney William McGee, ESM, who died after a long battle with cancer on February 1, 2002, aged 47. At the time of his death he was a senior engineer with the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources and was recognised interstate and internationally for his expertise in bridge engineering.
The project was marked by extensive community involvement and particular attention to safeguarding the local environment, as the bridge is in an internationally recognised wetlands site and designated heritage area.
The Premier of Tasmania
, Jim Bacon
was present at the successful official opening ceremony which was also attended by the Minister for Infrastructure, Jim Cox, the Mayor of Sorell, Carmel Torenius, and members of Rod McGee's family.
Hobart
Hobart is the state capital and most populous city of the Australian island state of Tasmania. Founded in 1804 as a penal colony,Hobart is Australia's second oldest capital city after Sydney. In 2009, the city had a greater area population of approximately 212,019. A resident of Hobart is known as...
, Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
.
The bridge provides a vital link between Hobart and two of Tasmania's principal tourist attractions - Port Arthur
Port Arthur, Tasmania
Port Arthur is a small town and former convict settlement on the Tasman Peninsula, in Tasmania, Australia. Port Arthur is one of Australia's most significant heritage areas and the open air museum is officially Tasmania's top tourist attraction. It is located approximately 60 km south east of...
Historic Site on the Tasman Peninsula
Tasman Peninsula
Tasman Peninsula is located around by road south-east of Hobart, at the south east corner of Tasmania, Australia.-Description:The Tasman Peninsula lies south and west of Forestier Peninsula, to which it is connected by an isthmus called Eaglehawk Neck...
and the picturesque East Coast via the Tasman Highway
Tasman Highway
The Tasman Highway is a highway in Tasmania, Australia. Like the Midland Highway, it connects the major cities of Hobart and Launceston — however it takes a different route, via the north-eastern and eastern coasts of the state. The Highway also acts as a major commuter road to Hobart...
.
History
The state governmentGovernment of Tasmania
The form of the Government of Tasmania is prescribed in its Constitution, which dates from 1856, although it has been amended many times since then...
decided in the mid 19th century that if a crossing at Pitt Water could be made, it would considerably reduce the time to reach Sorell
Sorell, Tasmania
Sorell is a town in Tasmania, Australia, north-east of Hobart. It is on the Tasman Highway which continues up the east coast of Tasmania. At the 2006 census, Sorell had a population of 1,546....
. It was decided to build a causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
for two-thirds of the length of Pitt water and have a bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
complete the rest of the crossing. Australia's first Post-tensioned beam and slab bridge
Beam bridge
Beam bridges are the most simple of structural forms being supported by an abutment at each end of the deck. No moments are transferred through the support hence their structural type is known as simply supported....
was completed in 1957.
A feature of the bridge is that the voids for the tendons were created using inflated rubber tubes which were withdrawn after the concrete had set. The bridge was given a 50 year life span.
In 2001 it became apparent that the ingress of chlorides had caused the bridge to deteriorate seriously. The State government awarded John Holland P/L a design/build contract to replace the ageing bridge.
The new Bridge (designed by GHD) is thought to be the first match-cast precast-segmental channel-type road bridge outside France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and the USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The $20 million McGees Bridge was the largest single infrastructure project funded by the State Government for more than 15 years..
The new bridge was named as a tribute to Dr Rodney William McGee, ESM, who died after a long battle with cancer on February 1, 2002, aged 47. At the time of his death he was a senior engineer with the Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resources and was recognised interstate and internationally for his expertise in bridge engineering.
The project was marked by extensive community involvement and particular attention to safeguarding the local environment, as the bridge is in an internationally recognised wetlands site and designated heritage area.
The Premier of Tasmania
Premiers of Tasmania
The Premier of Tasmania is the head of the executive government in the Australian state of Tasmania. By convention, the party or political grouping which has majority support in the House of Assembly will nominate its leader to be Premier. The nominated politician is then invited by the Governor of...
, Jim Bacon
Jim Bacon
James Alexander Bacon, AC was Premier of Tasmania from 1998 to 2004.-Early life:Bacon was born in Melbourne; his father Frank, a doctor, died when Jim was twelve, leaving him to be raised by his mother Joan. He was educated at Scotch College and later at Monash University, but he did not graduate....
was present at the successful official opening ceremony which was also attended by the Minister for Infrastructure, Jim Cox, the Mayor of Sorell, Carmel Torenius, and members of Rod McGee's family.