The Longest Bridge in New South Wales Is a 10,500-Foot Behemoth

The Macleay Valley Bridge in New South Wales, Australia is truly a sight to behold. The bridge travels for 10,500 feet of roadway. With 941 beams and 93 piers supporting the bridge, it is a marvel of concrete engineering. It took over a year to design and around two years to construct. Due to its location at the Macleay River and the floodplain around it, drainage off the incredibly long structure was a major factor in its design. It uses free-draining scuppers. The bridge is part of a significant roadway between the major cities of Sydney and Brisbane.

This bridge is also called the Macleay River and Floodplain Bridge and is the longest road bridge in the entire continent. As its name suggests, it crosses the Macleay River and the surrounding floodplain. The bridge has four lanes of traffic, open to vehicles only.

The bridge has another name as well. In the Indigenous language spoken by the Djangadi people, the bridge is known as Yapang gurraarrbang gayanddugayigu. This translates to “very long track to the other side,” a fitting name given its massive size.

History of the Macleay Valley Bridge

The bridge is a relatively recent addition to the road infrastructure in Australia. It opened for vehicle traffic in March 2013 after almost two full years of construction. Overall, it cost around $185 million to build. The bridge is part of the Pacific Highway in Australia and is close to the city of Frederickton. It serves as a bypass around Kempsey and Frederickton.

Bridges in New South Wales

Other bridges in New South Wales include the Sydney Harbor Bridge, the Sheahan Bridge, and others. But even the closest contender, the Sydney Harbor Bridge, is less than 4,000 feet long. Among the list of longest bridges, the Macleay Valley Bridge stands out for its length. The Sydney Harbor Bridge stands out for its design, however. The steel through-arch bridge is a recognizable feature in the Sydney skyline.

The Macleay Valley Bridge also has the distinction as the longest bridge in Australia. The second-longest is the South Road Superway Bridge in South Australia. At 9,186 feet long, it comes close to the Macleay Valley Bridge but does not beat it. The two bridges were built around the same time with the Macleay Valley Bridge beating the South Road Superway Bridge to completion by around a year.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © iStock.com/Oleksii Liskonih