| Ted Smout Memorial Bridge | |
|---|---|
Bridge Walk, part of opening celebrations on 11 July 2010 |
|
| Official name | Ted Smout Memorial Bridge |
| Carries | 2 lanes, 1 T2 transit lane, 1 footpath |
| Crosses | Bramble Bay, Pine River |
| Locale | Redcliffe (Clontarf) north end, Brisbane (Brighton) south end, Queensland, Australia |
| Maintained by | Department of Main Roads |
| Design | Reinforced concrete viaduct |
| Total length | 2,740 m (8,990 ft) |
| Constructed by | Hull-Albem Joint Venture |
| Construction cost | $315 million |
| Opened | July 11, 2010 |
The Ted Smout Memorial Bridge is a new bridge in Brisbane, Australia. It is located 30 metres to the east, and forming the duplication of, the Houghton Highway. It crosses Bramble Bay, linking the Redcliffe suburb of Clontarf with the Brisbane suburb of Brighton.[1] The Ted Smout Memorial Bridge and it's twin, the Houghton Highway, are Australia's longest bridges, with the former opened by Premier Anna Bligh on 11 July 2010.[2]
The new bridge consists of 78 spans, each 35 m long. The cost for new bridge project is expected to be AU$315 million.[3] It was built 4 m higher than the existing bridge.[4]
It is the first bridge in Australia designed to withstand Hurricane Katrina-type storm events. It is also possibly the only Australian bridge which may have to deal with shallow water storm surge.
The new bridge features
Contents |
The bridge is named after Ted Smout. Mr Smout was Queensland’s last surviving World War One veteran[3] and a former resident of Sandgate. He died in 2004.[1]
The bridge was officially named the 'Ted Smout Memorial Bridge' by the Queensland Minister for Main Roads, the Honourable Craig Wallace MP, on 14 July 2009. The naming took place as part of the celebration to mark an important milestone and part of Queensland’s 150th birthday celebrations. The milestone was the construction of the middle (39th) span of the new bridge.[1]
As at the opening day on the 11 July 2010 all major construction activity is complete
The Houghton Hwy duplication plans involved a new bridge built 30 metres to the east. The new bridge, named the Ted Smout Memorial Bridge, was to consists of 78 spans, each 35 metres long. There were three major construction areas: Brighton foreshore, fishing platform and Clontarf point.[6]
The eventual duplication differed sharply from the original plan, which was for a similar structure to the existing.[7] The existing bridge was converted for three lanes of northbound traffic, with the new bridge carrying southbound traffic. The original plan called for the new bridge to be constructed between the existing bridges, but was amended to have the new bridge constructed on the Moreton Bay (eastern) side of the existing Houghton Highway.[8]
Increases in the cost of construction materials and labour, changes to the scope of the project following technical investigations and community consultation, extra costs associated with the removal of the Hornibrook bridge, as well as design improvements spurred by the events of Hurricane Katrina in the United States, means the total cost increased to $315 million, compared with the $149 million estimated in 2004.[5] The preliminary design went on display in June 2007[5].
A falsework platform was used and continually relocated as construction of the bridge segments progressed. Foundation piles were driven up to 39 metres into the sea bed, which were then reinforced with concrete and capped with concrete headstock and girders.[9] The bridge was then fitted with concrete barriers, guard rails and electrical conduit. The southern and northern abutment of the bridge included land reclamation works involving a seawall and embankment.[9]
Construction began in April 2008 and the entire duplication works were completed on 19 August 2011.