Last week I looked at the Martin Bridge in Taree, but another iconic local bridge is the one that joins the twin towns of Tuncurry and Forster.
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Prior to July 1959 the only way to traverse the 630 metres between the two towns was via a vehicular punt or long road trip.
In 1954 the minister for transport announced a calling for tenders for the construction of the Forster Tuncurry bridge.
John Holland was the winning tenderer in 1956.
Test piles were driven in through August 1957, with a further 364 piles being driven as the bridge took shape.
One of the longest pre-stressed concrete bridges in the southern hemisphere, the bridge spanning Cape Hawke harbour was officially opened on July 18, 1959, ending 69 years of ferry service.
John Holland began building the first piles in Sydney, with all other work executed on site.
Some 60 locals were employed for the construction.
Massive cranes were used at the site.
The bridge was built with one 20 metre high crane and three ton cranes positioned on three barges.
The structure is 631 metres long, consisting of 47 pre-stressed spans, and 13.5 metres wide with 376 pre-stressed concrete beams.
The bridge was opened by the premier of NSW, J J Cahill.
Next year will see 60 years of service for the Forster Tuncurry bridge.
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