Swanport Bridge is a road bridge that carries Highway 1 across the Murray River, located approximately 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) southeast of the town of Murray Bridge in South Australia, Australia. Opened on 30 May 1979 by transport minister Geoff Virgo, the bridge connects the communities of Murray Bridge and Tailem Bend.[1][2]

Swanport Bridge
Coordinates35°08′51″S 139°18′32″E / 35.14737°S 139.30886°E / -35.14737; 139.30886
CarriesHighway 1
(Cars and trucks up to B-double)
CrossesMurray River
LocaleMurray Bridge, South Australia
Official nameSwanport Bridge
Named forSwanport
OwnerGovernment of South Australia
Maintained byDPTI
Preceded byMurray Bridge town bridge
Followed byTailem BendJervois ferry
Characteristics
MaterialPrestressed concrete
Total length1 kilometre (0.62 mi)
Width2 lanes
History
Opened30 May 1979
Location
Map

Characteristics edit

The bridge itself is one kilometre (one mile) in length with two lanes, one for each direction of traffic, and no separating median. It is constructed from prestressed concrete. There is a footpath on the northern side, with no barrier from the roadway, signposted as being for emergency use only.[3]

The bridge serves as a link between the South Eastern Freeway to the west and the Princes Highway continuing to the east, and as such is an integral part of the AdelaideMelbourne road transport corridor. Both the Southeastern Freeway to the west of the bridge and the Princes Highway to its east are two lanes each way with a wide median and speed limit of 110 kilometres per hour (68 mph). The bridge itself is only one lane each way with no median strip and has a speed limit of 80 kilometres per hour (50 mph) since 2015.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Crossing the Murray". State Library of South Australia. Retrieved 29 July 2016.
  2. ^ "The new Swanport Bridge". Among Ourselves (199): 25. June 1979.
  3. ^ Google (1 August 2017). "Pedestrian notice on Swanport Bridge" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 1 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Lower Speed Limit for Swanport Bridge". Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure. 27 November 2015. Archived from the original on 18 August 2016. Retrieved 29 July 2016.