L. H. Ford Bridge
LH Ford Bridge over the Macquarie River - Wambuul in September 2020
Coordinates32°15′2.797″S 148°35′45.388″E / 32.25077694°S 148.59594111°E / -32.25077694; 148.59594111
CarriesMitchell Highway
  • Motor vehicles
  • Bicycles
  • Pedestrians
CrossesMacquarie River
LocaleDubbo, New South Wales
Named forLes Ford
OwnerTransport for NSW
Characteristics
MaterialConcrete
Total length613 metres (2,011 ft)
Piers in water2
Load limit68.0 tonnes (66.9 long tons; 75.0 short tons)[1]
No. of lanes2
Design life100 years[1]
History
Opened26 September 1969 (1969-09-26)
Location

The L.H. Ford Bridge is a concrete balanced cantilever bridge that carries the Mitchell Highway over the Macquarie River in Dubbo, New South Wales.[2] It was officially open to traffic by the Minister for Local Government and Minister for Highways, Pat Morton on 26 September 1969 and named in honour of the former Mayor of Dubbo and Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Dubbo, Les Ford.[3][4][5][6] Work commended in 2018 to strengthen and extend the life of the bridge, with the project completed in 2020.[7]

History and condition

L.H. Ford Bridge was built in the 1960s to replace an old wooden bridge over the Macquarie River - Wambuul, at the time of its completion, the bridge was the fourth longest highway bridge in NSW at 613 m (2,011 ft) in length.[8][4][7] Since its opening, the centre span of the bridge had significantly sagged, reducing the lifespan, causing a noticeable dip and increased maintenance costs.[9][10] In November 2018 work commenced on strengthening the centre span of the bridge with the construction of two piers in the river to support the centre span and each end of the cantilever fitted with external post tensioning cables, extending the life of the bridge and to allow for heavy vehicles up to 68 tonnes, which was completed in 2020.[2][11][12][1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "LH Ford Bridge Strengthening Project, Mitchell Highway (HW7), Dubbo" (PDF). Roads & Maritime Services. OzArk Environmental & Heritage Management. November 2017. ISBN 978-1-925797-15-2. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  2. 1 2 "LH Ford Bridge Strengthening - RMS.18.0000303659.0373". NSW eTendering. Transport for NSW. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  3. ↑ New Bridge at Dubbo Main Roads September 1969 pages 15-21
  4. 1 2 Holmes, Natalie (26 October 2019). "Bridge's 50th anniversary inspirers memories". Dubbo Photo News. Panscott Media. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  5. ↑ New South Wales. Department of Main Roads (1962), [Collection of programs, invitations, photographs, memorabilia relating to the official openings of bridges and roads in New South Wales], Dept. of Main Roads, retrieved 25 September 2020
  6. ↑ Finn, Rosslyn, "Ford, Leslie Hunter (1915–1964)", Australian Dictionary of Biography, Canberra: National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, retrieved 25 September 2020
  7. 1 2 "LH Ford Bridge Community Update" (PDF). Roads & Maritime Services. Transport for NSW. July 2020. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  8. ↑ "$10m bridge work continues". Dubbo Photo News. Panscott Media. 28 March 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  9. ↑ Wheeler, Faye (22 May 2013). "Bridge at no risk of falling". Daily Liberal. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  10. ↑ Bartley, Kim (3 October 2018). "Two new piers set to 'strengthen' Dubbo's L H Ford Bridge". Daily Liberal. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  11. ↑ "LH Ford Bridge strengthening project to start in coming weeks". Roads & Maritime Services. 22 November 2018. Retrieved 25 September 2020.
  12. ↑ "LH Ford Bridge work complete". Roads & Maritime Services. 1 April 2020.

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