Burdekin Bridge

File:Queensland State Archives 3685 Aerial photograph of Burdekin Bridge construction site showing piers with Railway Bridge in foreground c 1952.png

File:Official opening of Burdekin Bridge, 15 June 1957.jpg

Prior to the construction of the high-level Burdekin Bridge, there were two low-level bridges over the Burdekin River, one for road and one for rail. These bridges were frequently impassable due to flooding of the river. Remnants of the old rail bridge can be seen immediately downstream of the present bridge.{{Cite web|title=Burdekin River Bridge|url=https://www.queensland.com/au/en/things-to-do/attractions/p-56b2652c7b935fbe730e45e8-burdekin-river-bridge.html|url-status=live|access-date=2021-01-13|website=Tourism & Events Queensland|publisher=Queensland Government|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115103941/https://www.queensland.com/au/en/things-to-do/attractions/p-56b2652c7b935fbe730e45e8-burdekin-river-bridge.html |archive-date=15 January 2021 }}{{Cite web|title=A Home (Hill) and an Ayr Away from Home ...|url=https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/History/Documents/QR014.3_150Storyboards_Ayr_LR_1114.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=13 January 2021|website=Queensland Rail|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330031248/http://www.queenslandrail.com.au/History/Documents/QR014.3_150Storyboards_Ayr_LR_1114.pdf |archive-date=30 March 2016 }}

Originally, it was thought that the bridge could not be built in its present location. No trace of rock could be found on which to build the bridge foundations. In 1946, two high-ranking Government engineers visited India to inspect a number of bridges built on sand foundations. The same technique was used for the Burdekin Bridge and it is the only bridge in Australia not built with a firm foothold.File:Burdekin Bridge QUT-7358-1.jpgThe bridge rests on 11 huge, hollow, concrete caissons sunk into the river bed. The caissons are 17 metres across the top (measured parallel to the stream) and vary in width from 5.5 to 7.6 metres. The caissons were sunk into the river bed to a depth of about 30 metres. Add to that the approximately 20 metres that the caissons rise above the bed and the result is some very massive pieces of concrete. Each weighs about 4,000 tons. The caissons were fitted with steel "cutting edges" to help them sink. The steel used in the cutting edges weighed 238 tons.

Construction of the first caisson started in 1947 after the "wet season". As each caisson rose in height, sand was removed from the centre of the caisson to make it sink into the sand bed. To get such a tremendous mass to sink gradually and evenly was difficult. To add to the difficulties, often a caisson became stuck and a diver had to be sent down to find the problem and remedy it. Another difficulty was that each caisson had to be sunk to a secure depth before the "wet season". If a caisson was not firmly anchored deep enough, a flood could have swept it away.

Because the bridge does not have rock foundations but is entirely supported by sand, it is sometimes described as a floating bridge. It is not a true floating bridge as it does not float on water.

The metal bridge spans were bolted together with high-tensile bolts instead of being riveted. At the time, no other Australian bridge had ever been constructed this way.

With all the difficulties, plus the shortage of steel after World War II, the construction took almost a decade to complete at a cost of $6 million. The bridge officially opened on 27 March 1957.{{cite news|date=19 April 1957|title=NEW QUEENSLAND BRIDGE|page=4|newspaper=Western Herald|location=New South Wales, Australia|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article104017503|accessdate=14 January 2021|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=13 January 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113205717/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/104017503|url-status=live}} Despite these setbacks, the new bridge greatly assisted in travel between Ayr, Queensland and Home Hill, Queensland and formed a vital link between North and South Queensland.

The Silver Link replaced the Inkerman Bridge which is set just above the river bed. It was regularly covered and washed away by flood waters but it is still possible to see the remains of the old bridge when the river level is low.

Due to the special construction of the bridge, with steel beams forming a truss over the highway, it is regularly being closed to let pass oversize loads which take both lanes on the narrow bridge.

In October 2010, the Burdekin Bridge was recognised as a National Engineering Heritage Landmark.{{Cite web|url = http://www.govhouse.qld.gov.au/the_governor/101005_burdekinspch.aspx|title = Engineering Heritage National Landmark Award to the Burdekin River Bridge|date = 5 October 2010|accessdate = 7 September 2015|publisher = Government House, Queensland|last = Wensley|first = Penelope|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140227080358/http://www.govhouse.qld.gov.au/the_governor/101005_burdekinspch.aspx|archive-date=27 February 2014 |author-link = Penelope Wensley}}

A 5-year bridge maintenance and rehabilitation project had commenced in 2013. It is the first major structural rehabilitation work undertaken since the bridge construction. This maintenance and rehabilitation program is continuing in July 2022, with an expected total cost of $96.9 million.{{cite web |url=https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/burdekin-river-bridge-maintenance-and-rehabilitation-program |title=Burdekin River Bridge: maintenance and rehabilitation program |publisher=Queensland Government |date=15 July 2022 |access-date=26 July 2022}}

The bridge was listed as an Engineering Heritage National Landmark by Engineers Australia as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.{{cite web

| url=https://portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/heritage/burdekin-river-bridge-bruce-highway-1947

| title=Burdekin River Bridge, Bruce Highway, 1947-

| publisher=Engineers Australia

| access-date=2020-04-27

| archive-date=13 March 2022

| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220313173616/https://portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/heritage/burdekin-river-bridge-bruce-highway-1947

| url-status=live

}}

{{Portal|Queensland|Rivers}}

• List of road-rail bridges

{{Reflist}}

• {{Citation | title=High-level combined rail and road bridge over Burdekin River between Ayr and Home Hill | publication-date=1955 | publisher=Government Printer | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/12515432 }}
• {{Citation | author1=Scott, Laura A | author2=Lower Burdekin Historical Society | title=Bridging the gap : celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Burdekin River bridge | publication-date=2007 | publisher=Lower Burdekin Historical Society Inc | url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/8070823}}

{{commons category|Burdekin Bridge}}

• {{cite web|title=Burdekin Bridge known as the "Silver Link"|url=http://www.burdekin.qld.gov.au/about/burdekin-history-and-heritage/burdekin-bridge/|publisher=Burdekin Shire Council|accessdate=7 September 2015}}
• {{cite web|last=Denyer|first=Winsome|date=20 November 2008|title=Memories from the Burdekin Bridge|url=https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/11/20/2424837.htm|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113210533/https://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2008/11/20/2424837.htm|archive-date=13 January 2021|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}
• [https://buildings.slq.qld.gov.au/feature.html?id=207291d0-ed1d-44a5-b62c-2a08916c8c52 Burdekin Bridge Discover Queensland Buildings website]

{{Australian railway bridges|state=autocollapse}}

Category:Bridges completed in 1957

Category:Buildings and structures in North Queensland

Category:Road bridges in Queensland

Category:Railway bridges in Queensland

Category:Road-rail bridges

Category:Steel bridges in Australia

Category:1957 establishments in Australia

Category:Recipients of Engineers Australia engineering heritage markers

Category:Burdekin River

Category:Truss bridges in Australia

Category:Home Hill, Queensland

Category:Ayr, Queensland