Red Bridge (Tasmania)

{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}

{{Use Australian English|date=May 2012}}

{{Infobox bridge

|bridge_name = Red Bridge

|native_name =

|native_name_lang = en

|image = Red Bridge - Campbell Town, Tasmania.JPG

|image_size = 250

|alt =

|caption = Red Bridge, Tasmania

|official_name =

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|carries = Motor vehicles and Pedestrians

|crosses = Elizabeth River

|locale = Campbell Town, Tasmania, {{AUS}}

|maint =

|designer = James Blackburn

|design = Arch bridge

|material = Brick and Stone

|length =

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|mainspan = {{convert|7.6|m}}

|spans = 3

|pierswater =

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|life =

|builder =

|begin = 1836

|complete = July 1838

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|heritage = Registered

|collapsed =

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The Red Bridge in Tasmania crosses the Elizabeth River at Campbell Town. Built in 1838 using penal labour, it is the oldest surviving brick arch bridge in Australia,{{cite web|url=https://cintec.com/reinforcement-anchoring/civil-engineering/masonry-arch-bridge-strengthening/road-bridges/|title=Road Bridges|publisher=Cintec International|accessdate=2021-08-01}} as well as the oldest bridge anywhere on the National Highway.{{cite web | url=http://www.dotars.gov.au/department/statements/1999_2000/media/ABudget4_99.aspx | title=Tasmania – Transport Spending | publisher=Australia Department of Transport and Regional Services | date=11 May 1999 | accessdate=2007-08-10 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070912061726/http://www.dotars.gov.au/department/statements/1999_2000/media/ABudget4_99.aspx |archivedate = 2007-09-12}} The bridge contains three arch spans of 7.6 m (25 ft) each and holds two lanes of traffic as well as pedestrian walkways. It lies on the Midland Highway, roughly halfway between Hobart and Launceston, carrying over two million vehicles per year.

It is said to have been designed by James Blackburn, architect to Melbourne and a convict himself.{{cite web | url=http://www.tco.asn.au/oac/local_attractions.cgi?oacID=47 | title=Local Attractions | publisher=Campbell Town Online Access Centre | accessdate=2007-08-10 | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070904195149/http://www.tco.asn.au/oac/local_attractions.cgi?oacID=47 | archivedate=4 September 2007 }} It was constructed of 1,250,000 handmade bricks on dry land, and after its completion the river was diverted to flow under the bridge.{{cite web | url=http://www.thegardensfamily.com/cemeteries/CampbellTown/Bricks/index.htm | title=Tasmanian Memorials – Campbell Town Convict Brick Trail | publisher=The Gardens Family | accessdate=2007-08-10 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130312125008/http://www.thegardensfamily.com/cemeteries/CampbellTown/Bricks/index.htm | archive-date=12 March 2013 | url-status=live }}

The Red Bridge is registered on the Register of the National Estate since 1978.

The bridge received an Engineering Heritage National Marker from Engineers Australia as part of its Engineering Heritage Recognition Program.{{cite web

| url = https://portal.engineersaustralia.org.au/heritage/red-bridge

| title = Red Bridge

| publisher = Engineers Australia

| access-date = 2020-05-07

}}