John Whitton Bridge | |
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John Whitton Bridge, looking south in September 2007 | |
Coordinates | 33°49′S151°05′E / 33.82°S 151.09°E /-33.82; 151.09 |
Carries | Main Northern railway line |
Crosses | Parramatta River |
Locale | Meadowbank,New South Wales, Australia |
Begins | Meadowbank (north) |
Ends | Rhodes (south) |
Named for | John Whitton |
Owner | Transport Asset Holding Entity |
Maintained by | Transport for NSW |
Followed by | Meadowbank Bridge (former rail bridge) |
Characteristics | |
Design | Boxgirder |
Material | Steel |
Pier construction | Concrete |
No. of spans | 5 |
Piers in water | 4 |
Rail characteristics | |
No. oftracks | 4 |
Track gauge | 4 ft 8+1⁄2 in (1,435 mm)standard gauge |
History | |
Construction start | 1952 |
Construction end | 1980 |
Opened | May 1980 (1980-05) |
Replaces | Meadowbank Bridge (former rail bridge) |
Location | |
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TheJohn Whitton Bridge is arailway bridge that carries theMain Northern railway line across theParramatta River, located between theSydney suburbs ofRhodes andMeadowbank.
The original double track Meadowbank Bridge opened on 17 September 1886 as part of the construction of theMain Northern railway line. It was alattice truss bridge designed byJohn Whitton, the Chief Engineer of theNew South Wales Government Railways.[1] In 2000, the original bridge was refurbished and reopened forbike and pedestrian use.[2]
As part of plans to quadruple the Main North line, construction commenced on a new bridge to the west of the existing structure. The concrete piers were completed in 1952, before the project was cancelled. Work resumed in the 1970s, with a two-trackbox girder bridge opening in May 1980. The piers were extended to allow for a further two tracks to be built in the future.[1] The new bridge was named after John Whitton.