page_title: Tharwa Bridge
section_title: Maintenance and closures
hierarchical_section_title: Tharwa Bridge / Maintenance and closures
caption_attribution_description: English: Allen Truss bridge at Tharwa, Australian Capital Territory
context_page_description: Tharwa Bridge is a four span Allan truss bridge that provides a high-level crossing point across the Murrumbidgee River, allowing traffic between Canberra and Tharwa village. It is the oldest surviving bridge in the Australian Capital Territory.
context_section_description: An engineering assessment of the bridge was undertaken in 1978 by structural engineering firm Hardcastle & Richards, which resulted in some upgrades. However, the bridge subsequently deteriorated.
  The bridge was closed in April 2005 when a routine inspection identified extensive wood rotting (caused by termites) of a number of critical, structural elements of the bridge.  During July and August 2005, Tharwa Bridge was strengthened with bailey panels to provide a temporary crossing for vehicles up to five tonne.  This arrangement was to have been in place until 2008.
  In September 2006 ACT Roads advised that the Tharwa Bridge would be closed for three months, and later announcing the bridge was to be closed for an indefinite period. Barriers were put in place to close off the bridge to road, cycle and pedestrian traffic. Traffic for was diverted north to Point Hut low level crossing. In the event of that crossing being closed due to flooding, the only other high level bridge in the area is at the Cotter.
  In October 2006 the ACT Government announced its decision to construct a single lane concrete bridge with a pedestrian walkway adjacent to the existing bridge. Construction was intended to begin in 2007, however this plan was abandoned in favour of a decision to restore the old bridge, with construction getting underway in April 2008.
  The bridge was reopened in August 2008 to light traffic less than 5 tonnes.
  The second phase of the project was completed in February 2010 with the foundations improved to withstand major flooding.  The third and final phase of the restoration involved further closure of the bridge to public use to allow for replacement of the timber trusses, new timber deck, and steel railings.  The bridge was re-opened to the public on 24 June 2011, with work ongoing and was completed in September 2011.
  Again in 2018 the bridge closed for annual maintenance work, this closed the bridge for three consecutive days. The bridge was closed from  Wednesday 18 July until Friday 20 July 2018 between the hours of 9 am and 3.30 pm, weather permitting. The maintenance included tightening the bridge’s decking and trusses, as weather conditions over the last year may have caused them to contract or expand.
caption: Looking at the Tharwa Bridge, showing the single lane
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