History
A timber Allan truss with a lift span, completed in 1901, the Hinton Bridge spans over the Paterson River. A growth in settlement in the area created a need for better roads and the provision of permanent bridges to span rivers. The Hinton Bridge provided improved access between Morpeth and Hinton, and provided for the growth of areas to the north.
In 2000, the bridge was placed on the Heritage Council of NSW’s State Heritage Register. Of the 37 Allan trusses remaining, the Hinton Bridge was ranked fifth in terms of heritage significance, and was ranked eleventh of the 82 remaining timber truss bridges in NSW.
The bridge is historically significant in the development of the NSW road network and more specifically in the development of the road network in the Hinton-Morpeth area. It holds technical significance being one of only seven timber truss bridges with a lift span in the State. Hinton Bridge is representative of some of the major technological developments made in timber truss design at that time.
Why were these works undertaken?
The Hinton Bridge was one of the bridges targeted for restoration in the Hunter Region.
The trusses and lift span had deteriorated to the extent that the load carrying capacity of the bridge had been considerably reduced. The bridge was restricted to a 15 tonne load limit and to one lane operation under traffic signals.
The rehabilitation and strengthening works will ensure that Hinton Bridge operates as a road bridge for general access traffic. The deck of the truss spans have been replaced with stress laminated timber decking and the approach spans were replaced with a concrete timber composite deck. This will ensure routine maintenance on the bridge and the need for replacement timber are reduced to a minimum, and importantly, the heritage value of the bridge is retained.
Bridge details
A 13 span timber girder and Allan truss bridge with a steel lift span. It comprises a steel lift span (17.8 metres) and lift towers flanked by two Allan timber trusses, each 28 metres in length.
There are seven timber beam approach spans at the western (Morpeth) end and three at the eastern (Hinton) end, giving the bridge a total length of 178.6 metres. From Abutment A, the Morpeth end, spans are counted from 1 to 13 to the Hinton end, Abutment B.
The bridge deck is 14.3 metres above the high water line and the lift span, when raised had a further 7.9 metres of clearance.
The load limit was lifted on the bridge when the work on the bridge restoration was completed on 17 November 2006.
There are seven timber beam approach spans at the western (Morpeth) end and three at the eastern (Hinton) end, giving the bridge a total length of 178.6 metres. From Abutment A, the Morpeth end, spans are counted from 1 to 13 to the Hinton end, Abutment B.
The bridge deck is 14.3 metres above the high water line and the lift span, when raised had a further 7.9 metres of clearance.
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