The Swansea Bridge on the Pacific Highway is an important gateway spanning the entrance to Lake Macquarie between Swansea and Blacksmiths. It provides an alternate route along the Pacific Highway between the Central Coast and Newcastle. It is the only access for large boats and yachts between Lake Macquarie and the Pacific Ocean.
Vehicles and boats
Lake Macquarie is the largest saltwater lake in Australia and four times the size of Sydney Harbour, and plays an important role in the region for diving, boating, leisure and tourism activities.
More than 27,000 road vehicles use the bridge each day. The pedestrian and cycleway paths on both bridges provide both recreational and commuting access.
The bridge opens about 2000 times each year, and around five to six times per day, allowing up to 4500 boats to pass through. The number of openings is significant when you compare Swansea Bridge to other similar opening bridges in NSW eg the Spit Bridge in Sydney opens eight times each day during the summer, allowing more than 100 boats per day to pass, and the Harwood Bridge north of Grafton opens around 200 times a year.
Maintenance program
A program of monthly and bi-annual maintenance is in place to keep the bridges operating effectively. A maintenance program of work has been developed for the coming year to maintain the serviceability and reliability of the bridges.
History of Swansea Bridge
The original channel crossing at Swansea was a drawbridge built in the early 1880s. This was replaced in 1909 with a bridge which incorporated a roadway, later to become the Pacific Highway.
The current crossing has two opening bridges spanning the entrance to Lake Macquarie. The older northbound bridge was opened in 1955 and the second southbound bridge was opened in 1989. Each of the bridges contains two lanes for traffic and provides pedestrian and cycleway access.
Community consultation
The RTA will work with the community to provide information as early as possible to reduce the impacts of closures.
Depending on the maintenance work required, the RTA will advise the local community through:
Letterbox drops.
Advertising in local papers.
Media releases.
Variable message signs on the approaches to the bridge.
Traffic alerts.
Marine community alerts through the Swansea coastguard.
Community displays.
For further information contact the project manager Gavin Jenkins on (02) 4924 0401 or email Gavin_Jenkins@rta.nsw.gov.au.
Further details are available in the Community update.
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