Megarritys Bridge is a heritage-listed bridge across the Megarritys Creek, located at Warragamba Dam in the outer south-western

Sydney Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountain ...

suburb of

Warragamba Warragamba is a town in New South Wales, Australia, in Wollondilly Shire. Located on the eastern edge of the Blue Mountains, Warragamba is one and a half hour's drive west of Sydney. The name Warragamba comes from the aboriginal words ''Warra' ...

in the Wollondilly Shire local government area of New South Wales, Australia. It was built by

Metropolitan Water, Sewerage and Drainage Board Sydney Water, formally, Sydney Water Corporation, is a New South Wales Government owned statutory corporation that provides potable drinking water, wastewater and some stormwater services to Greater Metropolitan Sydney, the Illawarra and the B ...

. The bridge is also known as Megarritys Bridge. The property is owned by Water NSW, an

agency Agency may refer to: Organizations * Institution, governmental or others ** Advertising agency or marketing agency, a service business dedicated to creating, planning and handling advertising for its clients ** Employment agency, a business that ...

of the

Government of New South Wales The Government of New South Wales, also known as the NSW Government, is the Australian state democratic administrative authority of New South Wales. It is currently held by a coalition of the Liberal Party and the National Party. The Governmen ...

. It was added to the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999.

History

Megarritys Creek Bridge is a concrete arch bridge spanning Megarritys Creek. The construction of the bridge provided a vital link across the Creek for the operation of the Warragamba Emergency Scheme. While it was designed eventually to carry the No 1 outlet main from Warragamba Dam, for the Emergency Scheme it carried the main from the weir to Prospect Reservoir.

Description

The construction incorporated an arch formwork design using tubular steel scaffolding. It is believed that this was the first instance in NSW of the use of this material for such load carrying purposes.

Modifications and dates

Substantially as designed, but with an increase in height of the crest of with post tensioning anchors undertaken in 1989 as part of interim flood mitigation works.

Heritage listing

As at 22 March 2001, Megarritys Bridge is considered to be of high significance as it serves the function of carrying the major Warragamba pipeline across Megarritys Creek. It is historically associated with the Warragamba Emergency Scheme, and at the time of construction, was one of the largest concrete arch bridges to be built in NSW. It is a unique item of engineering heritage as its design is based on an innovative "bow string" arch design rather than the more common "decked" arch design. Megarritys Bridge was listed on the New South Wales State Heritage Register on 18 November 1999 having satisfied the following criteria. The place possesses uncommon, rare or endangered aspects of the cultural or natural history of New South Wales. This item is assessed as historically rare statewide. This item is assessed as scientifically rare statewide.

References

Bibliography

Attribution

External links

* *{{cite web, url=https://www.waternsw.com.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/55921/Warragamba-Dam-Booklet_WEB1.pdf, isbn=1-876951-12-5, date=December 2015, title=Warragamba, work=Dams of Greater Sydney and Surrounds, publisher=Water NSW New South Wales State Heritage Register Warragamba, New South Wales Bridges in New South Wales Articles incorporating text from the New South Wales State Heritage Register Arch bridges in Australia Concrete bridges in Australia Viaducts in Australia