Bridges

NSW Roads and Maritime Services manage 26 movable span bridges of which 11 are still operational. These bridges were the subject of a recently completed study undertaken jointly by RMS and GHD Newcastle which focused on the components of each bridge for the purposes of detailed heritage assessment, conservation and operational enhancement. The majority of bridges within the study can be broadly categorised as the bascule or vertical lift type. Detailed assessment has led to the recognition of particular subtypes within these broader groupings. This paper explores the international origins of movable span bridges and detail the defining characteristics of these subtypes and suggest a new naming convention for each.