Neville Hewitt Bridge

The Neville Hewitt Bridge is a road bridge which spans the Fitzroy River in Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. It was officially opened on 16 August 1980.[1]

The Neville Hewitt Bridge is the fourth bridge to be constructed across the river at Rockhampton, following the completion of the original Fitzroy Bridge in 1881, the Alexandra Railway Bridge in 1899 and the second Fitzroy Bridge in 1952.

The bridge was named after long-serving local politician Neville Hewitt who served as the Minister for Lands, Forestry and Water Resources.[2][3]

The Neville Hewitt Bridge currently carries the Bruce Highway across the Fitzroy River, connecting Albert Street in Rockhampton City with Moore's Creek Road in Park Avenue.[1]

Up to 36,000 vehicles use the bridge each day.[4]

However, the Bruce Highway will be diverted upon the completion of the Rockhampton Ring Road, when a new bridge will open upstream to allow vehicles to bypass the city.[5]

There have long been calls from the local community for an additional bridge to be constructed across the Fitzroy River at Rockhampton to ease traffic congestion.[6][7][8]

Significant disruption to the city's traffic network has previously occurred when the Neville Hewitt Bridge has been blocked by various accidents.[9][10]

Though the bridge was built in 1981, local media still describe the Neville Hewitt Bridge as a "new bridge".[11][12][13]

References
  1. Edition Details: The Neville Hewitt Bridge - gateway to the tropics, Queensland Main Roads Department. 1980. Accessed 20 August 2018.
  2. (12 June 1980) Bridge named, page 3, The Canberra Times. Accessed 20 August 2018.
  3. Gately, Michelle (20 July 2016) Neville Hewitt lived life to its fullest, The Morning Bulletin, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  4. Walker, Helen (22 July 2016) Vale Neville Hewitt, Queensland Country Life, Fairfax Media. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  5. Rockhampton Ring Road (Plan and Preserve) Project, Department of Transport and Main Roads website. Accessed 20 August 2018.
  6. Roberts, Alice (30 May 2013) Bridge accident sparks debate, ABC Capricornia, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  7. Taylor, Lea (25 February 2011) Opinion: One chance to get bridge right, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  8. (1 September 2007) Third bridge out of sight, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  9. Robinson, Paul (29 May 2013) Semi-trailer jack-knifes on Rockhampton bridge, ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  10. Robinson, Paul (27 October 2014) Truck crash disrupts Rockhampton traffic, ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  11. (18 August 2014) Traffic backed up to cinemas after crash on new bridge, The Morning Bulletin, APN News & Media. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  12. Jarrett, Vanessa (7 January 2018) Drone footage of crocodile near new bridge, The Morning Bulletin, News Corp Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  13. Jarrett, Vanessa (1 May 2018) Multiple cars involved in pile up on Rocky's new bridge, The Morning Bulletin. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 20 August 2018.

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