Stockton Bridge, Concrete road bridge in Newcastle, Australia

Stockton Bridge is a concrete road bridge spanning 1,024 meters across the Hunter River, connecting Newcastle with Stockton. The structure features four vehicle lanes and a dedicated path for bicycles, serving both cars and cyclists daily.

The Newcastle Harbour Crossing Committee formed in May 1955 weighed bridges from Hunter Street and Nobbys Head and an underwater tunnel, all rejected. The Kooragang Island reclamation scheme enabled a route, and construction of the four-lane, 23-span concrete arch bridge began in 1968. Premier Robert Askin opened it on 1 November 1971, replacing the Department of Main Roads car ferry from Wharf Road.

The bridge and Nelson Bay Road form the main road link between Newcastle and the Tilligerry and Tomaree peninsulas in Port Stephens. Its central shared cycleway and footpath, separated from the traffic lanes, lets cyclists and walkers cross the Hunter River between Kooragang and Stockton.

The bridge is easy to cross by car or bicycle with clear sightlines across the river. Expect local traffic during peak commute hours, particularly in early morning and evening.

The 1,024-metre bridge was the longest ever built by the Department of Main Roads when it opened, and the second longest in New South Wales after the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Its 23-span concrete arch design replaced a two-lane vertical-lift proposal and gives 30 metres of clearance over the shipping lane.