Gairloch Bridge, Road bridge in Ingham, Queensland, Australia.
Gairloch Bridge is a road crossing over the Herbert River in Ingham that carries traffic across 14 spans. Each span measures roughly 14 meters long and 4.8 meters wide with steel trough decking that can withstand complete submersion during flood events.
Built between 1890 and 1891, the bridge was the first design project of engineer Alfred Barton Brady, who would later become Queensland's Government Architect. This early work demonstrated the technical ability that would define his career.
The bridge connected farming communities in the Herbert River valley to ports downstream, playing a key role in moving agricultural goods to market. It represented the growing infrastructure needs of the sugar industry at that time.
The bridge is built to handle regular flood conditions with its low-level design that allows water to pass directly over it. Visitors crossing during normal water levels will notice the sturdy steel construction supporting the roadway above.
The bridge ranks among Queensland's earliest examples of using Portland cement concrete for piers and abutments rather than traditional timber methods. This material choice proved crucial for durability in the region's humid tropical climate.
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