Quarter Mile Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Maribyrnong River Viaduct (also known locally as the Quarter Mile Bridge) caries the Albion–Jacana railway line, Melbourne across the Maribyrnong River
in the western suburbs of Melbourne
, Australia
. It is located near the E.J. Whitten Bridge, and almost 400 metres long (hence the quarter mile name).
It was built in 1927–29 by the Victorian Railways
Construction Branch, being the largest trestle
bridge in Australia when completed in June, 1929. It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register
and employed 200 during construction, with one fatality. The main traffic over the bridge is freight services, but it also carries the Melbourne to Sydney CountryLink
XPT. It is the second highest bridge in the state, only behind the West Gate Bridge
(58 metres). At a height of 180 feet (54.86 m) above the water and 1257 feet (383.13 m) long, it is even higher than the Sydney Harbour Bridge
(52 metres).
Maribyrnong river
The Maribyrnong River rises about 50 km north of Melbourne, Victoria , near Mount Macedon. It flows generally southward and combines with the Yarra River to flow into Port Phillip....
in the western suburbs of Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. It is located near the E.J. Whitten Bridge, and almost 400 metres long (hence the quarter mile name).
It was built in 1927–29 by the Victorian Railways
Victorian Railways
The Victorian Railways operated railways in the Australian state of Victoria from 1859 to 1983. The first railways in Victoria were private companies, but when these companies failed or defaulted, the Victorian Railways was established to take over their operations...
Construction Branch, being the largest trestle
Trestle
A trestle is a rigid frame used as a support, especially referring to a bridge composed of a number of short spans supported by such frames. In the context of trestle bridges, each supporting frame is generally referred to as a bent...
bridge in Australia when completed in June, 1929. It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register
Victorian Heritage Register
The Victorian Heritage Register lists places of cultural heritage significance to the State of Victoria, Australia. It has statutory weight under the Heritage Act 1995 which establishes Heritage Victoria as the permit authority...
and employed 200 during construction, with one fatality. The main traffic over the bridge is freight services, but it also carries the Melbourne to Sydney CountryLink
CountryLink
CountryLink is the operator of passenger rail services in country New South Wales, Australia and into Queensland and Victoria. It is an operating brand of the Rail Corporation New South Wales, a government-owned entity...
XPT. It is the second highest bridge in the state, only behind the West Gate Bridge
West Gate Bridge
The West Gate Bridge is a steel box girder cable-stayed bridge in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It spans the Yarra River, just north of its mouth into Port Phillip, and is a vital link between the inner city and Melbourne's western suburbs with the industrial suburbs in the west and with the city...
(58 metres). At a height of 180 feet (54.86 m) above the water and 1257 feet (383.13 m) long, it is even higher than the Sydney Harbour Bridge
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a steel through arch bridge across Sydney Harbour that carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the Sydney central business district and the North Shore. The dramatic view of the bridge, the harbour, and the nearby Sydney Opera House is an iconic...
(52 metres).