Batman Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Batman Bridge is a modern bridge spanning the Tamar River in northern Tasmania
. The bridge is on the Batman Highway
connecting the West Tamar Highway
(state route A7) to the East Tamar Highway
(state route A8). The eastern end of the bridge is located at Whirlpool Reach, George Town Council
and the western end is located about halfway between Kayena and Deviot
, West Tamar Council. The bridge overlooks the Deviot Sailing Club
and is named after John Batman
, Launceston
businessman and co-founder of Melbourne
.
in Australia
and among the first such bridges in the world. The main span is 206 metres (675.9 ft) long, suspended from a 91 metres (298.6 ft) high steel A-frame tower. The deck is 10.3 metres (33.8 ft) wide. The tower is constructed on the west bank of the Tamar river, on a solid dolerite
rock base which carries 78% of the weight of the main span. The length of the bridge is 432 metres between abutments. The east bank is soft clay not capable of supporting a bridge. A causeway carries the highway across this softer base, supported by four piers built on piles driven up to 18 metres (59.1 ft) into the clay. The bridge deck is constructed of steel which is lighter than concrete, but required much more welding on site during construction.
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
. The bridge is on the Batman Highway
Batman Highway
Batman Highway is a two-lane rural highway in northern Tasmania. The highway links the East Tamar and West Tamar Highways via the Batman Bridge and provides the only crossing of the Tamar River north of the city of Launceston. The highway also serves traffic from the West Tamar area to the port of...
connecting the West Tamar Highway
West Tamar Highway
The West Tamar Highway is a highway in Tasmania, Australia. It covers the western edge of the Tamar River, from Launceston to the beach town of Greens Beach.It is labelled as state route A7.-External links:*...
(state route A7) to the East Tamar Highway
East Tamar Highway
The East Tamar Highway is a highway in Tasmania, Australia. It covers the eastern edge of the Tamar River, from Launceston to the lighthouse at Low Head.It is labelled as state route A8.-External links:*...
(state route A8). The eastern end of the bridge is located at Whirlpool Reach, George Town Council
George Town Council
The George Town Council is a Local Government Area of the state of Tasmania in Australia. It covers George Town and the surrounding area.In 2006, George Town had the highest birth rate in Tasmania, with a TFR of 3.75 children per women....
and the western end is located about halfway between Kayena and Deviot
Deviot
Deviot is* a village in West Tamar Council, Tasmania, Australia* a character in Power Rangers...
, West Tamar Council. The bridge overlooks the Deviot Sailing Club
Deviot Sailing Club
The Deviot Sailing Club is situated halfway between Launceston and Low Head on the Tamar River. The club rooms are on the west side of the river just south of the Batman Bridge....
and is named after John Batman
John Batman
John Batman was an Australian grazier, businessman and explorer who is best known for his role in the founding of a settlement which became Melbourne and the colony of Victoria.-Life:...
, Launceston
Launceston, Tasmania
Launceston is a city in the north of the state of Tasmania, Australia at the junction of the North Esk and South Esk rivers where they become the Tamar River. Launceston is the second largest city in Tasmania after the state capital Hobart...
businessman and co-founder 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...
.
Design features
Built between 1966 and 1968, it was the first cable-stayed bridgeCable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
in 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...
and among the first such bridges in the world. The main span is 206 metres (675.9 ft) long, suspended from a 91 metres (298.6 ft) high steel A-frame tower. The deck is 10.3 metres (33.8 ft) wide. The tower is constructed on the west bank of the Tamar river, on a solid dolerite
Diabase
Diabase or dolerite is a mafic, holocrystalline, subvolcanic rock equivalent to volcanic basalt or plutonic gabbro. In North American usage, the term diabase refers to the fresh rock, whilst elsewhere the term dolerite is used for the fresh rock and diabase refers to altered material...
rock base which carries 78% of the weight of the main span. The length of the bridge is 432 metres between abutments. The east bank is soft clay not capable of supporting a bridge. A causeway carries the highway across this softer base, supported by four piers built on piles driven up to 18 metres (59.1 ft) into the clay. The bridge deck is constructed of steel which is lighter than concrete, but required much more welding on site during construction.
