Convict-era bridge uncovered in upgrade of major Brisbane road
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Feb 19, 2018
Convict-era bridge uncovered in upgrade of major Brisbane road
Workers on Brisbane's Kingsford Smith Drive have made the "surprise discovery" of a convict-era bridge, and work is now underway to determine how best to preserve the important historic relic.
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Image: Brisbane City Council.Workers on the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade in Brisbane have discovered the remains of one of the first bridges built in Queensland.
Workers upgrading Kingsford Smith Drive, one of the busiest roads in Brisbane, have uncovered a bridge dating back to the 1860s.
The "surprise discovery" has council working closely with the state government to determine how best to preserve the historic bridge, said Amanda Cooper, infrastructure chairman, in a statement from the lord mayor's office.
Cooper provided a description of the relic and its historic significance.
"Large timber beams stacked on top of each other have been uncovered beneath the surface of the road, which archaeological investigations have determined was a bridge structure from the 1860s.
"The discovery provides a glimpse into the evolution of the road and its fascinating past, after the Eagle Farm settlement was established in 1829 and when Hamilton Road – now known as Kingsford Smith Drive – was originally constructed between 1829 and 1830.
"The original road was built by convict women in the late 1820s, and was cut from rock along the riverside, providing a connection between the Moreton Bay convict settlement (now known as Brisbane’s CBD) the women’s prison at Eagle Farm, as well as farming land.
"With only horse-drawn buses and trams originally using the road, Kingsford Smith Drive has undergone several physical transformations over its 188-year history," she said.
A small section of the structure will have to be removed to allow for the road upgrade to continue. That section will be preserved, potentially along the new corridor, while the remainder of the structure will be covered and preserved in place.
The upgrade of Kingsford Smith Drive has been dubbed 'A new gateway to Brisbane' and will involve widening and improving sections of the road. It is said the upgrade will deliver commuters time savings of up to 30 per cent.
Read more about the upgrade of Kingsford Smith Drive.
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