De Burghs Bridge

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title: "De Burghs Bridge" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["bridges-completed-in-1901", "bridges-completed-in-1967", "bridges-in-sydney", "concrete-bridges-in-australia", "lane-cove-river", "road-bridges-in-new-south-wales", "1901-establishments-in-australia", "1967-establishments-in-australia", "1967-disestablishments-in-australia"] topic_path: "geography/australia" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Burghs_Bridge" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox bridge"]

Field	Value
name	De Burghs Bridge
image	DeBurghsBridge-from-GNW.jpg
caption	viewed from the Great North Walk
coordinates
carries	Lane Cove Road (A3)
crosses	Lane Cove River
locale	Macquarie Park, Sydney, Australia
named_for	Ernest de Burgh
owner	Transport for NSW
followed	Fullers Bridge
material	Concrete
length	607 ft
width	96 ft
lanes	3 (north); 3 (south)
builder	Hornibrook
open	15 December 1967
replaces	De Burghs Bridge (first bridge)
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| name = De Burghs Bridge | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = DeBurghsBridge-from-GNW.jpg | image_upright = | alt = | caption = viewed from the Great North Walk | coordinates = | os_grid_reference = | carries = Lane Cove Road (A3) | crosses = Lane Cove River | locale = Macquarie Park, Sydney, Australia | official_name = | other_name = | named_for = Ernest de Burgh | owner = Transport for NSW | maint = | heritage = | id = | id_type = | website = | preceded = | followed = Fullers Bridge | design = | material = Concrete | material1 = | material2 = | length = 607 ft | width = 96 ft | height = | depth = | traversable = | towpath = | mainspan = | number_spans = | piers_in_water = | load = | clearance_above = | clearance_below = | lanes = 3 (north); 3 (south) | life = | architect = | designer = | contracted_designer = | winner = | engineering = | builder = Hornibrook | fabricator = | begin = | complete = | cost = | open = 15 December 1967 | inaugurated = | rebuilt = | collapsed = | closed = | replaces = De Burghs Bridge (first bridge) | replaced_by = | traffic = }}

De Burghs Bridge is a road bridge that carries the Lane Cove Road, part of the A3, across the Lane Cove River in Macquarie Park, Sydney, Australia. The bridge stretches from Macquarie Park in the south to West Pymble in the north.

History

The current De Burghs Bridge is the second bridge with this name to cross the Lane Cove River in this area.

First bridge

| name = Old De Burghs Bridge | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = De Burghs Bridge 1901.jpg | image_upright = 1.4 | alt = Lane Cove Bridge | caption = Opening of old De Burghs Bridge in 1901 | os_grid_reference = | coordinates = | carries = Lane Cove Road | crosses = Lane Cove River | locale = | official_name = | other_name = Lane Cove Bridge | named_for = Ernest de Burgh | owner = | maint = | heritage = | id = | id_type = | preceded = | followed = Fullers Bridge | design = Truss bridge | material = Timber | material1 = | material2 = | length = 298 ft | width = 18 ft | height = | depth = | traversable = | towpath = | mainspan = 165 ft | number_spans = | piers_in_water = | load = | clearance_above = | clearance_below = 100 ft | lanes = | life = | architect = | designer = Ernest de Burgh | contracted_designer = | winner = | engineering = | builder = | fabricator = | begin = | complete = | cost = | open = 22 December 1900 | inaugurated = 23 February 1901 | rebuilt = | collapsed = 1994 (bushfire) | closed = 14 December 1967 | replaces = Older east/west bridge | replaced_by = 2nd De Burghs Bridge | traffic = | references = }}

The first bridge with this name was designed in 1899 by Ernest de Burgh, after whom the bridge is named, and was opened on 23 February 1901. It was situated downstream from the current bridge, within metres at the southern end, and about 20 m away from the current bridge at the northern end. The single De Burgh timber truss bridge was 300 ft in length, the largest truss was 165 ft, the longest timber truss span ever built in Australia.

The old bridge was destroyed by bushfire in January 1994. The northern abutment on the ground is still visible, as are parts of the supporting piers. The new bridge offers a vantage point to view the remnants of the original structure.

Second bridge

The bridge was replaced by two large high-level multi-lane separate concrete bridges, built alongside each other, that opened on 15 December 1967. The current bridge is a six-lane bridge that, unlike the original timber truss, is perpendicular to the river. This demonstrates how far road and bridge building had progressed by the 1960s, as previously it was dictated by the form of the land. One can see how the newer road and bridge is built right over any land formations, in contrast to the winding old road.

De Burghs Bridge is similar in form and function to Roseville Bridge, being a high-level multi-lane bridge replacing a low level, narrow bridge as well as windy approach roads.

De Burghs Bridge is an important part of the A3, a significant north–south artery across metropolitan Sydney which is the next road that connects the northern suburbs and the lower northern suburbs after (to the east of) Pennant Hills Road. The bridge carries three lanes of traffic each way and a pedestrian walkway on either side of the bridge. A plaque placed on the bridge pays tribute to the old bridge. It was placed there in 1988 before the destruction of the old bridge.

Notes

References

References

1. (1907). "Old parish map".
2. (December 1967). "The New De Burghs Bridge". [[Department of Main Roads (New South Wales)#Publication.
3. (25 February 1901). "Ministerial Visit to Ryde". [[Sydney Morning Herald]].
4. (2 March 1901). "The Lane Cove Bridge and the Field of Mars Tram". [[Australian Town and Country Journal]].
5. (1988). "De Burghs Bridge". Bicentennial Plaque affixed to bridge.

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