Road Photos & Information: Queensland: Deception Bay Road, Anzac Avenue, Elizabeth Avenue, Snook Street, Houghton Highway, Deagon Deviation, Braun Street, Sandgate Road, Abbotsford Road, Markwell Street & St Pauls Terrace (State Route 26) - Former Alignment

Road Photos & Information: Queensland

Deception Bay Road, Anzac Avenue, Elizabeth Avenue, Snook Street, Houghton Highway, Deagon Deviation, Braun Street, Sandgate Road, Abbotsford Road, Markwell Street & St Pauls Terrace (State Route 26) - Former Alignment - Hornibrook Highway

Statistics:

Length: 41 km (Former Alignment: 4 km)
Northern Terminus: Bruce Hwy (M1) at Deception Bay
Southern Terminus: Brunswick St (SR15) and St Pauls Tce at Fortitude Valley
Suburbs, Towns & Localities Along The Route: Deception Bay, Rothwell, Kippa-Ring, Clontarf, Brighton, Bracken Ridge, Deagon, Boondall, Virginia, Nundah, Clayfield, Albion, Bowen Hills and Fortitude Valley

Route Numbering:

Current: None

General Information:

State Route 26 connects the Brisbane CBD with the northern suburbs along the shores of Moreton Bay.

The route is a mix of divided and undivided roadway, and features the Ted Smout Memorial Bridge over Bramble Bay, which parallels the remains of the timber bridge that formed the Hornibrook Highway.

Hornibrook Highway:

The Hornibrook Highway was a 294 span, 2684 m long bridge predominately consisting of a timber superstructure (decking, girders, corbels) supported by a reinforced concrete substructure. The bridge deck was covered by a thin layer of asphalt. The bridge which crossed Bramble Bay was built as a toll bridge by the firm M.R. Hornibrook Pty Ltd. The construction of the bridge provided much needed employment during the 'depression' of the 1930's. When it was constructed, the Hornibrook Highway was the longest road viaduct over water in Australia. 1

History:

1932: Work begins on the Hornibrook Highway Bridge. 2
4 October 1935: The Hornibrook Bridge opened to traffic. 1
1975: The forty year toll period ended on the Hornibrook Bridge in 1975, at which time the ownership and maintenance responsibility reverted to Main Roads. In 1979 the Hornibrook Highway was closed pending refurbishing. When closed to traffic, a closer investigation of the Hornibrook Highway was possible. This revealed that deterioration of the bridge was more advanced than previously believed. 1
1977: Construction begins on Houghton Highway bridge. The Houghton Highway bridge was funded entirely by the Queensland Government, and was constructed by Barclay Brothers of Brisbane. 3
1979: Hornibrook Bridge closed to traffic. 7 By the 1960s, traffic had increased significantly and the decision to build a new bridge was made in mid-1974. 3
2019: Deagon Deviation reconstruction extinguishes M1 duplex at Bracken Ridge.

Town to Town		Town to Town
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Gateway Motorway Duplex: Deagon Deviation duplexing with the Gateway Motorway, northbound at Bracken Ridge, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley		Hornibrook Bridge Arch: The Hornibrook Bridge. Since closing to vehicle traffic in 1979, the bridge was a pedestrian and cycle link and popular spot for fishing, but has been demolished as part of the Ted Smout Memorial Bridge construction. Only a small section was retained, which includes the arch pictured. The Hornibrook Bridge consisted of approximately 1800 timber girders, 1999. Image © Paul Rands
	Deagon Deviation Split: SR26 as it splits from the M1 (Gateway Motorway) at Bracken Ridge, March 2009. Image © Rob Tilley		Hornibrook Bridge: Since closing to vehicle traffic in 1979, the bridge was a pedestrian and cycle link and popular spot for fishing, but has been demolished as part of the Ted Smout Memorial Bridge construction. Only a small section was retained, which includes the arch pictured. The Hornibrook Bridge consisted of approximately 1800 timber girders, 1999. Image © Paul Rands

1 Transport and Main Roads, Queensland Roads, Edition 1, Hornibrook Highway Condition Assessment, March 2006
2 John Oxley Library, New Bridge to Redcliffe, 22 Sep 2010
3 Transport and Main Roads, Houghton Highway Fact Sheet 2, June 2007.

Last updated: 26 Oct 2019 22:11

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