Road Photos & Information: Australian Capital Territory: Science and Nature Loop (Tourist Drive 5)

Road Photos & Information: Australian Capital Territory

Science and Nature Loop (Tourist Drive 5) - Stromlo to Tharwa (Decommissioned)

Statistics:

Length: 85 km (Stromlo to Tharwa: 44 km)
Roads that form the route: State Circle, Adelaide Avenue, Cotter Road, Paddys River Road, Tidbinbilla Road, Tharwa Drive, Monaro Highway, Canberra Avenue, National Circuit & Kings Avenue
Suburbs, Towns & Localities along route: Stromlo, Coree, Paddys River and Tharwa

Route Numbering:

Current: None
Former:

General Information:

ACT Tourist Drive 5 is the Science and Nature loop, taking in attractions such as Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, Deep Space Tracking Station, Cotter Dam, various nature parks and reserves, Lanyon Homestead, Cuppacumbalong and much more.

The route varies from freeway conditions along the Monaro Hwy and Adelaide Ave through to rural back roads along the southwestern part of the route, further away from urban areas.

This section of Tourist Drive 5 features the striking Tharwa bridge over the Murrumbidgee River at Tharwa. Built in 1895, its total length is about 600 feet. Tenders for the bridge closed in March 1894, the lowest by Christopher McClure for the sum of £4469.

The four central timber trusses of ‘Allan-Howe’ type, each of 90 feet span, were flanked on the east by one 30’ and three 35’ timber beam spans, and on the west by one 30’ and two 35’ timber beam spans. Width between kerbs was 15 feet. The super-structure, with a clearance above low water level of about 40 feet, rested on well braced timber piers with long timber piles driven about 20 feet into bouldery gravel. The size of timbers in the trusses: cross beams 15” x 10”, top truss members double 14” x 61/2”, braces 8” x 8” and lower chord members, double 12” x 5”. 1

History:

1895: Construction of Tharwa Bridge. The bridge opening ceremony took place on 27 March, 1895, a day which was declared a public holiday 1
1983: Tharwa Bridge was entered on the Register of the National Estate by the Australian Heritage Commission. 2
1998: Tharwa Bridge was entered on the ACT Heritage Register. 2
2005: Tharwa Bridge was closed due to safety concerns for vehicular traffic and pedestrians. 2
2011: Tharwa Bridge re-opens to traffic, as a result of restoration and partial reconstruction works, which was undertaken by the NSW Roads and Traffic Authority. 2

Stromlo to Tharwa		Tharwa to Stromlo
Preview:	Description:	Preview:	Description:
	Mount Stromlo Road: Cotter Rd (TD5) at the Mt Stromlo Rd junction at Stromlo, January 2014. Image © Paul Rands		Lanyon Homestead: Tharwa Dr (TD5) at the entrance to Lanyon Homestead in Tharwa, June 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: Tourism based RD sign at Stromlo, January 2014. Image © Paul Rands		Approaching Tharwa Bridge: Tharwa Dr at Tharwa approaching Tharwa Bridge over the Murrumbidgee River, June 2013. The mountain in the distance is Mt Tennent. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Cotter Rd at Stromlo (TD5) approaching Picnic Ln, January 2014. Image © Paul Rands		Approaching Tharwa Bridge: Tharwa Dr at Tharwa approaching Tharwa Bridge over the Murrumbidgee River, June 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Picnic Lane: Cotter Rd (TD5) at the Picnic Ln junction at Stromlo, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands		Tharwa Bridge, Tharwa: This photo from 1998 shows the wooden Tharwa Bridge as you enter Tharwa. Image © Paul Rands
	Murrumbidgee River: Cotter Road at Stromlo with the bridge over the Murrumbidgee River in the distance, January 2014. Image © Paul Rands		Tharwa Bridge: Tharwa Dr (TD5) narrows down to a single lane to cross Tharwa Bridge, June 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Traffic Lights: The bridge over the Murrumbidgee River is one lane wide and the approaches have poor visibility, so it's controlled with traffic signals, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands		Tharwa Bridge: The deck of Tharwa Bridge at Tharwa, June 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Traffic Lights: The bridge over the Murrumbidgee River is one lane wide and the approaches have poor visibility, so it's controlled with traffic signal, January 2014. Image © Paul Rands		Naas Road: Corner of Tharwa Dr (TD5), Tidbinbilla Rd (TD5) and Naas Rd at Tharwa, June 2013. Image © Paul Rands
	Murrumbidgee River: Cotter Rd (TD5) as it crosses the Murrumbidgee River at Coree, January 2014. Image © Paul Rands		Approaching Murrumbidgee river: Cotter Rd (TD5) approaching the single lane bridge over Murrumbidgee River at Coree, January 2014. Because of poor visibility, the bridge is controlled by traffic lights. Image © Paul Rands
	Brindabella Road: Cotter Rd (TD5) at the Brindabella Rd junction in Coree. January 2014. Image © Paul Rands		Murrumbidgee River: Cotter Rd (TD5) as it crosses the Murrumbidgee River at Coree, January 2014. Image © Paul Rands
	Cotter River: Cotter Rd (TD5) as it crosses Cotter River at Coree, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands		Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign at Picnic Ln at Stromlo, January 2014. Image © Paul Rands
	Paddys River Road: Beginning of Paddys River Rd (TD5) at Coree, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands		Mt Stromlo Road: Corner of Cotter Rd (TD5) and Mt Stromlo Rd at Stromlo, January 2014. Image © Paul Rands
	Reassurance Directional Sign: RD sign at Coree on Paddys River Rd (TD5), February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Paddys River Road: Paddys River Road (TD5) in the Coree area, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Paddys River Rd (TD5) at Paddys River approaching Discovery Dr, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Tidbinbilla River: Paddys River Rd (TD5) as it crosses Tidbinbilla River at Paddys River, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Tidbinbilla Ring Road: Paddys River Rd at the Tidbinbilla Ring Rd junction at Paddys River, February 2011. TD5 becomes Tidbinbilla Rd beyond this junction. Image © Paul Rands
	Distance Sign: RD sign at Paddys River, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign at Paddys River approaching Corin Rd, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Supplemental Advance Directional Sign: Non-standard supplemental AD sign at Paddys River approaching Corin Rd, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Paddys River: Tidbinbilla Rd as it crosses Paddys River at Paddys River, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Heavy Vehicle Detour: Hand-painted heavy vehicle detour sign at the junction with Point Hut Rd at Paddys River, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	100km/h Unless Otherwise Signposted: Unusual speed limit sign after the Point Hut Rd junction between Paddys River and Tharwa, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Advance Directional Sign: AD sign on Tidbinbilla Rd (TD5) at Tharwa approaching a local lookout, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	2km Winding Road: Tidbinbilla Rd (TD5) as it winds its way into Tharwa village centre, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Intersection Directional Sign: ID sign on Tidbinbilla Rd (TD5) at Tharwa at the local lookout, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Entering Tharwa Village Centre: Tidbinbilla Rd (TD5) as it enters Tharwa village centre, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Naas Road & Tharwa Drive: Tidbinbilla Rd (TD5) at the junction with Tharwa Dr (TD5) and Naas Rd in Tharwa, February 2011. TD5 turns left at this junction. Image © Paul Rands
	Tharwa Bridge: Tharwa Dr (TD5) as it crosses the Murrumbidgee River at Tharwa, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Default Speed Limit Sign: Sign on Tharwa Dr between Tharwa Bridge and Lanyon Homestead indicating the default ACT speed limit, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
	Lanyon Homestead: Tharwa Dr (TD5) at the entrance to Lanyon Homestead, February 2011. Image © Paul Rands
Click here for the continuation of Tourist Drive 5 between Capital Hill and Stromlo Click here for the continuation of Tourist Drive 5 between Tharwa and Hume

1 Canberra's Engineering Heritage, Roads & Bridges
2 Simon Corbell, Member for Molonglo, Media Release, Tharwa Bridge Re-opens for Use - Restoration Project Nears Completion

Last updated: 24-Jan-2017 21:53

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