Hampden Bridge history to be preserved

The Hampden Bridge may no longer span the Murrumbidgee River but its place in the city’s history will long be remembered as part of a new Wagga Wagga City Council project.

Work on Council’s Hampden Bridge Legacy Project went into full swing this week when a crane towered the city skyline to lift a number of large lengths of timber into place at the bridge site.

This was the first stage to restoring Abutment A and transforming it into a viewing platform with new seating, handrails, lighting, a replica gas lantern and interpretive signage telling the story of the bridge.

The project will also include landscaping from the carpark area to the Wiradjuri Bridge creating a special riverside space for the community to use and enjoy.

Mayor of the City of Wagga Wagga Councillor Greg Conkey OAM said the work is scheduled for completion in November and promised to be a project many residents would find interesting as it captured the history of the Hampden Bridge.

“The area will tell a story about the history of the bridge, its builders, engineering innovation and how it transformed the city,” Cr Conkey said.

“Detailed new signage will be installed around Abutment A and there will be initiatives for the community to engage and interact with artefacts from the bridge in new and innovative ways.

“It’s also part of the plan to create links with other recreation spaces such as Riverside and the Wiradjuri Walking Track.”

The Hampden Bridge was built in 1895, closed to vehicular traffic in 1995 and demolished in 2014.