July 17th, 2023New Bridgewater bridge concrete facility expected to boost jobs
A new purpose-built pre-cast concrete production facility, that will produce more than 1,000 segments needed to build the new Bridgewater Bridge, has opened in Bridgewater, Tasmania.
Major construction is already underway on the $786 million Bridgewater Bridge, the biggest transport infrastructure project in Tasmania’s history.
Over the next 18 months, the facility will produce the 1,082 concrete bridge segments that will form the deck of the 1.2-kilometre-long new Bridgewater Bridge.
Each weighing between 50 and 90 tonnes and measuring 15 metres wide, the segments will be cast from five moulds and stored on site before being transported two kilometres down the road to the construction site, where they will be lifted into place on the new structure.
At peak production, the facility will produce up to five bridge segments each day, employing about 90 people, and will remain in place following the completion of the project for use on future projects in the state.
Construction of the project’s temporary bridge is due to be completed next month, with work underway to build the bridge abutments on the northern and southern shores, and the first of 42 concrete bridge piles to be poured in coming weeks.
The $786 million project is jointly funded by the Australian and Tasmanian governments, with the Australian Government committing $628.8 million and the Tasmanian Government $157.2 million.
Traffic is expected to be driving on the new bridge by the end of 2024, with the overall project complete early in 2025.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government and Member for Ballarat Catherine King: “The Australian Government is pleased to be co-funding this much-needed bridge replacement, improving safety, streamlining passenger and freight travel, as well as providing employment opportunities for the construction of this and future bridges.
“Upskilling and employing locals on a project of this size and scale will provide improved job and career opportunities for Tasmanians.”
