The New Dubbo Bridge is set to significantly ease freight and other road congestion through the region, and construction hit a key milestone following the successful installation of all 89 support piles.
The clanging and banging of the piles’ installation travelled over a kilometre from the worksite, with some of the piles surpassing 60 metres in length. Once they’re all filled with concrete construction can commence on the crossing of the 660-metre bridge.
The project has already run over $40 million over budget due to additional piling and earthwork costs, and has been funded to the tune of $263.2 million.
Transport for NSW Director West Alistair Lunn explained why the project’s budget has already ballooned.
“The original bridge design planned for each pile to be installed to an average depth of 40 metres into the ground; however, during test piling, it became evident that poor ground conditions on-site were insufficient to support the bridge as designed,” Lunn says.
“As a result, the piles had to be driven much deeper into the earth and into stronger ground conditions to ensure proper support. This adjustment required the piles to be about 50 per cent longer than originally planned, extending each pile by about 20 metres.
“This additional piling work, coupled with increased earthworks costs, placed great pressure on the project budget, prompting an additional investment of $43 million into the project.”
It is hoped the bridge will also improve access to the Macquarie River in the region, particularly during flood events.
Lunn also offered an update as to where the works currently stand and what the next stages of construction are for the bridge.
“The project team is also in the process of lifting 123 girders into place on top of the piers and these will form the bridge structure,” Lunn says.
“The final steps for the bridge component of the project will be pouring the concrete to form the bridge deck, installing parapets, streetlights and laying the road pavement to complete the bridge ready for traffic.”
“The New Dubbo Bridge will be a wonderful legacy for future generations.”
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