Work goes horizontal on the New Dubbo Bridge
The next major milestone for the New Dubbo Bridge project is now underway, with the placement of the first of more than one hundred, 60-tonne girders each spanning almost 34 metres, between the vertical pillars.
Transport for NSW Regional Director West Alistair Lunn said the girder placement was being done using a 60-metre crane, meaning residents can now witness the start of the formation of the bridge deck.
“With the many of the vertical pillars now in place, 123 girders will form the horizontal support for the structure,” Mr Lunn said.
“The girders have been stockpiled onsite, and will be lifted into place between two headstocks, creating the 14-metre width of the new bridge deck.
“The installation process will continue well into 2024, and once they’ve all been placed, concrete can then be poured on top followed by asphalt to complete the bridge deck.
“The girders will eventually connect the eastern side of the Macquarie River from near River Street, over the waterway and the western bank leading into the new intersection at Thompson and Whylandra streets.
“This is a significant phase now underway for the New Dubbo Bridge project, and the community will well and truly see the structure taking shape.”
Considerable progress has also been made in other areas of the project with the completion of gas and telecommunications, sewer, watermain and electrical relocations on track to be completed by mid-2024.
Work over the next three months includes river piling, land piling on the western side of the Macquarie River to Bourke Street, and progressing with pile caps, columns, headstocks and girder placement on the eastern side.
Earthworks on the western side of the Macquarie River are also scheduled to commence in the first quarter of next year.
“It’s exciting to share this process of piecing together the 660-metre bridge structure with the community,” Mr Lunn said.
“The girder placement is a significant milestone in building this legacy project and we’re pleased to round out a successful 2023 with the news that this step in the process is underway.”
The New Dubbo Bridge is being jointly funded by the Australian and NSW governments and is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2026.
It will improve traffic congestion in Dubbo and enhance access across the Macquarie River during flood events.
More information on the project can be found at nswroads.work/dubbo