After just 18 months of construction, the Pacific High-way Banora Point project is taking shape with the installation of seven support beams last week as part of the southbound bridge over Minjungbal Drive.
Federal Member for Richmond, Justine Elliot, was on site to inspect the works.
“This project is going from strength to strength – it has created 420 jobs for the region, including the seven indigenous cadets that graduated from their traineeships on the project last week. Now, the installation of these beams shows just how well this project is tracking,” Ms Elliot said.
“These girders are an important sign that all our hard work is paying off. The sheer size of the supports now stands as a reflection of the massive project we are undertaking.”
The seven massive support beams, called ‘super-T girders’, support the bridge’s deck and were installed overnight on Tuesday July 26 and Wednesday July 27.
State member for Tweed, Mr Provest said the idiosyncrasies of the project design meant a specialised approach was required to deliver the bridge works.
“The girders were built in Macksville with each girder stretching between 30 and 40 metres long and weighing between 60 and 90 tonnes,” Mr Provest said.
“Installing them was a huge task – a 450 tonne crane had to be used with a 160 tonne counterweight to lift each girder into place.”
Highway traffic is expected to be using this new southbound bridge later this year, weather permitting.
The Gillard Labor Government is providing $347 million of the total $359 million project cost with the NSW government contributing the remaining $12 million in funding.
The project is due to be completed by late 2012.
