The foundations are in and the bridge deck is launching on the Nowra Bridge replacement project.
Senator for NSW Jim Molan said the $342 million project to deliver a new four-lane bridge over the Shoalhaven River, upgraded intersections and additional lanes on the Princes Highway would improve traffic flow and ease congestion through the Nowra-Bomaderry area.
“We are powering ahead on this project, with all 39 pile casings now in place for the new bridge, providing the foundation for the next stage of work,” Senator Molan said.
“These piles were built by vibrating and hammering steel casings through the river bed and into the rock layer deep below the river.
“Excavating and removing river sediment inside the top segment of the pile casings and replacing this with reinforced concrete is continuing.
“This project is proving a game changer for locals, supporting 200 jobs during its construction and delivering valuable skills training and work experience with high levels of Aboriginal, female and youth participation.”
State Member for South Coast Shelley Hancock said four pile caps, four piers, and two of 19 bridge deck segments were now in place over the Shoalhaven River as part of the replacement project.
“The new bridge is being built using a specialised technique known as incremental launching, and the double-T bridge deck segments are being built on site then launched out over the river,” Mrs Hancock said.
“Each double-T bridge deck segment requires 360 cubic metres of reinforced concrete and up to 60 concrete trucks.
“These segments are then incrementally launched across the Shoalhaven River using hydraulic jacks.
“As work powers ahead on this project, we’re seeking feedback via an online questionnaire about the community’s experience with the project team during construction. It can be completed anonymously until Friday, 13 August.”
Other work in coming months will include building the northern end of the new bridge, piling for Bomaderry Creek Bridge, asphalting a new local road named Shearwater Way and installing street lighting, kerb and gutter across the project.
Motorists will soon be driving on a new section of Illaroo Road to allow widening work nearby to continue and the community will be notified of traffic changes in the coming weeks.
The Nowra Bridge is a $342 million project (including planning costs). The Australian and NSW governments have each committed $155 million to jointly fund construction of the new bridge.
Visit the project website for more information at nswroads.work/NowraBridge