Between midnight and 3am Sunday morning, a crane capable of lifting 650 tonnes picked up a 60-metre architecturally designed steel bridge, rotated it 90 degrees and placed it on the piers to join the ramp trusses already in position on either side of the highway.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

This will form the new Luke Bowen pedestrian bridge, which will span all eight lanes of the Pacific Highway that will be built as part of the bypass project.

The existing pedestrian bridge is about 30 metres in length and spans the current four lanes of the highway.

The old structure will be dismantled once the new Luke Bowen pedestrian bridge is completed early next year.

The bridge will be the first piece of pedestrian infrastructure to be in use.

The steel truss bridge weighing around 160 tonnes was fabricated at Tomago near Newcastle in 30 metre spans.

Ferrovial Gamuda Joint Venture Senior Project Engineer, Tom Patterson, said many months of detailed planning went into the installation.

“Lifting a structure of that size and weight does not happen by accident, with many people and teams involved in making it possible,” Mr Patterson said.

“To carry out this work safely we had to close the highway to all vehicles for a period early this morning, so we had to make sure we got the main span in place and secured as quickly as possible to minimise disruptions.

“We were a bit worried about the winds which stuck about for a bit longer than expected but we were able to safely pick up the truss and land it in its final position.

“Work will continue on the new bridge as we complete deck pours, install framing and screening and fit it out with handrails and lighting,” he said.