Carriageway supports laid for Bicentennial Road Bridge

Another Gateway Upgrade North project milestone has been realised with the first deck units – 20-tonne concrete road carriageway supports – lifted into place on the new bridge at the Bicentennial Road interchange in north Brisbane.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said installing the bridge deck units represented another major step towards widening the Gateway Motorway from two to three lanes in each direction between Nudgee and the Deagon Deviation.

“There are 13 bridges to be upgraded or constructed as part of the Gateway Upgrade North project and they are a significant part of these works,” Mr Chester said.

Queensland Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said the Bicentennial Road interchange, when completed, would have more than a kilometre of bridge deck units installed, weighing more than 1000 tonnes.

“To date, more than 600 cubic metres of concrete have been used in bridge construction at Bicentennial Road, including for piles, columns, headstocks and abutment works,” Mr Bailey said.

Queensland Minister for Transport and Member for Sandgate Stirling Hinchliffe said in addition to these major road safety and efficiency improvements, the upgrade was driving job creation.

“Over 1000 direct jobs will be supported over the life of the Gateway Upgrade North project, with workers employed across a number of trades and professions including engineering, surveying, rigging, concreting and crane operations,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

Federal Member for Petrie Luke Howarth said the bridge deck units were the first of more than 100 to be fitted at the Bicentennial Road interchange, and the first installed in the Gateway Upgrade North project.

“Bridge works across the project will continue until late 2018, and this milestone shows we are closer to alleviating congestion for all road users on this section of motorway," Mr Howarth said.

Member for Nudgee Leanne Linard said the Gateway Upgrade North project was jointly funded with the Australian Government contributing up to $914.18 million and the Queensland Government contributing $228.54 million.

“The Gateway Upgrade North project involves: widening 11.3 kilometres of the motorway, upgrading three interchanges at Nudgee, Bicentennial Road and the Deagon Deviation, and installing 13 kilometres of off-road shared-user paths,” Ms Linard said.

“This is a great example of the Federal and Queensland Governments working in partnership, delivering vital infrastructure and creating jobs in Brisbane’s north.”

A timelapse video of the bridge deck units being installed can be viewed at: http://youtu.be/YNCj_Rvq75Y

For more information about the Gateway Upgrade North project: www.gatewayupgradenorth.com.au

ENDS 

Media Contact:  Amy Hunter 0423 651 484