Fulton Hogan brings in Gundagai bridge six months early

— filed under: Projects, Print Edition

Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Anthony Albanese, opened the new $78m Sheahan Bridge over the Murrumbidgee River at Gundagai on May 25.

It duplicates a 1.1km long, two lane, steel box girder bridge, which has rambled across the flood plain for 32 years carrying more than 20 million tonnes of road freight a year.
Duplication for the RTA by Fulton Hogan Pty Ltd, began in November 2007, employed up to 180 people, and was completed six months ahead of schedule. Fulton Hogan will now carry out works on the road approaches to the existing Sheahan Bridge. The RTA will also carry out essential maintenance work on the existing bridge until September, after which both bridges will operate as separate carriageways for the first time.
Albanese said, Together with the Coolac Bypass, which is due to open in the next few weeks, this project will complete the duplication of the Hume Highway between Sydney and the Sturt Highway turnoff to Wagga Wagga and points west.
The duplication of the Hume Highway to four lane divided carriageway is due to be finished by 2012, nearly a quarter of a century after the then NSW Department of Main Roads proposed it as a Bi-centenary project, to be completed by 1988. But politicians in 1984 would not accept the true cost of the duplication. (Earthmover and Civil Contractor, March 2009, page 32.)
Now NSW Minister for Roads Michael Daley acknowledges that the RTA, has done a fantastic job making sure this major infrastructure project is delivered on time and on budget. Constructing a bridge of this length over a floodplain is no easy feat its one that required huge amounts of materials and resources.

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Fulton Hogan brings in Gundagai bridge six months early

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