The first major bridge girder for the $196 million Ovingham Level Crossing Removal Project has been installed.
Massive 100-tonne steel girders to support the road-over-rail bridge have begun to be lifted into place as part of works to eliminate the level crossing on Torrens Road – a project that’s also supporting 265 full time jobs per year during construction.
The first of 16 bridge girders has been craned into place, with the remainder to be installed over the last months of 2021 and early into 2022.
Federal Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Paul Fletcher, said the Federal Government was providing funding for the project through the Urban Congestion Fund.
“Under the Urban Congestion Fund, we are delivering 182 packages of work nationwide,” Mr Fletcher said.
“The total number of projects that are now completed or underway nationwide is 76.
“By the end of 2022, more than 80 per cent of all packages are expected to be completed or under construction.”
South Australia’s Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Corey Wingard, said the installation is a major milestone as the project continues.
“We’ve already seen ten bridge piers constructed and now these girders will really see the structure start to take shape,” Mr Wingard said.
“An average of 21,300 vehicles pass through this level crossing each day with the boom gates at Torrens Road previously down for approximately 22 per cent of the time during the combined AM and PM peak periods.
“The project will result in a road bridge over the Gawler and Australian Rail Track Corporation Freight train lines, with improvements also being made to the Churchill Road intersection to improve walkability and create a new community open space.
“Once completed, this will eliminate the wait drivers have had to endure every time a train passes through.
“It will cut travel times, improve reliability for buses that use Torrens Road, increase freight productivity and most importantly, it will improve safety.”
The girders have been constructed by South Australian company Bowhill Engineering.
Bowhill also constructed the girders for the Regency Road overpass for the North-South Corridor, Regency Road to Pym Street Project.
Bowhill Engineering Managing Director, Jeremy Hawkes. said moving the 100-tonne, 50m-long girders is a major exercise in logistics.
“We have developed good systems on our manufacturing site and great relationships with heavy transport companies that can safely move these large elements along the public roads from Bowhill, over the Murray River at Blanchetown and into Adelaide from the North,” Mr Hawkes said.
These projects have allowed the company to hire ten new apprentices and to invest in upgrades at its plant in the Murray Mallee.
The Ovingham Level Crossing Project is due to be completed in 2023.
To find out more, please visit www.dit.sa.gov.au.
