Two bridges being built as part of the Parkes Bypass project are taking shape, as massive girders to support the bridge decks are lifted into place.
The $287.2 million Parkes Bypass project will feature five key intersections and two new bridges, including one over Hartigan Avenue and the rail corridor and a second over the bypass on Victoria Street.
Preliminary work including construction of the abutments, or bridge ends, at either end of the bridges is now nearing completion and two cranes will be mobilised to the bypass site to lift six girders into place at each of the bridges.
Each of the 60-tonne girders will be hoisted high in the air and lowered into place on the bridge supports this week.
These girders, to be installed near the northern end of the bridge add to the 30 girders lifted into place in October 2023.
Once the cranes are set up, a 600-tonne crane will pass the girders one-by-one to the 750-tonne crane so they can be installed between the northern abutment and the next pier.
The process will be repeated on November 5, when one of the cranes is again used to lift six more girders into place for the new Victoria Street Bridge.
Federal Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King said: “All the pieces of the Parkes Bypass project are continuing to come together to ensure the Newell Highway is upgraded to be a safer and more efficient major inland transport route through the centre of New South Wales.
“The Newell Highway contributes to the competitiveness of Australia’s agricultural and mining sectors by enabling access to essential freight networks not only in NSW, but also Victoria and Queensland.”
When completed, the 10.5-kilometre bypass on the western outskirts of Parkes will reduce travel time, improve freight productivity and efficiency on the Newell Highway, improve pedestrian access through Parkes and benefit traffic flow in and around the town.
NSW Regional Transport and Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison added: “These upgrades are vital to better connect our regional communities and improve efficiency on one of our busiest regional routes.
“It will be a spectacular sight as these crucial links in the Parkes Bypass of the Newell Highway comes together, as we move closer to delivering this key regional project with the Australian Government.”
The Australian Government is contributing $229.7 million towards this project, with the NSW Government contributing the remaining $57.4 million.
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