The toll-free Sydney Gateway has reached another major milestone, with 1 of 2 massive twin arch bridges over Alexandra Canal pushed into place as overall construction ticks past 70% completion on the airport traffic congestion solution.
The twin arch bridges – each made with 1750 tonnes of Aussie steel – together will be wider than the Sydney Harbour Bridge and will eventually have capacity for 100,000 vehicles a day in a new link to the Sydney Airport precinct.
The arch bridges each weigh over 3500 tonnes, are 108 metres long and 26 metres wide.
The first bridge in place required a methodical engineering operation across 15 days to push it safely over the heritage-listed canal.
Work is now underway on site to construct the second twin arch bridge, which is planned to be launched over the canal towards the end of 2023.
Each completed bridge will have 4 lanes and will be easily visible to visitors flying into Kingsford-Smith Airport.
Sydney Gateway is forecast to carry up to 10,000 heavy vehicles per day and will link with the city’s growing motorway network at St Peters, providing a traffic light-free journey from Penrith to the domestic terminals.
For more information visit nswroads.work/sydneygatewaylaunch
Minister for Roads John Graham said:
“Sliding the arch bridge into place across the canal was an impressive piece of engineering and will have a lasting impact on the way motorists access Sydney Airport and the international terminal once completed.
“It has been clear for a long time that a traffic solution was needed to the road network around the airport and I am sure the travelling public look forward to the toll-free Sydney Gateway opening.
“We are proud to say these bridges are made with Australian steel and the construction team can now get on with building the road over the bridge deck.
“Sydney Gateway has created over 5000 jobs, with a lot of the steel and concrete sourced from western Sydney and Newcastle.”