Contract let to build two new railway bridges at Bunbury

20/5/93

John Holland Construction and Engineering Pty Ltd has been awarded a $1.8 million Westrail contract to build two new railway bridges over the Preston River at the Bunbury inner harbour.

The contract is part of a large scale rail infrastructure development taking place at the harbour to improve efficiencies and cater for the future growth of freight traffic.

"The Bunbury inner harbour is the export focus of alumina produced by Alcoa at Pinjarra and Wagerup and by Worsley Alumina at Worsley," Transport Minister Eric Charlton said today.

"The two bridges and modifications to inner harbour track layout will accommodate longer alumina trains, bringing productivity improvements for Westrail and its clients.

"These trains would be up to 1,100 metres long and able to haul up to 5,000 tonnes."

New track works are planned for behind the new Berth C, currently under construction by the Bunbury Port Authority, to cater for future mineral sands traffic.

The two steel bridges were designed by Gutteridge Haskins and Davey Pty Ltd to complement the existing railway bridge.

One will be located parallel to the existing bridge and will have two narrow gauge tracks.  The other, located 200 metres upstream, will be a one track narrow gauge bridge.

Both bridges are also designed to support standard gauge.

The total project will cost nearly $4 million and employ about 15 people.

The Bunbury inner harbour project is part of a $13.5 million Federally-funded rail infrastructure improvement program for the South-West region.

Media contact: Dean Roberts 321 7333 : 222 9595, Pager: 480 9999 (94065)