Narrows Bridge reaches half-way mark

12/7/00
The new Narrows Bridge has officially reached the half-way point across the Swan River.
Leighton Contractors, who are in charge of the $49 million construction, used its innovative 'incremental launch' technique to push the sixth of 12 spans into position.
Transport Minister Murray Criddle, who visited the site for part of today's historic launch, said the project was an engineering masterpiece.
"Our target is to have the bridge open to traffic in February with final completion likely about two months later," Mr Criddle said.
"The bridge duplication allows us to build dedicated bus lanes that will link to similar structures on the Kwinana Freeway which I announced recently.
"This means commuters living in the southern suburbs will have a world-class rapid transit system from South Street, Murdoch to central Perth.
"The existing Narrows Bridge carries more than 155,000 vehicles a day and the new bridge will dramatically reduce the need for merging, making life safer and less frustrating for motorists.
"The buses will operate in their own lanes equipped with safety walls."
Today's 'incremental launch' follows a technique developed in the 1980s in which deck sections are manufactured on shore, hydraulically lifted and pushed outwards. Each 28m concrete span is built in two parts.
The average launch takes approximately eight hours to complete.
Media contact: Doug Cunningham 9321 7333