New Gateway Bridge pile cap poured, sealed and delivered. March 1 2008

More than 2800 tonnes of concrete were poured today ( 1 March 2008 ) to form the second of two main bridge piers on the duplicate Gateway Bridge as part of the $1.88 billion Gateway Upgrade Project.

Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said this concrete pour, large enough to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool, formed the structural foundation for the second main river pier ( Pier 7 ) of the new Gateway Bridge. “The pier rises from a purpose built island located in the Brisbane River constructed using 120,000 tonnes of rock to house the foundation. A similar pile cap pour occurred at Pier 6, on the southern bank, at Murarrie, in December last year. The pile cap requires over 230 tonnes of steel reinforcement to be cut, laid and tied into formation to ensure the lasting strength and durability of the second Gateway Bridge.

“At more than 3.5 metres high, 20 metres long and 18 metres wide the pile cap is the size of an average house,” Mr Pitt said. Pouring of the concrete pile cap took over 12 hours and required the use of four large truck-mounted concrete pumps. It took extensive planning and pre-construction for the team of steel-fixers, boiler makers, crane crews, surveyors, carpenters, concreters and engineers to prepare for construction of the pile cap.

Queensland Motorways CEO Phil Mumford said construction of the second bridge began on 9 March 2007, with the aim of providing motorists six lanes southbound and six northbound lanes of the two Gateway Bridges by 2011. "When complete, the Gateway Upgrade Project will provide significant benefits to South East Queensland motorists, by improving traffic flow and reducing congestion,” Mr Mumford said. A Queensland Government initiative, the Gateway Upgrade Project is being delivered by Queensland Motorways with design, construction and maintenance by the Leighton Abigroup Joint Venture.

While the full project will not be completed until 2011, progressive stages of the project will see the provision of early benefits to motorists. These progressive openings include the second Gateway Bridge in late 2010, a new section of motorway north to Nudgee Road in mid 2009 and additional lanes south of the river by late 2009.