Molonglo River Bridge will be Canberra’s largest weathering steel bridge project to date – a 200-metre crossing over the region’s largest river.
Jointly funded by the Australian and ACT governments, the $225 million project will provide a critical missing link for the arterial road network.
The project also includes 1.7 kilometres of newly constructed arterial roads, improving connectivity between the growing suburbs of Molonglo and West Belconnen and the rest of Canberra.
Awarded to BMD Constructions, a longstanding customer of Boral, the team has recently made progress by completing a major concrete pour for the 40-metre long headstock.
In a 12-hour operation, Boral delivered 37 trucks of concrete, which was placed by a 47-metre boom operating 15.5 metres above the ground.
The full project scope includes:
- Cast-in-situ substructure and composite weathering steel with reinforced concrete superstructure
- Two abutments each bearing on 8 reinforced concrete piles, measuring 1.5 metres in diameter
- Three 2.5 metre diameter pier columns encased in weathering steel liners, supporting a common 40-metre-wide headstock
- Spans up to 80 metres, with a two-stage deck construction.
- Four separated plank bridges to create a pedestrian underpass
- Twin viewing platforms over Molonglo Valley
- Expanded off-road cycling and shared pedestrian and cyclist paths.
- 1.7 kilometres of new arterial roads and two intersections
- 211,000 cubic metres of cut earthworks with balanced cut/fill management
- On site production of structural treatments for various road materials
- 5 kilometres of drainage, including construction of 290 pits, and 8 kilometres of subsoil drains
- 116 kilometres of conduit through 4 kilometres of shared trench
This project is currently in progress, with the bridge expected to be open to traffic at the end of 2025.
