1200-tonne crane to build Tin Can Bay Rd bridge on Gympie Bypass

The largest hydraulic crane on Australia’s east coast is being brought in for a special job on the $1 billion Gympie Bypass extension of the Bruce Highway.

A 1200-tonne hydraulic cfrane, the largest on Australia’ east coast, is being brought in to help build a bridge across Tin Can Bay Rd for the Gympie Bypass. Pictures: Josh Preston

The big guns are being called in for the $1 billion Gympie bypass.

A 1200-tonne hydraulic crane, the largest on Australia’s east coast, will be brought in to lift 48 concrete girders as part of construction of a new bridge across Tin Can Bay Rd for the Bruce Highway extension.

The precast girders will be driven up the Bruce Highway from Brisbane, before being diverted along Brisbane Rd, Cootharaba Rd and Tin Can Bay Rd to Lockhart Rd at Victory Heights.

Wide Bay MP Llew O’Brien said the “sheer size” of these girders meant oversized vehicle permits would be needed “to minimise disruption to road users”.

The first half of the girders will be brought in during the nine-day stretch between Monday August 30 and Tuesday September 7.

The trucks will be on the road between midnight and 6am.

The girders for the bridge will be brought up between midnight and 6am from Monday August 30 to Tuesday September 7, except on Friday and Saturday. Photo: TMR.

They will not be driving on the Friday or Saturday.

Once on-site the girders will be unloaded at night using a 200-tonne crane and stored.

The remaining girders will be delivered in late September to late October.

“Once all the girders have arrived, the construction crews will set up a 1200-tonne hydraulic crane … and the girders will be installed overnight during the course of a month, weather permitting,” Mr O’Brien said.

“The equipment used in these works show the sheer scale of the Section D Gympie bypass project, and highlight what a landmark project this is, not just for the Gympie region but through opening up opportunities for all of Wide Bay and Queensland.

“In addition to building a stronger road network and saving lives on the Bruce Highway, these roadworks are already benefiting Wide Bay by supporting 576 jobs throughout construction.”

Four dozen of the precast concrete girders will be needed to build the bridge.

Due to these works, temporary traffic changes will be in place at Tin Can Bay Rd, Victory Heights, and as work progresses between Sandy Creek Rd and Curra, drivers should also be aware that changes are being made to Harvey Siding Rd, Tamaree Rd, Bannister Rd, and the intersection of North Deep Creek Rd and Sandy Creek Rd.

Electronic signs will be in place to alert drivers to roadworks including changes to line marking and signage, trimming of vegetation to improve visibility, and speed limit reductions on roads where increased construction traffic, including heavy vehicles are expected.

Traffic control will also be in place during the work to ensure the safety of road users and construction workers.

The Bruce Highway Cooroy to Curra Section D four-lane project, the Gympie bypass, is expected to be complete by mid-2024, weather permitting, and is jointly funded by the Australian Government contributing $800 million and the Queensland Government $200 million.