The Tashmoo Bridge upgrade is a component of Kempsey Shire Council’s $20.5 million funding received from the NSW Government’s Fixing Country Bridges program. It was one of three similar bridges awarded in a combined package. However, this bridge differed from the others due to its skewed structure, adding complexity to the set-out and precast placement.
The project was situated in a relatively remote area within the LGA, presenting distinct challenges concerning safety, access, and communication. Deliveries of cranes and semi-trailers had to be organised from a location 10km away from the site due to limited on-site space and a lack of turning areas. Moreover, nearby locations experienced significant bushfire events during the project timeline, necessitating continual monitoring to ensure the safety of our workers. To mitigate these challenges, our project team utilised modern satellite communication technology to keep the workers connected to the Project Manager, enabling them to stay informed of the situation and plan the project effectively.
The new bridge was built adjacent to the existing timber structure, which remained open to the public during the construction. Beyond the project site, the Forestry Corporation had ongoing forest logging activities. Consequently, the project team had to effectively manage the continuous interaction between our mobile plant and their heavy haulage operations on a narrow road alignment.
