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In total the three sets of twin bridge structures will stretch about 800m through the steep Sugarloaf Range and will vary in height from 34m to 42m from the valley floor.
The bridges will be constructed using a cantilever method. The vertical piers will be built first and from the top of each pier a box girder will be placed reaching out to its neighboring pier cantilevering one section at a time, until the girders meet mid span.
The long span bridges will help reduce impact on the surrounding environment and nearby aboriginal heritage listed sites.
Foundations for the first bridge, which will stretch about 200m over Blue Gum Creek, have been laid and completion of the vertical piers will follow.
The Hunter Expressway project involves building 40km of four lane divided road linking the F3 Freeway near Seahampton and the New England Highway, west of Branxton. It is scheduled to open to traffic in 2013.
The $1.7 billion Hunter Expressway project is jointly funded, with the federal government providing $1.5 billion and the NSW government contributing up to $200 million.
This article first appeared in ILN's sister publication ConstructionIndustryNews.net.
