Blanchetown Bridge

The new $17 million Blanchetown Bridge across the River Murray has begun to take shape with the launching of the deck across the river.

The first stage of the incremental launching of the structure of the new bridge began last week when 500 tonnes of concrete decking was propelled across the river by a pair of 500-tonne stressing jacks.

The bridge will replace the current 31-year-old structure, which was found to be unable to withstand the weight of B-double semi-trailers.

Adelaide-based construction company York Civil is the major contractor working on the project, which is funded by the Federal Government under the National Highway Initiative.

Work began on the new structure just over a year ago and it is expected that it will be finished by late October.

The deck of the bridge will be made of 17 sections. About once a week during this part of the construction process one complete section of the bridge will be launched from the Waikerie side of the river towards the eight piers that will support the finished bridge.

The first section launched will reach the opposite abutment by late September.