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Swan River Pedestrian Bridge work underway

Nearly 200 local workers are now working on the bridge, after the previous subcontract with an international firm to fabricate the bridge components was terminated.

Nearly 200 local workers are now working on the bridge, after the previous subcontract with an international firm to fabricate the bridge components was terminated.Work has now begun on the Swan River Pedestrian Bridge in Perth, following the termination of the previous subcontract with an international firm to fabricate the bridge components.

In August, Henderson-based company Civmec was awarded the contract to build key components of the $83 million Swan River Pedestrian Bridge in Perth after the previous subcontract with Toyota Tsusho was terminated.

A statement from WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti in August said the subcontract was terminated after Toyota Tsusho failed to deliver bridge components within the repeatedly extended deadlines.

This October, Premier Mark McGowan and Ms. Saffioti visited some of the 110 steel workers based at Civmec’s fabrication workshop in Henderson.

Civmec is undertaking the steel fabrication that will form the bridge arches, while other local suppliers such as Fremantle Steel are building the deck.

Other workers included in the Swan River Pedestrian Bridge Alliance – led by York Rizzani Joint Venture – are based at the East Perth site.

“We inherited a project that was riddled with delays and a contract that gave us no control over the delivery of the bridge – bringing it back onshore has offered us more certainty,” said Ms. Saffioti in a statement.

As Civmec produce the modules for the arches, they will be progressively transported to the laydown area in East Perth where the three arches will be assembled. All modules – 50 for the arches and 24 for the deck – are anticipated to be delivered to the laydown area by the end of the year.

Approximately 2,172 tonnes of steel is being used to build the bridge, with local manufacturing costs for the steel estimated at $25 million, according to the statement from the state government.

“Assembly details and a new site laydown location are being finalised adjacent to the Swan River in Burswood, while construction work is continuing on the bridge approach ramps in East Perth,” said Ms. Saffioti.

“I have been impressed with the determination and tenacity of local industry and workers to expedite this project as we approach the target completion date of March 2018.

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