A major milestone was achieved on the $196 million Ovingham Level Crossing Removal Project in November with the installation of the first two bridge girders.

The Ovingham Level Crossing Removal Project, jointly funded (50:50) by the Australian and South Australian governments, is creating 265 jobs per year during construction.

The PTP Alliance is made up of the South Australian government, McConnell Dowell, Mott MacDonald and Arup.  

On Monday, 22 November 2021, the first two Torrens Road bridge girders were installed using a 750-tonne crane, onto the newly constructed concrete piers and abutment.

There are 16 bridge girders in total which are being fabricated by local South Australian company, Bowhill Engineering.

The bridge girders are transported on trucks from Bowhill to the project site. Each girder weighs between 35 to 102 tonnes, with all 16 girder segments weighing approximately 1330 tonnes in total.

Bridge girders will be delivered and installed in pairs from November 2021 to mid-February 2022.

Once all bridge girders are in position, site works will continue on the bridge to complete the overpass before opening for public access in the second quarter 2022.

McConnell Dowell is pleased to announce the award of the design and construction of the Warkworth Pump Station for Watercare Services Limited. 

This project continues to build on McConnell Dowell’s extensive track record in the construction of wastewater infrastructure in New Zealand. Our solution features the use of an innovative caisson sinking methodology to construct the pump station and storage tank. This construction method was successfully used on our recent Glen Eden project.

The scope of works includes construction of a new Wastewater Pump Station located in Lucy Moore Memorial Park, Warkworth. The pump station is designed to be a wet well / dry well facility and includes:

• an above ground structure approximately 4.4m high, 9.2m long and 4m wide
• belowground structures including inlet chamber, gantry crane, drywell, wet well and emergency storage to a depth of approximately 12m.
• an overflow pipe from the pump station to the existing stormwater pond
• ancillary above ground structures, including odour control (biofilter), standby generator, transformer, flowmeter chamber and welfare facilities; and
• an access road and carpark

Construction started in September 2021 and is scheduled for completion in 2023.

Early contractor involvement has begun at Auckland City Hospital for our newest client, Auckland District Health Board (ADHB).  

Preparatory works for the Auckland District Health Board (ADHB) Utilities and Service Diversion Project are underway in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland. And the team is gearing up to begin service diversion and piling works.    

The enabling works portion of this two-part contract will draw heavily on our knowledge of deep-foundation construction. Effective management of the piling work will be key as the work will occur in a complex stakeholder environment. 

McConnell Dowell has a proud history in building vertical structures around the globe and has successfully delivered a number of projects for hospitals across Australia.  

Work on this project involves:  

• Construction for new electrical and three-waters services  
• Live service connections 
• Demobilisation and removal of old utilities 
• Installation of 115 retention piles and a concrete capping beam 

Learn more about the project here

On Stage 3 of the Echuca-Moama Bridge Project with client, Major Road Projects Victoria, we’ve recently clocked up 500,000 work hours. It’s an ideal time to reflect on the positive team spirit we’ve harnessed on site during these challenging times. It’s also a time to appreciate the contribution of McConnell Dowell’s young team of recent graduates, which includes site engineer Ashlee Othen.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Honours) and Bachelor of Finance
in 2018, Ashlee put her skills to work by participating in the McConnell Dowell Graduate Program, which enabled her to work in varied roles and locations on projects such as Melbourne’s Swanson Dock Upgrade and Adelaide’s Regional Bridges Project. She completed this program in 2020 and started on the Echuca-Moama Bridge Project site early this year.

Ashlee says she calls Adelaide, “home”, but admits, working in this ‘neck of the woods’ has been a highlight.

“I love this regional location, and I’m enjoying working with a young team, as we learn together and support each other through the many facets of this major infrastructure project.”

According to Ashlee, she’s been sharpening her skills in the areas of problem-solving and onsite management.

“I’ve faced challenges which I’ve overcome with the support of my team. It’s been terrific to learn in such a ‘hands on’ way.

“I’ve also honed my skills in scheduling, co-ordinating and planning construction activities, such as super-tee and bridge barrier installations, deck pours and completion works across two distinct worksites, in NSW and Victoria. 

“I’ve also learned, that the McConnell Dowell team spirit is one that’s collaborative across all the facets of my work, and the project. And in Echuca-Moama, I’ve seen that firsthand,” she adds.