In the heart of Brisbane, a crucial project unfolded as the joint venture of Brady Marine & Civil Pty Ltd & Georgiou Group Pty Ltd (GBJV) undertook the task of constructing the Breakfast Creek Bridge, commissioned by Brisbane City Council.
The bridge, part of the city’s bridges program, aims to bolster pedestrian and cycling links across the river and enhance transport connections between the inner city and its growing northern suburbs. With the bridge serving as a key connection to the local community, the pressure was on to ensure swift, yet seamless construction.
Central to this challenge was the installation of a 300-tonne, 80-metre-long structure, built offsite at the Port of Brisbane. The structure needed to be lifted, transported along the Brisbane River and then installed onto its foundation over Breakfast Creek. The main concerns were maintaining the stability of the structure during transportation and installation, while ensuring minimal disruption to marine traffic, adhering to tight schedules, and upholding stringent safety and environmental standards.
Mammoet, the global engineered heavy lifting and transport specialist, responded to the challenge, leveraging its extensive expertise in bridge installation projects worldwide, such as Matagarup Bridge over Swan River in Perth, Danube Bridge in Linz, Austria or Wellsburg Bridge in Western Viriginia, and more.
The journey began with meticulous planning. Mammoet‘s engineers conducted extensive feasibility studies to determine the best approach for the bridge installation and tailored a solution precisely to the project’s unique requirements.
Every aspect was analyzed – from the weight, dimensions, and configuration of the bridge to the selection of appropriate equipment, including all environmental and logistical considerations. The team’s expertise played a pivotal role in meticulously planning the optimal route for transporting the structure, managing the Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) operation, and overseeing the installation process, effectively mitigating risks throughout.
The project unfolded in a carefully planned sequence of phases. Mobilisation and equipment setup at the Port of Brisbane marked the beginning. Here, the structure was raised to a suitable transport height using a series of climbing jacks, ranging from 100t to 150t and placed onto a self-propelled modular transporter (SPMT) configuration.
With the structure safely secured on 32 axle lines of SPMT, it was tranferred onto a barge via a RORO operation, ready for marine transport from the Port of Brisbane upriver to Breakfast Creek.
Upon arrival and positioning of the barge, timed to coincide with the beginning of the outgoing tide, the load was carefully lowered onto pre-set temporary supports, using the SPMTs. Leveraging the SPMT’s maneuverability, the team ensured seamless positioning and facilitated the lowering onto Mammoet‘s temporary supports, enabling the release of the barge. Employing 150-tonne climbing jacks, the bridge was then carefully lowered onto a tailor-made alignment frame, ensuring precise positioning of the structure onto its bearings. Once the surveyor gave the sign-off, confirming the positioning, the 250-tonne low-profile jacks lowered the bridge onto its foundation. Throughout all phases, safety and compliance remained paramount, ensuring stability even amidst fluctuating tides.
The result was a flawless installation, completed on time with minimal disruption to the local marine and no impact on adjacent road traffic. The bridge, now officially inaugurated as the Breakfast Creek / Yowoggera Bridge, serves as a vital link in Brisbane’s infrastructure. Thousands of residents and visitors benefit from the extended Lores Bonney Riverwalk, enjoying enhanced commuting and leisure opportunities along the riverbanks.
It will also play a major role during the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, providing a key active transport connection to the athletes’ village at Northshore Hamilton.