A significant engineering and logistical improvement has been made to the Shortland to Sandgate section of the Newcastle Inner-City Bypass project.

Work was finalised last night on the installation of a second and final 1-thousand tonne bridge onto its supports, canvassing a distance of more than 50 metres.

The bridges will provide two 3-point-5 metre wide travel lanes in each direction, as well as an additional crossing of the Main Northern Railway for traffic.


The almost-complete bridge had to be transported across the railway corridor for a considerable distance between supports.

The launch was carried out this way to avoid the need for heavy engineering work between railway lines.

Minister for Port Stephens Craig Baumann has labelled the bridge an impressive accomplishment.