THE upgrade of the Princes Highway at Gerringong has reached a key milestone, with construction now more than 50 per cent complete on the bridge being built at Fern Street, which replaces the railway level crossing.
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The bridge is part of the $329 million Gerringong upgrade of the Princes Highway.
The Fern Street railway overbridge is a seven-span concrete box girder bridge.
Kiama MP Gareth Ward inspected the works last Friday afternoon.
Mr Ward said the completed bridge will have 16 segments, each about 22 metres long and weighing about 460 tonnes.
As a segment is completed the bridge is pushed further across the rail line - albeit at a speed too slow for passing motorists to notice - allowing for the next segment to be made in the space behind.
Ten of the 16 segments have been launched thus far.
"The 350-metre long bridge will be well integrated into the landscape following both a vertical and horizontal curve," he said.
"Each new segment is being moved forward, allowing space for the next segment to be made behind it.
"The bridge will have six permanent supports and one temporary one while work is completed."
The upgrade between Mount Pleasant and Toolijooa Road will provide 7.5 kilometres of upgraded highway and include two new interchanges with access to Gerringong and Gerroa.
Bridge works will be completed by the end of the year, but the first cars are not expected to cross the South Coast rail line via the bridge until early next year.