GDS Hexham Consortium Awarded Contract for Thornton Bridge Expansion Project in Australia

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 28, Georgiou Group of Australia announced that the GDS Hexham Consortium, in which it participates, has been awarded the design and construction contract for the Thornton Road bridge expansion project in New South Wales. The project is being delivered by Transport for NSW, with AUD 50 million in funding allocated by the state government. It involves building a new two-lane bridge alongside the existing road-over-rail bridge, increasing road capacity across the Main North Railway from two lanes to four lanes. Construction is expected to begin by the end of 2026 and be completed by December 2028.

The GDS Hexham Consortium awarded the contract comprises Georgiou Group, Daracon Contractors and SMEC Australia, and will undertake the bridge design and construction work. The project is located in the Thornton area of Maitland, New South Wales, spanning the Main North Railway, with the new bridge to be built parallel to the existing Thornton Road bridge.

The scope of work includes the new two-lane bridge, approach roads and road connections at both the northern and southern ends, and bridge construction above an operational railway line. The project also requires coordination of existing utility relocations and road corridor-related work, with construction arrangements to be integrated with existing road traffic and railway operating conditions.

The existing Thornton Road bridge carries approximately 24,500 vehicles per day and serves as the road link connecting the Thornton area to the M1 Motorway, Pacific Highway and Hunter Expressway. Once the new bridge is completed, the Thornton Road rail crossing section will have a four-lane configuration, with key upgrades including road connection facilities near the Glenroy Street intersection.