<span class="" id="parent-fieldname-description"> South Australiaâs Seaford Rail Extension has taken out one of the Civil Contractors Federation Earth Awards for Excellence. </span> <p>Notably, the $291m dollar project included an 1100 metre incrementally launched bridge across the Onkaparinga Valley. The bridge deck was built on land than pushed across the piers constructed from below, to span the gap.</p><p>It is the longest incrementally launched bridge in the Southern Hemisphere – the third longest in the world.</p><p>Constructed by an alliance of Thiess, McConnell Dowell Constructors and the South Australian Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, the project won Category Five (for projects valued over $75m) of the South Australian section of the CCF Earth Awards.</p><p>The awards cover Excellence in Environment, Construction and Project Management.</p><p>The construction method used on the Seaford Rail Extension meant minimal impact on the environmentally sensitive site at ground level. This combined with innovative approaches in construction addressing shrinking and thermal movement gave the project the edge over its rivals.</p><p>The bridge deck articulation was altered to suit the job, and expansion devices introduced in each track.</p><p>The Onkaparinga River’s tidal estuary is of environmental significance, and its protection featured in the careful planning.</p><p>Prior to construction, a plant rescue mission was carried out with a nursery, which resulted in 5000 new plants being replanted on the site by schools and community groups.</p><p>The Seaford Rail Extension projects iswill see a 5.7km extension of the dual track rail line from Noarlunga Centre rail station to the Seaford district centre. <br />Major construction works commenced in early 2011 with the majority of construction works now complete.<br />The first passenger services on the Noarlunga line extended to Seaford are expected to begin late this year, early 2014.<br /><br /><br /> </p>
