Left: The 500tonne mobile crane known as Snow White in action at Oakwood Avenue.THE first bridge beam in the $2.5 billion Eastlink project was put into place at Dandenong North on Monday morning.
It took the biggest crane in Victoria to do the job in front of onlookers including Transport Minister Peter Batchelor and Eastlink project director for Thiess John Holland Gordon Ralph.
The 500tonne mobile crane, known as Snow White, was imported from Germany for the work, described by the minister as a major milestone in the process.
“Today’s lift is the first of 1650 bridge beams that need to be erected as part of Eastlink,” he said.
“This is the biggest bridge construction program in Victoria’s history and a massive undertaking for ConnectEast and builder Thiess John Holland.
“Construction is already well advanced with major works under way at five bridge sites in Greater Dandenong – Halton Road, Oakwood Avenue, Princes Highway, Railway Parade and Cheltenham Road,” Mr Batchelor said.
Mr Ralph said work on the freeway was progressing on target.
“Construction is under way at 15 fronts along the route, including excavations at both ends of the tunnels that will pass under the Mullum Mullum Valley,” he said.
Mr Batchelor said Thiess John Holland had already let more than $550 million in contracts, with another $240 million worth of contracts out to tender.
