Our Projects
Armidale, NSW
The Albion Park Swing Bridge was first built in 1933. It has seen substantial repairs and alterations over its lifetime, however, reached it’s end of life following the flood events in 2021/2022. Cable Span was engaged to demolish and rebuild the structure as close as possible to the old bridge to conserve it’s heritage appeal. We worked closely with Armidale Regional Council to come up with a design that closely mimicked the old bridge but at the same time ensured it met current safety standards.
The new 20m bridge stands proudly over Dumaresq creek in the heart of Armidale. It was built 1m higher to improve flood resilience. As well as this all the timber substructure was replaced with galvanised and painted steel to increase the lifespan of the new structure. Majority of the visual timber elements were replaced for newly painted ironbark timber, including the timber pylons that support the cables. Some steel elements that were blasted, painted and re-used include the knee braces along the side of the bridge, as well as the caps and washer plates that furnish the timber logs at the ends of the bridge that replicate the previous anchoring system.
The bridge hopes to preserve the towns history as well as serve the community for years to come.
Yoogali Walkway, Griffith, NSW
This 42m suspension bridge was the first constructed using our new design. The updated design allowed us to provide the same level of user comfort but with less componentry and a sleeker aesthetic.
This bridge boasts a considerable width of 2.5m and deflection rail to cater for pedestrians and cyclists travelling between the suburbs of Yoogali and Griffith city.
The ease of access allowed all on site works to be completed within 2 weeks. 1 week for construction of the foundations and 1 week for the installation of the bridge structure. This demonstrates the suspension bridge as a fast and affordable method of spanning significant distances for pedestrian crossings.
Buderim, Sunshine Coast, QLD
The Buderim Forest Bushland Reserve hosts a stunning boardwalk that wraps through the rainforest and along rocky streams. Cable Span were engaged for the design and construction of a flood resilient bridge crossing to replace and older timber structure that was damaged in one of QLD’s extreme weather events.
This bridge spans 11m and posed some challenges due to the how far it was located along the boardwalk as well as the proximity of large trees. This meant that excavations had to be hand dug on one side of the creek and a spider crane was used to navigate the bridge beams through the tree canopy. Made from galvanised steel and FRP decking this new bridge will offer extensive life to the boardwalk and provide access for users to visit the waterfall further upstream.
Chapman River, Kangaroo Island, SA
This 55 metre cable suspension bridge was built in order to provide access between separate amenities servicing campsites in the Lashmar Conservation park. Due to it's close proximity to the coast it was made entirely of corrosion resistant materials. The bridge is nestled at the mouth of the Chapman River which flows out into Antechamber Bay. The region boasts stunning views and a wide range of activities. LINK FOR INFO ABOUT LASHMAR PARK
Coppabella Creek, Snowy Valleys, NSW
This 50m Cable suspension bridge was constructed over Coppabella Creek just outside the town of Jingellic in the Snowy Valleys, NSW. It was constructed in order to allow passage for hikers along the Hume and Hovell trail. Complicated access and tough conditions were navigated in order to complete the project. The Bridge sits amongst rolling hills and picturesque landscape. LINK FOR MORE INFO ABOUT TRAIL
Lake Weyba, Sunshine Coast, QLD
This 22m Suspension bridge was built to provide a crossing over a tidal creek and connect the walking trails that follow the surrounds of Lake Weyba.
"Weyba" is derived from an indigenous word for stingray, which populate the lake and can be seen swimming in the waters beneath the bridge.
The sensitivity of the surrounding environment coupled with access constraints, meant that much thought had to go into the design and construction process of the bridge. The bridge was designed for 3kPa live loading and single lane foot traffic to minimise the overall size of the structure.
The cables for the bridge were anchored into the ground with the use of Manta Ray anchors. Not only was the name fitting for the job but they enabled zero excavation and minimal impact on the sensitive site during construction.
Hallet Cove, Adelaide, SA
These two 40 metre suspension bridges were built as a part of the Hallet Cove Coastal Boardwalk upgrade. Nestled inside the gullies along the cliff face, these bridges provide breath taking views of the coastline and help to bypass steep and rugged terrain below, making the walkway more accessible to the public. The site conditions were extremely challenging. Principal Contractor BluBuilt Constructions were tasked with installing the bridge foundations and overcame many obstacles to achieve outstanding results. With the help of Blubuilt once we were mobilised to site we were able to install these impressive structures seamlessly over an 8 week period.
Deloraine, TAS
This 40 metre bridge suspended over the Meander river was built in 2005 using Cablespan’s original design and engineering. In October of 2022 it was able to withstand immense floodwaters that inundated the town.
We were tasked with lifting it 1 metre to get the bridge deck height above the newly recorded flood levels. Further remediation and alterations were undertaken in order to reduce ongoing maintenance and provide DDA compliant access to the bridge for pedestrians. This included a new bridge deck made of steel joists and FRP decking, along with additional ramps to match the existing structure.
This complex project was completed seamlessly within 4 weeks.
Barooga, NSW
This 38m bridge connects the community of Barooga, in the Berrigan Shire Council, to the nature reserve situated along the Bullanginya Lagoon. The swing bridge, resting amongst a stunning array of River Red Gums, was damaged in the most recent flood events. Cable Span was tasked with replacing the existing timber structure with all new galvanised steel members and FRP Decking. These new materials along with additional bracing will extend the design life of the bridge and enable safe access for pedestrians to the walking trail that winds its way along the Murray River.
