Restoring Sydney’s Pyrmont Bridge

Stage one of the restoration focused on the timber pier sets. Defective timbers were replaced. Bridge sections were raised and lowered with hydraulic jacks loaded up to 430 tons. This delicate work was completed without incident while the bridge remained open to the public.

The NSW government and private sector delivered stage one in twenty months at a cost of $8 million. Future stages will restore the trusses and pedestrian deck.

Place Management NSW appointed us as construction manager and the principal’s authorised person. We managed contractors and supervised all works to ensure safety, quality, heritage and cost standards were met.

The project involved complex heritage considerations. Some elements had to be retained, others replaced. With Place Management’s heritage experts, we ensured the right decisions were made and recorded. Our drawings and records now serve as a guide for future care of the bridge.

We attended weekly site meetings and monthly control group reviews. Despite heavy pedestrian, cycle and vessel traffic, we kept the bridge open throughout.

We also worked closely with Events NSW and its clients. This meant coordinating site activity with events like the International Boat Show, while planning work around tides and vessel movements.

Thanks to a collaborative team approach, the project finished ahead of schedule and under budget.