The $290 million Seaford rail extension’s bridge design won a major award at the Civil Contractors Federation’s (SA branch) 2013 Earth Awards for Excellence.

The centerpiece of project includes an 1100 metre incrementally launched bridge across the Onkaparinga Valley.

Incremental launch is a relatively recent method of building a complete bridge deck from one end of the bridge only.

The first bridge of that design was built in 1964 in Venezuala.

The Seaford bridge is the longest incrementally launched structure in the Southern Hemisphere and the third longest in the world.

Constructed by an alliance of Thiess, McConnell Dowell Constructors and the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, the project won Category Five (for projects valued over $75million) of the 2013 CCF Earth Awards for Excellence.

The awards cover excellence in environment, construction and project management.

“The Seaford rail extension is one of the most impressive civil construction feats ever undertaken in South Australia,” CCF SA Chief Executive Phil Sutherland said at the awards presentation dinner in Adelaide.

“It is a glowing endorsement of the quality and level of professionalism, innovation and expertise that exists in South Australia.

“The construction method used on the project meant minimal impact on the environmentally sensitive site at ground level – the floodplains and river system of the Onkaparinga Valley.

“This – combined with innovative approaches in construction addressing shrinking and thermal movement – gave the project the edge over its rivals.”

Sutherland said the bridge deck articulation of the Seaford Rail Extension was altered to suit the project, and expansion devices were introduced in each track.

He said the Onkaparinga River’s tidal estuary was of the utmost environmental significance for the project managers, and its protection featured prominently in the careful planning.

Before 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.

Other winners at the CCFSA Awards night were:

• Category Four (projects valued between $20m-$75m) – York Civil for its design and construction of the Central Pipeline component of the North South Interconnection System – a 10 kilometre pipeline which is part of a project improving flexibility and reliability of drinking water for Adelaide .

• Category Three ($5m-$20m) – Bardavcol and the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure for the new McLaren Vale Overpass improving safety and capacity of the busy intersection.

• Category Two ($1m-$5m) – McMahon Services Australia for the installation of the storm water and substructure requirements of the Adelaide Oval Redevelopment, along with the detailed excavation.

• Category One (under $1m) – Civil Tech for new car parking and streetscape works at Mount Compass.

All South Australian winners automatically become national finalists. The national awards will be announced in October.