The metro rail line to Sydney’s north-west is one step closer to completion with the unveiling of a “mini-Anzac Bridge” over Windsor Road at Rouse Hill.
The deck of the landmark Sydney Metro bridge is in the air, bringing NSW’s first metro railway one step closer.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance met workers to walk the deck of the skytrain bridge, inspired by the Anzac Bridge, over Windsor Road at Rouse Hill.
Ms Berejiklian welcomed the milestone, which brings the game-changing Sydney Metro project one step closer.
“This is a critical milestone in delivering a 21st century railway system to greater Sydney,” Ms Berejiklian said.
The 270m long bridge is the first ever cable-stayed railway bridge on a curve built in Australia.
Mr Constance said Sydney Metro was progressing at full speed and will change the way people move around Sydney.
“Before you know it, a new metro train will be running here every four minutes in the peak in each direction, bringing reliable metro rail to this region – and Australia – for the first time,” Mr Constance said.
The deck is made of 88 massive concrete segments each weighing between 70 and 140 tonnes. The delicate engineering operation to put them in place occurred 7 metres above ground and mainly at night, resulting in minimal disruption to local traffic.
More than 4,600 people have worked on the skytrain project so far.
Over coming months, twin 45m bridge towers and steel cables will be installed.
Stage 1 of Sydney Metro – the $8.3 billion Sydney Metro Northwest project – opens in the first half of 2019 with a metro train every four minutes in the peak.
Services start in 2024 on Stage 2, which extends metro rail from the North West under Sydney Harbour, into the CBD and beyond.
About skytrain
The skytrain takes Sydney Metro Northwest above ground for four kilometres between Kellyville and Rouse Hill.
The skytrain is at a height of between 10 metres and 13 metres above ground level and is supported with 130 concrete piers, spaced approximately 39 metres apart. The two new railway stations on the skytrain, Kellyville and Rouse Hill, are elevated and the platforms are above ground.
A landmark 270-metre long cable-stayed railway bridge over Windsor Road at Rouse Hill also forms part of the skytrain. This is similar in design to Sydney’s Anzac Bridge.
The skytrain has been developed, in response to community consultation, to help reduce construction impacts of Sydney Metro Northwest on motorists and the community. The design also means that any future upgrade of the Windsor and Schofields road intersection will not be impacted by the operation. It also minimises impacts on local flood plains.
The skytrain will be used only by passenger trains, and not for cycleways or pedestrian walkways. The skytrain is a critical part of the Sydney Metro Northwest, improving access to jobs and services for existing communities and new growth areas in the north west of Sydney.
