Implementing Learnings
Being the fourth steel bridge delivered on this project site, the team was able to apply design improvements identified during earlier stages of the project. These proven design features helped speed up the design process and reduce costs for Gateway JV during the tender phase.
Bowhill Engineering’s team was active in sharing and assisting in this process and full credit to the Gateway team for pursuing this continuous learning discipline. These initiatives helped to strengthen the case for building steel bridges compared with other competing materials.
Sand Jacks
Engineering specifications required bridge girders to not be installed directly onto the permanent bearings. This created an opportunity for us to come up with an innovative solution.
Our team has provided the inhouse IP for this solution via the modular sand jacks. These jacks can be pre-set at the required height and can accommodate the unforeseen loads during the construction process. Once works are complete, they can be safely lowered in a controlled manner without the use of any complicated or expensive mechanical, electrical, or hydraulic assistance.
The process is simple and efficient as the sand is removed using compressed air. Some site teams have even used a vac-truck to remove the sand, avoiding the need for clean-up. Bowhill Engineering now has a range of these modular jack kits in stock ready for future projects.
About Bowhill Engineering
Bowhill Engineering is a family-owned business with a long history in structural steel fabrication for infrastructure projects across South Australia. Our team includes qualified boilermakers, project managers, structural welders, CNC operators, and robotic welding specialists, supported by a strong apprenticeship and training program that continues to build the next generation of skilled tradespeople. We have built our reputation on precision, innovation, and working closely with clients on complex projects.
What sets us apart:
- Complete project capability – Design optimisation, fabrication, surface treatment, and installation managed in-house by an experienced team
- Advanced manufacturing technology – Robotic welding, CNC machines, and automated equipment for complex structural steelwork
- Heavy lift capacity – Components ranging from 5 tonnes to 140 tonnes, supported by overhead cranes up to 100 tonnes
- Industry certifications – AS5131 CC3 structural steel fabrication, ISO9001, AS4801, ISO14001 and Weld Australia AS3834.2
- Proven project history – Major infrastructure projects across Australia, including Torrens to Darlington, Inland Rail bridges, and public transport infrastructure
- Early contractor involvement – Value engineering, design feedback, and collaborative project delivery from the early stages
- Safety and compliance – Strong safety culture and environmental compliance maintained across every project we take on
Together we thrive. We invest in our people, our technology and our regional community to deliver structural steel solutions that matter.
Other Projects & Solutions
We have fabricated structural steel for major infrastructure projects throughout Australia.
Majors Road Bridge – Duplication of the Majors Road vehicular bridge, with 18 fabricated three-piece beams delivered to Acciona, weighing between 8 and 14 tonnes each
Heysen Tunnel Project – Fabrication and installation of an Intelligent Transport System gantry, one of six built for the South Eastern Freeway Upgrade through the Heysen Tunnels
Riverland Pump Station – A 35-metre structural steel structure on the Murray River, sequenced for delivery to suit restricted site access and minimal laydown area
