April 2026

A bridge becomes a benchmark

Tonkin + Taylor’s work on Tasmania’s New Bridgewater Bridge was applauded at the Consult Australia Awards for Excellence in March, and the new infrastructure icon received further honours at this month’s National Infrastructure Awards.

The $786 million New Bridgewater Bridge project – a 1.28 kilometre, four-lane crossing of the River Derwent – sets new benchmarks for geotechnical engineering in complex river environments.

The project required construction across a one-kilometre-wide river with shallow mudflats, mud overlaying rock foundations, and sensitive wetlands, seagrass beds, and landscapes of Aboriginal and European heritage significance.

As lead geotechnical designer, Tonkin + Taylor delivered one of Australia’s most technically demanding foundation systems. The team pioneered the design of large diameter monopiles reaching depths of up to 91.5 metres, believed to be the deepest of their kind in the Southern Hemisphere. 

Reflecting on winning the Consult Australia Innovation for Excellence Award Tonkin + Taylor’s Group Managing Director Tim Fisher said: “This achievement reflects what can be done when innovation, engineering excellence and collaboration come together. The New Bridgewater Bridge shows that world-class engineering can deliver safer, greener, and smarter infrastructure.”

Construction company McConnell Dowell was presented with Infrastructure Partnerships Australia’s 2026 Contractor Excellence Award for its work on the New Bridgewater Bridge in mid-April.

Read more about the project on Tonkin + Taylor’s website or watch McConnell Dowell’s wrap video.