Precast and piling innovations in the New Bridgewater Bridge
This webinar will explore the advanced construction engineering strategies behind the project, with a focus on precast segmental construction and deep foundation piling. Attendees will gain insights into how McConnell Dowell overcame complex geotechnical and environmental challenges using innovative access solutions, custom-designed monopiles, and a purpose-built precast facility. The session will highlight lessons learned, productivity gains, and the collaborative approaches that enabled world-class outcomes in a regional context.
The New Bridgewater Bridge project in Tasmania represents a landmark achievement in civil infrastructure, showcasing cutting-edge engineering solutions in precast segmental construction and deep foundation piling. At the heart of the project was a purpose-built precast facility located just 2km from the site, which enabled rapid, high-quality production of 1,082 match-cast segments. In this webinar session, the speakers will unpack the technical, logistical, and collaborative strategies that enabled the delivery of Tasmania’s largest-ever transport infrastructure project.
This project won the prestigious 2025 Australian Construction Achievement Award, highlighting Australia’s best construction projects. For more information, visit the Australian Construction Achievement Awards website.
This webinar is designed for construction engineers, project managers, and technical specialists involved in large-scale civil infrastructure. It will be particularly valuable for professionals working in bridge design, precast fabrication, and deep foundation piling. It aligns with the Winning and Delivering Projects competencies of the Construction Engineer Learning and Development Guide.
About the Speakers
Project Manager, McConnell Dowell
Toby Cuthbert-Ashmore is a project manager and chartered structural engineer with experience in large infrastructure and engineering projects in Australia and internationally. He started his career as a structural designer after graduating from Canterbury University (NZ), before making the move into marine and infrastructure construction. He previously completed a three-year stint on the Tideway Super Sewer project in London (UK) before returning to Australia and the McConnell Dowell team managing the marine and piling works on the New Bridgewater Bridge Project. This role saw him coordinating and managing the design and installation of marine access for the entire 1.2km long bridge project including an innovative barge causeway solution across environmentally sensitive mud flats. The piling works on the project included 46 of Australia's largest and deepest bored piles, up to a depth of 90m. The piles were installed in very challenging and varied geological conditions requiring support from steel casings up to 48m long then transitioning to polymer drilling fluid supported rock sockets. Toby also completed the role of Intelligent Traffic Systems Installation Manager and Quality and Completions Manager after the piling and marine elements of the project were completed.
Area Manager, McConnell Dowell
Francis Ally is an Area Manager working on the Bridgewater Bridge Project predominantly managing the substructure and bridge finishing works. Francis’s career started in 2008 graduating from the Australian Maritime College (AMC) in Tasmania and spans over 17 years working on various construction disciplines across Australia. Their early involvement in the construction industry was mainly FIFO marine and nearshore Oil and Gas Projects, before joining McConnell Dowell in 2016 working on large infrastructure projects namely Echuca Moama and Bridgewater Bridge Projects.
Construction Manager, McConnell Dowell
David is a civil engineer with over 15 years experience across civil projects including roads, bulk earthworks, bridges, wind farms, pipelines and water networks. David became an important senior member of the New Bridgewater Bridge project team when he was appointed Area Manager for Traffic Interchanges working on both the northern and southern foreshores of the River Derwent. Following two very successful major traffic switches impacting four of the busiest highways in Tasmania, he stepped into the role of Precast Facility Manager in October 2023. This role saw David manage the team responsible for producing the 1082 bridge segments for the new bridge super structure which achieved record production numbers for such a facility. After finishing the last segment in November 2024, David became the Engineering, Quality & Completions Manager leading the team responsible for the successful close out the New Bridgwater Bridge before seeing the close out of works as the Construction Manager.
Project Director, McConnell Dowell
Peter Fraser is the Project Director for McConnell Dowell for the New Bridgewater Bridge Project having been involved since Eary Contractor Involvement tender phase. Peter is a chartered civil engineer with over 40 years in the construction industry both in Australia and internationally and includes major bridge projects in Australia and Asia.
