AUSTRALIA: Two 5·2 m tall ornamental columns have been installed on TasRail’s historic Longford bridge to replicate originals which were removed in the 1960s to increase clearances.
The bridge over the South Esk which dates from the opening of the line in 1871 originally had four columns. The community-led initiative to install two modern replicas was funded by the Tasmanian government, TasRail and the Northern Midlands Council.
The columns were manufactured by Penguin Composites and installed by Shaws Contracting.
Penguin Composites said ‘this project wasn’t just about scale. It was about execution’, and was ‘a great example of what advanced composites can do when engineering and craftsmanship align’. It used precision moulding to provide crisp architectural detail, and requirements included a 1 tonne weight suitable for safe road transport and lifting, durability for long-term outdoor performance, and installation in a live infrastructure environment.
