Regional towns get new bridges ‘In Quik’ time thanks to ARC tie-up

The Australian Reinforcing Company (ARC), is teaming up with an innovative Aussie company, InQuik Bridging Systems, to supply prefabricated modular bridge products in regional communities across Australia.

The bridges, which use a world-first modular system invented in regional NSW, can not only be installed in record time, but also benefit communities by providing opportunities for local tradespeople to complete the installation.

In some parts of the country, the bridges have been used to replace existing structures damaged by bushfires and floods, again providing opportunities for local councils and companies to obtain work during the installation.

“The replacement bridges are truly amazing; a very clever, Australian-patented, modular design,” said Ben Mullany, Co-Founder and CEO of InQuik.

“Seeing it all come together to replace the bridge lost to the bushfires in the Shoalhaven region was a terrific testimony to regional community capability. All companies involved were regional including local earthmoving and crane contractors.

“InQuik’s modular bridging system was constructed in Newcastle before being transported to the Shoalhaven region for assembly.

“Having prepared the site, four assemblers with a crowbar, a crane driver and technical supervision had the bridge together in four hours and ready for the concrete pour.”

The bridges are constructed using quality Australian-made steel supplied by ARC Newcastle and ARC Hemmant, which are part of Australia’s only fully vertically-integrated steel manufacturer, InfraBuild.

“Much like ARC, innovation is at the core of InQuik’s business offering as we both constantly improve and develop our products. In our partnership with InQuik, we also strive to be community-focused and are driven to make positive changes in regional communities, many of which our branches have operated in for decades” said ARC’s Business Development Manager – New Products, Ross Bourke.

As two of our largest and biggest distributors of reinforcing steel products in Australia, the Newcastle and Hemmant branches manufacture the prefabricated bridge components and promptly transport them to the site, where they are quickly assembled, and concreted in place.

The new bridges allow residents, tourists and freight carriers full access to roads during heavy rainfalls and flooding, which may not have been possible in the past.

The system also mitigates safety and WHS risks due to lightweight components, top-down installation and reduced time on site.

The bridges also have a design life of more than 100 years.

A 2019 report by the Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia (NSW) identified that 417 of New South Wales’ 1771 timber bridges are in a sub-standard condition and require urgent attention to meet the needs of regional communities. In response, the New South Wales Government has committed $500 million over four years towards replacing and repairing the State’s aging rural and regional bridges, some of which have been replaced using this solution.

In partnership with ARC, InQuik has already supplied a significant amount of bridge components from Cairns to Southern Victoria.