Cracks found in Bridgewater Bridge before official opening

A large crack in a support pier and plinth was found in the new Bridgewater Bridge in the weeks before its official opening back in June 2025.

McConnell Dowell, the company contracted to design and construct the new bridge, investigated the cause of the cracking.

It found that miscalculations in load capacity led to the cracking.

Load capacities in that particular section were said to be up to 100% higher than first acknowledged.

A bridge's plinth connects to a shear key above it that supports the deck of a bridge, which, under heat expansion, keeps any movement under control.

In October 2024, another section alignment issue also required correction.

The latest issue was identified and reported in May 2025, prompting strengthening work at five locations along the bridge, which the government described as "minor adjustments to meet long-term performance standards".

The work had to be completed to obtain the verifier's Completion Certification before the official opening in June.

Strengthening work was also mandatory for "extreme loading cases", which include earthquakes, floods, or ship impacts, and were also needed to comply with contract requirements.

"After the bridge opened, further analysis identified the need for additional strengthening to ensure long-term resilience in extreme events,” the Department of State Growth said.

“This work was unrelated to the operational safety of the bridge, which has always been assured."

"The New Bridgewater Bridge was certified as safe for use prior to its opening on 1 June 2025, and at no point did the cracking identified pose any risk to road users or the general public.”