The first bridge deck units have been successfully installed at the Bicentennial Road interchange in north Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, marking a milestone in the Gateway Upgrade North project.

The $1.162bn project aims to reduce congestion and improve safety on the Gateway Motorway between Nudgee and Bracken Ridge, which carries more than 83,000 vehicles a day.

Installation of the new bridge deck units is a major step towards widening the Gateway Motorway from two to three lanes in each direction between Nudgee and the Deagon Deviation.

"To date, more than 600m³ of concrete have been used in bridge construction at Bicentennial Road, including for piles, columns, headstocks and abutment works."

The bridge deck units, which are the first of more than 100 that will be fitted at the Bicentennial Road interchange, are also the first to be installed in the Gateway Upgrade North project.

Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester said: “There are 13 bridges to be upgraded or constructed as part of the Gateway Upgrade North project and they are a significant part of these works.”

Queensland Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said upon completion the Bicentennial Road interchange, would have more than a kilometre of bridge deck units installed, that would weigh nearly 1,000 tonnes.

Bailey said: “To date, more than 600m³ of concrete have been used in bridge construction at Bicentennial Road, including for piles, columns, headstocks and abutment works.”

Federal Member for Petrie Luke Howarth said that the bridge works across the project will continue until late 2018.