McDonald Contracting was engaged by John Holland Group to assist with a critical final phase of the M7–M12 Motorway Interchange—removing the launch nose sections that had been installed in tight access areas as part of the bridge construction process. These sections, used to support the launching of bridge spans, were now locked in place within completed structural zones with no straightforward way out.

Adding to the complexity, this project marked a national engineering milestone: the longest bridge ever built in Australia without stopping traffic on the M7. Maintaining that record meant even the removal phase couldn’t disrupt the motorway’s daily traffic flow.

Shane McDonald and the McDonald Contracting team brought in their specialised hydraulic equipment and experienced crew, developing a detailed extraction strategy that would allow for the safe removal of the launch nose without interfering with the motorway or damaging the surrounding infrastructure.

Using a combination of low-clearance trailers, hydraulic lifting systems, and precise manoeuvring, the launch nose was removed without a single lane closure—delivering a seamless result for the project team and the thousands of motorists who continued to travel the M7 uninterrupted.

This project highlighted McDonald Contracting’s ability to operate in high-pressure environments with tight access, strict safety requirements, and zero room for error. The successful removal of the launch nose capped off one of Australia’s most impressive bridge builds—and proved once again that when the job is complex, Team MC delivers.