University of Southern Queensland Faculty of Engineering and Surveying Elevated Highways – A Solution to Brisbane’s Traffic Congestion? A Dissertation submitted by Bruce Robert Delahunty in fulfillment of the requirements of Courses ENG4111 and ENG4112 Research Project Towards the degree of Bachelor Degree of Engineering (Civil) Submitted: October, 2011 Abstract The title “Elevated Highways – A Solution to Brisbane’s Traffic Congestion?” initially outlines the probable contents of the upcoming dissertation. Many cities around the world are experiencing worsening traffic chaos especially in peak hour travelling times. The construction of road tunnels, elevated highways, freeways and interchanges, bus ways, transit lanes, tollways and automated traffic systems are some of the methods that planners, engineers and governments have utilized to try to increase the capacity of the road infrastructure network to alleviate the congestion in peak hour traffic. Thus, the much debated topic of what infrastructure or road systems to construct in order to overcome the dreaded “peak hour rush” for any city reaching the capacity of their current road and transport network, is a never ending question and topic for today’s transport engineers, planners, governments, environmentalists and public to agree upon. I believe the answer lies within the creativity of the design engineers to conjure up new designs of infrastructure, with new materials, creativity and form that are environmentally acceptable and at a viable cost. Today’s transport planners and governments need to also implement acceptable systems of control to allow the traffic to flow as well as increase the capacity and use of public transportation systems. My aim for the upcoming thesis was to highlight another type of road infrastructure solution that is affordable and could be designed to alleviate the traffic congestion that is now evident on our roads in Brisbane, primarily in the peak travel times. Thus, my infrastructure solution of elevated roadways/highways strategically placed throughout Brisbane within existing railway corridors or over existing freeways/motorways to increase the existing capacity had primarily been my predominant solution for the ease of the traffic congestion in Brisbane. CONCLUSIONS Elevated roadways / motorways could be established within existing railway corridors and over existing freeways to minimise the traffic congestion on South East Queensland’s infrastructure as the population grows. ii Disclaimer Page University of Southern Queensland Faculty of Engineering and Surveying Limitations of use The Council of the University of Southern Queensland, its Faculty of Engineering and Surveying, and the staff of the University of Southern Queensland do not accept any responsibility for the truth, accuracy or completeness of the material contained within or associated with this dissertation. Persons using all or any part of this material do so at their own risk, and not at the risk of the Council of the University of Southern Queensland. This dissertation reports an educational exercise and has no purpose or validity beyond this exercise. The sole purpose of the course pair entitled “Research Project” is to contribute to the overall education within the student’s chosen degree program. This document, the associated hardware, software, drawings, and other material set out in the associated appendices should not be used for any other purpose. If they are so used, it is entirely at the risk of the user. Prof Frank Bullen Dean Faculty of Engineering and Surveying iii Certification I certify that the ideas, designs and experimental work, results analyses and conclusions set out in this dissertation are entirely my own effort, except where otherwise indicated and acknowledged. I further certify that the work is original and has not been previously submitted for assessment in any other course or institution, except where specifically stated. Bruce Delahunty Student Number: 0050078247 ___________________________________ Signature 25/10/2011______________________ Date iv Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge Mr Howard Van Der Klauw –Civil Reliability Engineering Manager of Queensland Rail for his invaluable input to my research locations and by providing me with some Queensland Rail documentation. I would also like to thank Brisbane City Council’s major projects team for their invaluable advice as to where to locate good local research on Brisbane’s current transport network plan. Lastly I would like to thank my employer CSM Group Pty Ltd for letting me utilise their Staad Pro, Staad Foundation and Autocad softwares which enable me to complete this dissertation. v Table of Contents Title Page ………………………………………………………………………............................i Abstract …………………………………………………………………………............................ii Disclaimer Page ………………………………………………………………………………………..iii Certification Page ………………………………………………………………………………..……iv Acknowledgements …………………………………………………………………………………..v Table of Contents …………………………………………………………………………….……..…vi List of Figures …………………………………………………………………………………………….ix List of Tables ……………………………………………………………………………………….…….xi Glossary of Terms ……………………………………………………………………………………..xii Table of Contents CHAPTER 1 ............................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Broad Aim ...................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Project Background ........................................................................................ 4 1.4 The Project Elevated Road ............................................................................. 5 1.5 Objectives and Scope of Services .................................................................. 5 1.6 Proposed Options and Configurations of Elevated Structures ....................... 6 1.7 Implications .................................................................................................... 7 1.8 Thesis Contents .............................................................................................. 9 CHAPTER 2 – LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................... 10 2.1 Elevated Highways ......................................................................................... 10 2.2 The Current Scenario ................................................................................... 14 2.3 A Solution for Brisbane ............................................................................... 15 2.4 What is Trans Apex? .................................................................................... 16 CHAPTER 3 – PROJECT ROAD AND RAIL ALIGNMENTS ......................................... 20 3.1 Road Alignment – Western Freeway ........................................................... 20 3.2 Alignment Study .......................................................................................... 26 3.2.1 Fixing of Tentative Alignment from Satellite Imageries ............................. 26 3.2.2 Drive-Through Survey on Alignment .......................................................... 26 3.2.3 Alignment Review and Finalisation ............................................................. 26 3.3 PROPOSED ALIGNMENT – Western Freeway ........................................ 27 vi 3.3.1 Start of the Proposed Alignment .................................................................. 27 3.3.2 Entry & Exit Ramps for General Traffic...................................................... 27 3.3.3 Traffic Travelling East ................................................................................. 27 3.3.4 Traffic Travelling West ................................................................................ 27 CHAPTER 4 – TRAFFIC SURVEY AND ANALYSIS ..................................................... 29 4.1 Traffic Survey and Analysis......................................................................... 29 4.1 Travel Time Benefits.................................................................................... 30 4.2 Local Traffic Effects .................................................................................... 30 4.3 Conclusions – Traffic and Transport ........................................................... 30 CHAPTER 5 – MATERIAL AND GEOTECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS ......................... 32 5.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 32 5.2 Material Investigations for the Proposed Construction .............................. 32 5.2.1 Objective ...................................................................................................... 32 5.2.2 Methodology for Identification of Borrow Areas and Quarries .................. 32 5.2.3 CBR 15 Gravel & Sub grade for entry and exit ramps .................................. 33 5.2.4 Stone Quarries for Aggregates ..................................................................... 34 5.2.5 Cement, Bitumen and Steel ......................................................................... 34 5.3 Geotechnical Investigations ......................................................................... 34 5.3.1 Objective ...................................................................................................... 34 5.3.2 Scope and Methodology of the Work