PROUDLY SUPPORTED BY
HIGHWAY ENGINEERING AUSTRALIA
OCT/NOV 2015
V47.3
TRANSPORT CREATING INFRASTRUCTURE ITS TECHNOLOGY THE SINCE 1968 DIGITAL WORLD PRINT POST APPROVED - 100001888
oct/nov 2015 contents Volume 47 Number 3
Published by: 2 Editor’s Column Editorial and Publishing Consultants Pty Ltd ABN 85 007 693 138 PO Box 510, Broadford 4 Special Features Victoria 3658 Australia Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) Fax: (03) 5784 2210 www.epcgroup.com 12 Cover Story
Publisher and Managing Editor Anthony T Schmidt 4 Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) 17 ITS Special Feature Mobile: 0414 788 900 Email: [email protected]
Deputy Editor 31 Asphalt In Focus Rex Pannell Mobile: 0433 300 106 Email: [email protected] 39 Stormwater Report National Advertising Sales Manager Yuri Mamistvalov Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) 29 Mobile: 0419 339 865 45 Major Projects Email: [email protected]
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Advertising Sales - WA 65 Industry News Licia Salomone - OKeeffe Media Mobile: 0412 080 600 Email: [email protected] 76 Road Safety 36 Graphic Design Annette Epifanidis Mobile: 0416 087 412
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Copyright ©2015 - EPC Media Group When it comes to providing location-based data for an increasingly autonomous world, ‘close enough’ is definitely ‘not good enough’. CIRCULATION 8,410 HERE uses data from a range of sources including its fleet of over Registered by Australia Post 400 LiDAR equipped field cars to create world-leading 3D point Publication No. 100001888 cloud maps with the lane-specific road network detail required to ISSN 0046-7391 facilitate autonomous navigation.
Turn to Page 12 for the full story. EDITOR’S COLUMN
It’s not about apportioning blame... it’s about giving a fair go to those who do the right thing
Dear Readers, Again, I’m not suggesting that EWD’s c) improving road safety by eliminating are some type of ‘magic bullet’ solution for the opportunity for irresponsible drivers Following my recent editorial, entitled anything; or that all accidents involving trucks (again, who I believe are in the minority) to “Technology critical in meeting future are the fault of the truck driver; or, perhaps forgo the mandated rest breaks and drive demands on our transport infrastructure most importantly, that all other vehicle drivers when they are in no condition to do so. network” which appeared September issue are blameless and/or comply with the road of Highway Engineering Australia (HEA) rules, or for that matter, display manners, Put simply, I believe that EWD’s present magazine, I received a number of emails (some common sense or common decency on the an ideal opportunity to ‘level the playing signed, and some not) accusing me - quite roads. field’ in the transport sector - ensuring that unfairly I believe - of laying the blame for all What I am suggesting, is that we must use everyone has to play by the same rules. This, in of the ills of the transport network at the feet the tools which are available to us to deliver turn, eliminates the opportunity for ANYONE of truck drivers. This was, it appears, primarily the safest and most efficient road network (including owner operators AND transport as a result of my suggestion that EWD’s possible - for all road users. companies) to promise what simply can’t be (Electronic Work Diaries) are an excellent We have rules and regulations for ALL delivered safely and within the constraints of replacement for manual Log Books for the drivers, and while definitely not perfect, they the law. heavy transport industry. MUST be adhered to. And those who do Hopefully, this will also lead to more realistic While I always respect everyone’s right to not comply with the rules and regulations economies for ALL truck drivers. After all, if hold a differing point of view to my own, I must should be penalised accordingly - regardless by law (taking into account maximum speed reject any accusation that I am trying to blame of whether they are driving a truck, car, limits, required routes and mandated rest truck drivers for all of the problems on our motorbike, bicycle or are pedestrians. breaks) a trip must take 12 hours, NO ONE will roads. Indeed, I am not looking to ‘blame’ truck EWD’s are not about victimising truck be able to be promise that delivery at anything drivers for anything. drivers - they’re about providing the safest less than 12 hours. That delivery also won’t be As in all segments of society, there are possible workplace for truck drivers by able to be sustainably priced at anything less some truck drivers that blatantly flaunt the eliminating the drivers that flaunt the than 12 hours, so hopefully it will also play a law and give all a bad name; but I, for one, mandatory rest break rules by cheating on major role in helping truck drivers to finally believe that these ‘cowboys’ are well and truly their log books. I believe that EWD’s can set realistic and sustainable benchmarks for in the minority. And when I say ‘cowboys’, I am deliver a range tangible benefits, including: remuneration. Pay that is based on ACTUAL not only referring to rogue drivers, but also a) improving OH&S conditions for truck hours driven and ACTUAL operating costs. the rogue operators that entice or encourage drivers by ensuring that the mandated drivers to flaunt the laws. breaks are taken; With that in mind, I believe that the b) eliminating the opportunity for introduction of new technologies such as unscrupulous operators to demand EWD’s will effectively ‘level the playing field’ so unrealistic (and illegal) delivery schedules that all drivers and operators will have to play from drivers by coercing or forcing them Anthony T Schmidt by the same rules. to forgo their mandatory rest breaks; and Managing Editor
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Report finds significant benefits from Australia’s toll roads
oll roads in Australia have business productivity, $28 billion in contributed billions of dollars improvements to households and $336 a year in economic, social and million in environmental benefits through environmental benefits, according to savings on greenhouse gas emissions. TransurbanT Limited. Toll roads and their flow-on benefits had Transurban manages and develops urban contributed $37 billion in increased GDP toll road networks in Australia and the United and provided 5,600 jobs a year. States – it has 12 roads in its Australian The KPMG report contended that portfolio and two roads in the US. Australia’s toll roads had substantially In Brisbane, its holdings include the increased accessibility to employment Gateway and Logan Motorways, the CLEM7, zones in Queensland, New South Wales and Go Between Bridge and Legacy Way; in Victoria. Sydney its holdings are Hills M2, Lane Cove Tunnel, Cross City Tunnel, the Eastern Distributor, Westlink M7 and M5 South West, while in Melbourne it operates CityLink. Transurban’s holdings in the US are 495 Express Lanes and 95 Express Lanes in “The report’s Virginia. findings reinforce the Group Chairman, Lindsay Maxsted, told the Annual General Meeting on 12 October importance of efficient that a report prepared by KPMG, one of the largest professional services companies in the transport networks in world, estimated that Australia’s toll roads sustaining economic had directly contributed $52 billion in benefits over a 10-year period. productivity and The report – Economic Contribution of Australia’s Toll Roads – said the benefits were lifestyle standards in realised in the form of travel time savings, reliability gains, and vehicle operating cost Australia’s biggest savings. cities. ” Mr Maxsted said in his address they included $24 billion in direct benefits to Transurban Group Chairman, Lindsay Maxsted
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“Reform to the funding model is critical and some difficult decisions will need to be made if we are to protect the liveability and productivity of our cities.”
“The most pronounced effect is in “Transurban has continued to play a over the next eight months involving about Brisbane where the Gateway Motorway, prominent role in progressing the public 1,200 drivers. Gateway Extension Motorway and Logan discourse on how to address this issue because He said the study – the first of its kind Motorway connect major employment we understand the importance of efficient in Australia – would monitor participants’ zones at Brisbane’s airport, port, and south transport networks in supporting continued driving patterns under alternative forms of west industrial areas, leading to an almost growth. road pricing such as a rate per kilometre doubling accessibility to these areas relative “It will be impossible to get the best use of charge or fixed charge per trip. to non-tolled routes” our networks and value for our investors, as “The purpose of the study is to provide KPMG said the analysis undertaken in the well as our clients and customers, if our cities a comprehensive insight into road user report only considered the accrual of benefits become consumed with congestion.” preferences and behaviour, and a pool of to users of the toll roads – how much time Mr Maxsted said Australia’s current model statistically meaningful data that can be and vehicle operating costs they saved. for funding public road infrastructure was used to inform the discussion about how to It did not take into account the additional largely based on collecting the Federal fuel progress options for a sustainable road user congestion that would be caused by road excise and State-based vehicle registrations funding model. users if they had to use the non-tolled and licence fees. “This is an information gathering exercise road network. Because of this, KPMG said, He said that funding model no longer and will have no impact on the current the analysis was deemed to be highly generated sufficient revenue to meet current charging arrangements for our existing roads, conservative. expenditure requirements, as revenue from fuel which, of course, are bound by long-dated Mr Maxsted said the report was excise was declining with the move to more concession agreements with governments.” commissioned to give Transurban a fuel-efficient cars. Mr Maxsted told the AGM that better understanding of the economic, “The system is complex and it is opaque proportional toll revenue increased by 39.6 environmental and social contribution of the with road users largely unaware of the per cent to more than $1.5 billion, while toll roads in Victoria, New South Wales and contribution they make to fund the roads on earnings before interest, tax, depreciation Queensland. which they drive. This means Australians are and amortisation grew by 38 per cent. “The report’s findings reinforce the unlikely to appreciate the inherent inequities of He said for the first time, the results importance of efficient transport networks the current system and the growing need for included revenue from Transurban’s in sustaining economic productivity and a solution. Queensland network and Cross City Tunnel in lifestyle standards in Australia’s biggest “Reform to the funding model is critical Sydney, both of which were acquired last year. cities. and some difficult decisions will need to be The results also included toll income from the “Our cities are facing increasing traffic made if we are to protect the liveability and second Express Lanes project, which opened in congestion which is already threatening productivity of our cities.” the United States in late December 2014. living standards and, as our population Mr Maxsted said Transurban would All photos in this article are courtesy of grows, we will face even further pressure. undertake a Road Usage Study in Melbourne Transurban.
6 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 PREVENTS ACCIDENTS SAVES LIVES...
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For further information, or to arrange a demonstration, please visit: www.reversesmart.com.au or contact Davin Hamnett, Reverse Smart Ph: 0419 177 199 or A1 Roadlines Pty Ltd Ph:1300 217 623 (1300 A1ROAD) SPECIAL FEATURE
Labor’s blueprint for unlocking Australia’s infrastructure needs
abor has unveiled its plan to unlock Labor’s blueprint for infrastructure combination of guarantees, loans or equity to tens-of-billions-of-dollars in capital development was accompanied by an initial jump-start new projects,” Mr Shorten and Mr investment for key projects in all short-list of projects that the party supported Albanese said. states of Australia and to create tens and a commitment to work with State “This will not be a grants program; the ofL thousands of jobs. The plan was released Governments to encourage development of government will receive a return on these in the second week of October by Labor an ongoing infrastructure project pipeline. commercial investments. leader, Bill Shorten, and the Shadow Minister The initial list of projects included: “By 2025, Australia’s superannuation for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony • the Airport Rail to Badgerys Creek, savings will be $4 trillion – this is money Albanese, who said a Labor Government connecting the Western and South lines; we should be putting to work on nation- would transform the way infrastructure was • the Melbourne Metro; building.” funded in Australia. • the Cross River Rail project in Brisbane; Mr Shorten and Mr Albanese said Labor Mr Shorten and Mr Albanese said the • the ‘G’ Light Rail on the Gold Coast; would establish this facility through the plan would focus on elevating Infrastructure • planning work on the Ipswich Motorway proven process for establishing the Clean Australia to an active participant in the Darra to Rocklea; Energy Finance Corporation. infrastructure market, mobilising private • Tasmania’s Midland Highway; “Labor’s plan will leverage $10 billion sector finance, Australia’s superannuation • Perth public transport; of government-backed financing into industry and international investors to bring • Gawler Line electrification in Adelaide; tens of billions of dollars of private sector online a national pipeline of investment. and investment. For example, in the case of the Their initiative immediately drew • the Pacific and Bruce Highway packages, CEFC, every dollar of government financing criticism from Infrastructure and Regional projects that have been underway for is leveraging $2.20 in additional investment.” Development Minister, Warren Truss, several years, but need to be fast tracked Using a conservative analysis, prepared who said Labor had been left behind on to completion. by Infrastructure Partners Australia, which infrastructure policy and their announcement “Infrastructure Australia will be backed assumes no additional leverage, a $10 billion had all the hallmarks of making policy on the by a $10 billion financing facility that will infrastructure investment would directly run. give it the ability, as required, to deploy a create approximately 26,000 jobs and add
“Labor’s plan will leverage $10 billion of government- backed financing into tens of billions of dollars of private sector investment. For example, in the case of the CEFC, every dollar of government financing is leveraging $2.20 in additional investment.”
8 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015
SPECIAL FEATURE
around an extra $7.5 billion every year to Beyond the immediate priorities, Mr “The government is investing $6.7 billion Australia’s GDP. Shorten and Mr Albanese said, Labor would to fix the Bruce Highway; more than $2.5 “We will appoint an Expert Panel to develop a long-term pipeline for projects billion more than Labor was prepared to determine a Financing Mandate and advise on and ensure the steady movement of projects allocate up at the last election. the appropriate structure for the new facility through the assessment, development and “Our $400 million investment in the within six months of coming to government.” financing phases. Midlands highway in Tasmania is already well Mr Shorten and Mr Albanese said capital Minister Truss said Infrastructure Australia underway. investment on infrastructure by governments was set-up to assess projects and to prepare “And projects like the Melbourne Metro, was falling and Infrastructure Australia and maintain a plan for infrastructure projects Brisbane Rail and the rail link to Badgerys estimated the economic cost of under- for the years ahead. Creek and around Western Sydney are to yet investment was projected to reach $53 billion He said Labor’s bid to make IA a banker to be planned, have no business case and a year by 2031. created a hopeless conflict of interest and unknown costs. They have not been through “As the mining boom eases, quality would destroy public confidence in its any Infrastructure Australia or detailed infrastructure is central to driving Australia’s independence. assessment process. economic growth, creating jobs and boosting “An independent assessor and funding “There are existing sources of funds that our productive capacity. Labor will work with body in one makes no sense and raises issues could be drawn on for these projects, such the private sector to overcome market failures, of propriety. as the Coalition’s $4.2 billion asset recycling to get good projects going. “There are also legislative impediments initiative. “The old way of doing business, the in making IA a bank. While legislation can be “For example; if the Victorian Government traditional Commonwealth grant funding changed; it has to be passed. Labor’s promises proceeds in privatising the Port of Melbourne, approach, simply cannot fund the would likely fail before they even start.” the proceeds of this could be supplemented infrastructure Australia needs. We need to Mr Truss said Labor’s list of with money from the asset recycling initiative look at new ways of securing private sector priority projects, was a hotchpotch of to go towards the Melbourne Metro Project. finance.” underdeveloped proposals or projects “The Coalition is rolling out the biggest Mr Shorten and Mr Albanese said Australia already underway by the Coalition infrastructure works program in Australian had a deep pool of domestic capital in Government. history and it is fully paid for. Labor is trying superannuation, as well as significant global “Much of what Labor is announcing is to play catch-up on infrastructure and falling investors, that were searching for stable and simply a re-announcement of projects that short. reliable assets to invest funds over extended are well underway and which are funded “There is plenty of money in the world to periods. in the Coalition’s budget and forward borrow. The problem is finding projects with “Re-booting investment, lifting productivity estimates,” he said. sufficient earning potential to give investors and driving growth requires us to face-up “The government’s $5.64 billion to the security and the return they want. to the sticking-points and stumbling blocks complete the Pacific Highway duplication “The Coalition’s $50 billion infrastructure currently standing in the way of good restores the 80 per cent Federal funding package is being delivered now. It is $12 infrastructure projects from being financed Labor abandoned and is on track to be billion more than Labor was promising in and taken to market.” completed by the end of this decade. 2013 when it was last in Government.”
“The Coalition is rolling out the biggest infrastructure works program in Australian history and it is fully paid for. Labor is trying to play catch-up on infrastructure and falling short.”
10 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015
STORY A different view COVER of a familiar sight - Sydney’s iconic Harbour Bridge as seen by HERE’s mobile LiDAR (Light Detection And Ranging) 3D mapping unit.
Creating the DIGITAL WORLD Because before you can get to where you’re going, you first have to know where you are...
t’s hard to believe that as little as 20 business and the very wealthy, to widespread, are no longer a luxury; for the majority of years ago, satellite navigation and low-cost public availability. people, they play a critical role in their day-to- other location-based services were From vehicles, mobile phones and day lives - both professionally and personally almost unheard of in the public domain. computers, through to any number of portable - whether they know it or not. IWhat’s more, the limited Sat Nav services devices (even household appliances), the Add to this, recent developments such as that were publicly available in the late 1990s majority of people are now fully connected self-drive vehicles, autonomous mass transit were primarily the domain of only the most with location-based data services 24/7 – systems, highly automated location-based exclusive (and, by extension, most expensive) sometimes without even realising it. Whether freight / container management systems and luxury vehicles; putting them firmly out of its driving, cycling, walking or using public automated drone-based delivery systems reach of the majority of people. transport, or for that matter, making a phone currently being developed, and it’s easy to The past two decades have arguably call, taking a photo with a mobile phone see the pivotal role that accurate location- seen the greatest technological advances camera, or using any number of apps or based data plays in the modern world and the in our history - both in terms of capability, devices, most people are unaware of how creation and operation of ‘Smart Cities’. availability and affordability - and it’s a growth many location-based services they use and Indeed, it can be argued that having access curve that shows no sign of slowing. Mobile just how much Geo Tag data they generate to accurate, consistent and current location- data and location-based services have moved throughout their day. based data is the single most-important factor from being the domain of the military, big In short, location-based data and services in creating a truly Smart City.
12 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 COVER STORY
CAPTURING THE DATA FOR AN HD MAP HERE’s fleet of mapping cars utilise a range of technologies to gather the data required for the HD (High Definition) maps. Each car is mounted with a 1.45M rig that contains the mapping hardware. 1 At the base, is an inertial measurement unit (IMU) that collects positions, heading and attitude data (including yaw, pitch and roll) using accelerometers and gyroscopes. The IMU collects data on the motion of the car and enables hills and/or turns to be factored into the data collection. 2 Further up the rig, clear street imagery is captured using four wide-angle 24-megapixel cameras for a panoramic (or 360°) view. “The more automated the world becomes, the more detailed 3 On top of the rig, a small cylinder that and accurate the location data needs to be. Whereas a driver resembles a soda can spins furiously. This piece of hardware is the LiDAR historically may have been able to get by with a simple two- (Light Detection And Ranging) sensor dimensional street map, an automated system needs to that gathers the data used to build have a highly accurate 3D ‘digital world’ with terrain and all the 3D representation of reality. This rotating laser scanner can collect about aspects of the built environment included.” 700,000 3D data points per second – pinpointing the edge of a curb, the height of a tree and the depth of a DATA FOR AN “Human beings interpret data very sidewalk. Each week, a single HERE Creating the mapping car gathers up to 108 billion of AUTONOMOUS WORLD differently to machines,” Brent Stafford Importantly, when it comes to providing explained. “In the analogue world, you these 3D data points. location-based data for an increasingly can indicate on a map or with additional 4 Finally, the top of each HERE mapping autonomous world, ‘close enough’ is definitely signs where a new road may be built in the car is crowned with a high-accuracy ‘not good enough’. Data accuracy, currency, future. Drivers at the location will be able to global positioning system (GPS), which consistency and availability are paramount... interpret whether or not the new road has tracks the coordinates of where the and the detail required extends far beyond actually been completed and is open for use, data is captured (i.e. longitude and traditional two-dimensional street maps. and then chose whether or not to use the latitude) to add context to the galaxy of A highly automated Smart City requires a new route based on their observations.” 3D data points collected by the LiDAR DIGITAL WORLD detailed three-dimensional ‘digital world’ for “In the digital world of 1s and 0s, there and pinpoint exactly where each image reference and guidance. After all, before an is no grey area,” he added. “To machines was recorded. automated vehicle or unit can get to where such as navigation systems, logistics it’s going, it needs to know exactly where it is, dispatch systems or other advanced learning what route options are available and the best machines, a road is either open and usable route to take. and part of a contiguous routable network, Brent Stafford, Director, Enterprise Sales or it simply doesn’t exist.” Asia-Pacific with HERE, explained: With that in mind, it’s clear that in the “The more automated the world becomes, digital world, location-based data not only the more detailed and accurate the location needs to be highly detailed and highly data needs to be. Whereas a driver historically accurate, it also, perhaps most importantly, may have been able to get by with a simple needs to be kept constantly up-to-date. A two-dimensional street map, an automated massive task on a global scale, certainly; system needs to have a highly accurate 3D but one that is being successfully delivered ‘digital world’ with terrain and all aspects of by global mapping and location-based data the built environment included. This map has specialists HERE. to be computable in the binary domain.” Using data from a wide variety of Most importantly, even though this sources, including its own dedicated fleet location data can be (and is) still rendered of over 400 LiDAR equipped field cars, into images and maps for human users HERE builds high-definition (HD) maps and to view and utilise, the ‘digital world’ is combines them with cloud technology to constructed using only 1s and 0s... and it’s deliver bespoke solutions for businesses, these 1s and 0s that the automated devices consumers and a number of global and need. local enterprise partners such as Facebook. COVER STORY
“With so many things changing across the road network and the built environment on a daily basis, we need to be sure that the map data we provide reflects these changes accurately and in a timely manner.”
HERE’s world-leading 3D point cloud maps “Whether it’s a change in a bridge height WORKING TOGETHER TO BUILD deliver unprecedented quality and detail, clearance as a result of road maintenance or A SMART NATION with accuracy to 25mm and the level of resurfacing works; temporary or permanent With this level of data now available and lane-specific road network detail required to closures of roads or lanes; or changes to peak affordable, Australia is now ideally positioned facilitate autonomous navigation, including: flow traffic control, vehicle permissions and/ to lead the way in the establishment and or load limits, any number of events can have a expansion of ‘Smart Cities’ and to build its • traffic direction significant impact on selecting an appropriate reputation as a ‘Smart Nation’. • speed limits navigable route - and that’s all before we Smart Cities are not, by their very • signage and traffic control even start to consider traffic flows, accidents, nature, something that can be established in • peak-flow control incidents and congestion,” he said. isolation, or for that matter, by one level of • bridge heights “Again, it comes down to the fact that in a government or any specific industry sector. • restricted manoeuvres digital world, there are only 1s and 0s – a route First and foremost, Smart Cities and, • weight limits and other vehicle restrictions is either open, appropriate and available to use, by extension, the Smart Nation concept, Importantly, the data contained in HERE’s or it isn’t. Autonomous vehicles and devices require a high level of cooperation between 3D point cloud maps extends far beyond aren’t able to interpret data in the same manner all stakeholders. Federal, State and Local a simple network of streets, roads and as a driver… we need to provide all of the Governments working together with industry highways. It can also be used to annotate relevant data,” he said. groups and the private sector to aggregate building and awning heights, roadside assets, “Even in the analogue world, if a driver is and share the data required to build ‘the and even the minimum height of over-road relying on his or her GPS system to provide digital infrastructure’- the ‘INFOstructure’. infrastructure, such as a sagging power or them with a suitable route for a large vehicle, Importantly, with much of this data communications cables strung across the we need to ensure that all the bridge heights, now available as a high quality national road. load limits and vehicle permissions across the centreline database and centimetre model In short, these High Definition maps are road network are kept up-to-date so their Sat of all our cities, it’s also critical that multiple a full three-dimensional laser and imagery Nav system doesn’t try and send them under a stakeholders avoid wasting time, effort and fused digital rendering of not only the road bridge that is too low for their vehicle, or across resources unnecessarily ‘reinventing the network, but also the prevailing terrain and a bridge or road which isn’t able to cope with wheel’ but rather add value where it makes the surrounding built environment. the vehicle weight,” Peter Hawkins added. sense. This massive data collection and For many stakeholders, having access KEEPING IT CURRENT processing task is carried out by HERE using to a high quality, highly detailed and Together with accuracy and detail, the other a range of sources, including people on the affordable dataset, will deliver a range of critical factor in ensuring that the map data road and data from RSS feeds and via Pier-to- benefits beyond simple data accuracy. It is usable, is making sure that it is kept up- Pier relationships with responsible authorities. will also enable them to better focus their to-date. Peter Hawkins Director of HERE’s For example, where there are ongoing IT / GIS resources to meet their specific Regional Map and Content comments: major works on key arterial routes (where needs. Rather than investing time and “Currency and accuracy of the data is traffic flows, lanes closures, and directional resources trying to build a database from paramount,” Peter said. “With so many things instructions will change over the course the ground up, they can now leverage the changing across the road network and the of the works) HERE aggregates the traffic massive investment that has already been built environment on a daily basis, we need to control and regulatory data, together with made by HERE in creating the national be sure that the map data we provide reflects dynamic live feed traffic data to ensure that dataset - working with the existing data these changes accurately and in a timely the mapping system provides the valuable and enhancing it with their own stakeholder manner.” information that’s needed. specific content.
14 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 COVER STORY
SEE HOW IT’S DONE Scan the QR Code for a detailed insight in HERE’s high-tech data collection and map making capabilities.
About HERE With that in mind, HERE is partnering level of detail and accuracy achieved by HERE with an ever-increasing number of public and is, quite literally, not a viable option for most private sector stakeholders to build detail public and private sector organisations today. on a ‘local’ or ‘stakeholder specific’ scale, It must be outsourced - in the same way they enhancing the available national dataset to outsource other non-core business functions meet all needs. such as IT or app development. Not surprisingly, this ‘partnering’ approach By working together with HERE (acting is already delivering significant benefits as ‘custodians’ of the national dataset), and positive outcomes across a number stakeholders including Councils, government of industry sectors, and in many ways, is agencies, industry groups and the private changing the way in which many public and sector are able to invest their GIS resources private sector organisations utilise their in- into annotating a ‘central’ high quality map house GIS resources. It was not surprising with additional spatial data (e.g. property therefore to learn that even Australia Post use boundaries for title, fire hydrant locations HERE data for planning postal delivery routes. for emergency services, infrastructure and Having an affordable, high quality national asset maintenance and management data) to A global leader in maps and traffic, HERE dataset available is also set to result in a provide a single, centralised, highly detailed was formerly part of Nokia, however, it was paradigm shift in the way we think about and accurate dataset. By leveraging the recently purchased by a consortia of BMW, the stewardship of such data. Creating commercial provider’s reach (Facebook, Daimler and Audi. Working with a focus on maintaining this data not only requires a Amazon, Garmin, Navman, Holden, Samsung data and software rather than hardware massive investment in capital infrastructure etc) , the same content can be made quickly solutions, HERE builds high-definition including data capture cars, global production and affordably globally accessible - without (HD) maps and combines them with cloud centres (in one centre alone in Mumbai HERE high development costs - to distribute as technology to deliver bespoke solutions have close to 2,000 production staff), but also appropriate open or authenticated user only for businesses, consumers and a number of a local presence (60 staff in Australia in each accessible data. global and local enterprise partners. of the 197 countries in which they operate, For further information please contact HERE has created maps for 196 which carries a significant on-going cost. In HERE, ph: +61 3 9420 5952 or visit: countries with more than half navigation short, creating and maintaining a dataset with 360.here.com grade. In addition, HERE has developed public transit maps in more than 950 cities and floor-by-floor indoor maps for more than 90,000 buildings across over 11,000 venues. HERE has a staff of over 1,200 Geographic Analysts working in 188 offices across 50 countries, together with an additional 2,000+ Geographic Technicians in 6 production centers across the globe.
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AWARDED YOUNG ADELAIDE ENGINEER A BIG HIT ON THE WORLD STAGE
Adelaide University engineering student, Andrew Bradley, was presented the Richard Cavagnaro Award at a recent function held for young geotechnical engineers from South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Resulting from a partnership with Adelaide- based manufacturer, Broons, the young PhD student reported his findings on Rolling Dynamic Compaction to the world stage in Scotland. Used for deep soil compaction on many of the world’s largest civil engineering projects, including the Palm Islands in Dubai, the locally made Broons’ ‘Square’ Impact Roller has been the focus of Andrew’s PhD research. He has computer modelled the finite element effects of Rolling Dynamic Compaction to better understand the science beneath the ground on this unique machine. Working with Broons, he and fellow students are looking to accurately map the depth of influence and effectiveness of the Broons’ Impact Roller which has been exported all over the world. According to Andrew, it is vital that industry and higher education work more closely together in local research and development projects. “There’s an inherent experience that you can only get through the support of a company such as Broons. They provide us with documentation, in-field testing and design specifications that we can put into our models”. Andrew presented his findings to the pinnacle of engineering minds at the 16th European Soil Mechanics and Geotechnical Engineering Conference in Edinburgh Scotland during September. Accompanying him was Professor Mark Jaksa from the University of Adelaide.
Right: Andrew Bradley receives award for research on Broons Square Impact Roller
16 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 ITS SPECIAL FEATURE Intelligent Transport Systems News and Feature Articles ITS SPECIAL FEATURE
A high-powered Australian delegation has just returned from the 22nd ITS World Congress in Bordeaux after visiting the French port city with a ALL EYES two-fold purpose. The delegation – heightened by the presence ON MELBOURNE 2016 of Deputy Prime Minister, Warren Truss – went to Bordeaux to learn about the latest in ITS technology and present to the world Australia’s expertise in the sector, and importantly to promote the 2016 World Congress in Melbourne.
In this ITS Australia segment of Highway Engineering Australia, we feature the preparations for next year’s Melbourne event, some of the happenings in Bordeaux and associated developments it the ITS sector.
Those developments include legislation before the South Australian Parliament to allow for on-road trials of driverless cars, the growing momentum for the establishment of an Innovative Transport Cooperative Research Centre and the increasing use of driverless vehicles in Australia’s resources sector.
ITS Australia President and Chair of the Melbourne 2016 ITS World Congress, Brian Negus, holds aloft the “ITS World Globe” in Bordeaux as the focus shifts from the French port city to Melbourne as the next congress host.
18 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 ITS SPECIAL FEATURE
FOCUS ON MELBOURNE 2016
The 23rd ITS World Congress in Melbourne in It also included Australia’s Ambassador to “To have Mr Truss with us reinforced 2016 will be a great spur to Australia’s intelligent France, Stephen Brady, the Victorian Agent the importance, the significance the Federal transport systems industry, according to ITS General to Europe and the UK, Geoffrey Government places on technology and dealing Australia Chief Executive, Susan Harris. Conaghan, and chief executives from key with and managing transport and congestion in “A world congress anywhere provides a great national and state transport agencies and leading our cities. incentive to local industry and we’ve been really Australian ITS companies. “Australia has long been leading the excited to see how people have come on board Participating at the Bordeaux event presented charge with transport technologies, and to be to support the event next year in Melbourne,” Ms Australia with the opportunity to reinforce accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister to Harris said while attending the 2015 World ITS its strong ITS credentials on the global stage further promote our performance in this sector Congress in the French port city of Bordeaux. amongst international counterparts at over 60 was hugely important for us as an organisation, Ms Harris was a key member of the ITS sessions. and for the future of the industry in Australia.” Australia delegation at Bordeaux from 5-9 Ms Harris said the presence of Mr Truss was Ms Harris said the Federal Government was a October along with Brian Negus, President of ITS significant in terms of Australia’s role at Bordeaux program partner for Melbourne 2016, the highest Australia. and in focusing attention on 2016. level of sponsorship for the event, and this clearly The delegation was headed by Deputy “His presence, I think, represented the highest showed how serious it was about technology Prime Minister and Infrastructure and Regional level of support that any country has been able to in the transport sector and leveraging it for the Development Minister, Warren Truss. demonstrate for a World Congress. community.
From left: Paul Gray, CEO Cohda Wireless; Susan Harris, CEO ITS Australia; Warren Truss, Deputy Prime Minister; and Brian Negus, President ITS Australia.
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 19 ITS SPECIAL FEATURE
The Deputy Prime Minister helped set “I received repeated comments from my peers the scene for the Australian delegation by that the level of organisation for the Melbourne participating in high level discussions at the event was well ahead of where other venues had Ministerial Roundtable alongside Alain Vidalies, been at a similar stage. French Secretary of State of Transport, and other “Our delegation sent a very clear message international transport leaders. to everyone at Bordeaux; that Melbourne was The Bordeaux Congress was co-hosted by going to be very well organised and was going to ERTICO-ITS Europe, ITS America and ITS Asia showcase the latest technology - technology that Pacific. was on another level to that seen in Bordeaux. More than 11,000 participants including “2016 is well and truly on track and we’re over 4,000 delegates, 450 exhibitors, 35 live continuing to work on the ‘financial backbone’ demonstrations and representatives from over 100 through sponsorship and exhibition sales. countries took part in the Congress. “Given where we’re at with the sponsorship The theme was “Towards Intelligent Mobility and exhibition sales we can focus on the program – Better Use of Space”. The technical program, to make sure delegates receive the best possible demonstration and exhibition showcases were experience. I’m really confident the delegate representative of the theme, as well as the seven participation in Melbourne will be extremely main topics of the Congress: high.” • Space technologies and services for ITS; Ms Harris said the atmosphere at Bordeaux • Cooperative ITS deployment challenges; clearly showed there was a great deal of “It is a great honour for Australia to be • Multimodal transport for people and goods; enthusiasm by members of the ITS community to selected as the host nation for this prestigious • Urban trends driving ITS changes; make the trip to Melbourne. event next year, particularly for Melbourne, • Solutions for sustainable mobility; “There’s no reason to think we can’t attract having been named the world’s most liveable • Automated Roads, Automated Management, 10,000 or 12,000 people to Melbourne – we’re city yet again for the fifth time in a row this Automated Driving; and looking at about 1,000 Australian delegates and August. • Are Big Data and Open Data transport’s “Silver the remainder from all parts of the globe. “Hosting a successful event in Sydney at the Bullets”? “Australia and Melbourne have well 2001 World Congress 15 years ago, we will be Keynote Speakers included Violeta Bulc, established links with the Asia Pacific region, and sure to build on that experience, and follow suit Commissioner for Mobility and Transport, the 2016 Congress will give people from further with what Bordeaux had to offer,” Mr Negus European Commission; Alain Juppé, Mayor of afield an opportunity to strengthen their ties with said. Bordeaux; Cees de Wijs, Chairman, ERTICO-ITS the Asia Pacific. Intelligent Transport Systems Australia Europe; and Florence Ghiron, President, Topos. “A lot of people from the Asia Pacific have promotes the development and deployment of Australia’s high profile list of speakers family in Melbourne – many of them studying here advanced technologies to deliver safer, more included Mr Negus, Ms Harris, Paul Gray – Cohda – so they will have a personal as well as business efficient and environmentally sustainable Wireless CEO, Adam Game – Intelematics CEO, incentive to make the trip.” transport across all public and private modes – Rob Fitzpatrick Director, Infrastructure, Transport Ms Harris said Melbourne had a large urban air, sea, road and rail. & Logistics, DATA61, CSIRO and Transport area and government and the ITS sector were It advocates the application of Certification Australia CEO, Chris Koniditsiotis. looking to leverage intelligent transport systems communication, data processing and electronic There were about 130 Australians at Bordeaux to help make sure the city retained its hard won technologies for in-vehicle, vehicle-to-vehicle, and more than 50 of them were directly involved liveability status. vehicle-to-infrastructure and mode-to-mode in the event as part of plenary sessions, general “And liveability is not just a challenge for systems to increase transport safety and public sessions or technical discussions. Melbourne – it’s a challenge being faced by cities sustainability, reduce congestion, and improve ITS Australia co-exhibited with internationally across the globe, so we’re looking at showcasing the performance and competitiveness of recognised Australian companies Cohda the lessons we’ve learned in Melbourne and Australia’s networks. Wireless, Intelematics Australia and National ICT enabling others to assess how they can progress In recognition of Melbourne’s reputation Australia (NICTA). to ensure their cities are increasingly liveable.” as the world’s most liveable city, the 2016 Ms Harris said Australia’s ITS sector Brian Negus, President of ITS Australia, said Congress theme will be “ITS – Enhancing was putting in a lot of effort to build on the the Bordeaux Congress gave the ITS world a taste Liveable Cities and Communities”. achievements of Bordeaux. of what was to come in Melbourne 2016. Visit: www.itsworldcongress2016.com
“Australia has long been leading the charge with transport technologies, and to be accompanied by the Deputy Prime Minister to further promote our performance in this sector was hugely important for us as an organisation, and for the future of the industry in Australia.”
20 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 From left: Hermann Meyer CEO ERTICO; André Reix, ITS Word Congress Board; Michel Labardin, Vice President, Bordeaux Métropole; Nathalie Delattre, Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux; Florence Ghrion, André Reix, World Congress Board; Brian Negus, President ITS Australia taking over as President of TOPOS and Bordeaux Host Organising Committee; Regina Hopper, President and CEO ITS ITS Australia President Brian Negus. Chair of the ITS World Congress Board; Hermann Meyer, CEO ERTICO. America, USA; Claude Carette, Chair of the 2017 ITS World Congress organizing committee, Montreal Hajime Amano, ITS Asia-Pacific, Secretary-General; Brian Negus, President ITS Australia.
From left: Adam Game, CEO Intelematics; Susan Harris, CEO ITS Australia; Australian ITS Australia / Melbourne 2016 World Congress Stand in Bordeaux. From left: Hajime Amano, ITS Asia-Pacific, Secretary-General; Australian Deputy Prime Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss; Brian Negus, President ITS Australia; Minister Warren Truss; Brian Negus, President ITS Australia; Jill Ingrassia, Chair ITS Dean Zabrieszach, CEO/Director HMI Technologies Limited, Australia. America; Cees de Wijs, Chair ERTICO.
ITS Australia / Melbourne 2016 World Congress Stand in Bordeaux. One of several networking functions hosted by ITS Australia. Cohda Wireless demonstration.
Cohda Wireless demonstration. Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss inside Cohda Wireless vehicle. From left: Paul Gray, CEO Cohda Wireless; Susan Harris, CEO ITS Australia; Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss; Brian Negus, President ITS Australia.
From left: Susan Harris, CEO ITS Australia; Stephen Brady, Australian Ambassador to From left: Paul Gray, CEO Cohda Wireless; Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss; Brian From left: Australian Deputy Prime Minister Warren Truss; Bernd Luebben, Vice President France;Jennifer Mackinlay, Senior Trade Commission, Australian Government. Negus, President ITS Australia. Business Development, Cohda Wireless; Stephen Brady, Australian Ambassador to France; Paul Gray, CEO Cohda Wireless.
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 21 MEET IN ASIA PACIFIC FOR THE WORLD’S LEADING FOLLOW US #ITSWC16 ITS SPECIAL FEATURE TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY EVENT ACTIVATING GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS EXCELLENCE IN ITS INTELLIGENT 23RD ITS WORLD CONGRESS 2016 LOGISTICS 10–14 October 2016 | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre ACHIEVEMENT ITS - Enhancing Liveable Cities and Communities The 2015 iMobility “Excellence in ITS Achievement” Award ceremony took place at the European Commission Stand during the ITS World Congress. SOLUTIONS www.itsworldcongress2016.com Lina Konstantinopoulou, iMobility Support Coordinator, highlighted the importance of the iMobility Award in recognising and promoting ambitious and DRIVING DIGITAL innovative iMobility deployments, paving the way to safe, smart and clean road mobility. ECONOMY Ms Konstantinopoulou paid tribute to the 14 award nominees for their high PROGRAM THEMES calibre and professionalism before giving the floor to Wolfgang Höfs from As well as hosting the ITS World Congress, Bordeaux was home Challenges and Opportunities Smart Cities and the European Commission DG-CONNECT who handed over the Award to the to the 8th European Conference on ICT for Transport Logistics CALL FOR winner. (ECITL). of Big Open Data New Urban Mobility Alessandro Coda of EUCAR – European Council for Automotive R&D – was One of the key speakers at ECITL was Nathalie Delattre, The promise of Big Open Data is unlimited. The data and technology Cities continue to be engine rooms of global economic growth as well PAPERS are there, and open access is increasing. The dramatic increase in data as prime centres of population growth. How can ITS help cities avoid rewarded by the European Commission, DG CONNECT, for his work in defining Deputy Mayor of Bordeaux, who stressed the importance of from infrastructure, vehicle and consumer sensors is complemented by being the victims of their own success, so that growth does not mean the roadmaps of future ITS research. innovative transportation and the use of intelligent logistic organisations opening up access to their previously proprietary data. How reducing liveability? Can new approaches to pricing help manage demand Mr Coda is Research Coordinator and Acting Director at EUCAR where solutions as a catalyst for the digital economy. OPEN! do we now deliver the full promise of Big Open Data both within the and provide more sustainable funding? Can next generation traffic industry and to consumers? How can we use this data to solve problems management and incident management help smart infrastructure cater for he coordinates the research and innovation activities of European vehicle “To make our metropolitan area more attractive, we must such as congestion, improving the practicality of car-pooling, multi-modal these changing demands as well improve customer journey experiences? manufacturers. He is also Chairman of the Research and Innovation working achieve more seamless mobility, including digital mobility,” Ms journey planning or simply keeping consumers informed? How can we How can we make cities friendlier to people through integrated public group of the iMobility Forum. Delattre said. manage issues such as privacy, data ownership and liability? transport, smarter parking and pedestrian friendly zones? Mr Coda worked on the harmonised roadmaps to support the EU policy “Our objective is to support the multi-faceted development Automated Vehicles and Mobile priorities for Horizon 2020 and beyond, during the 5th Plenary Meeting of the of digital technologies and their uses, and to place them at the Cooperative ITS Applications iMobility Forum in January 2015. service of the local territory and its power of attraction. KEY DATES There are many problems associated with road use – fatality and injury, Its a mobile and increasingly connected world. Many of us knew a world The outcome was the result of more than one-year’s efforts by working “The metropolitan area of Bordeaux therefore plans to congestion, stress, pollution… Could automated and connected vehicles where work could be done only at the office, but now every aeroplane, train, groups that identified European activities for research and development, large be at the forefront of the French Tech initiative, to boost the ONLINE SUBMISSION OPENS offer a transport nirvana, and if so, how can we get there? What are the bus, café and home can also be a workplace. People demand information barriers remaining on the road to automated and connected mobility and pilot scale actions, standardisation and deployment in seven main areas. digital transition of our economy and support the emergence of 31 October 2015 anywhere and at any time it is useful to them and the explosive growth how and when will they be overcome? How will we manage the mixing of smartphones had led to all-conquering ‘app’. As these apps start to The final results took into account the input received through an open ‘technological champions’,” said Ms Delattre. of automated and legacy vehicles and vulnerable road users such as appear on our dashboard and our cars use smartphones for infotainment, public consultation on the web and dedicated workshops with the main related ECITL examined emerging trends in the deployment of ITS SUBMISSION DEADLINE pedestrians and cyclists? Will the sharing economy mean that cars no do any boundaries remain? How can we continue to provide an ever better stakeholders: and focused on sub-themes including: 13 January 2016 longer sit idle for 23 hours a day and what might mobility as a service customer journey experience and move from customers searching for mean for our cities? relevant information to that information proactively coming to them? • European Commission; • co-operative intelligent transport systems for logistics; REGISTRATION OPENS • OEMs; • e-Freight; April 2016 Vehicle and Future Freight including • suppliers; • intelligent cargo; Network Safety Aviation and Maritime • public authorities; • logistics in smart cities; AUTHOR NOTIFICATIONS The guiding vision of a safe system is that no person should be killed Our economies depend on goods moving safely, efficiently and reliably on • academia; • safety and security in logistics and April 2016 or seriously injured on our roads. How can we use ITS to help make road, on rail, on water, through the air and through terminals. How can • research organisations; • supply chains. this vision a reality? How can ITS help safer roads and roadsides, safer we use ITS to achieve smarter future freight? What role might unmanned DEADLINE FOR RESUBMISSION OF vehicles, safer drivers and safer speeds to avoid crashes from occurring? vehicles play, on road, on rail, on water, through the air and through • municipalities; The theme of the ECITL conference had high priority for the CONDITIONALLY ACCEPTED PAPERS How can we improve post-crash responses so that more victims survive? terminals? How can we offer seamless multi-modal solutions to customers • service and content providers; ERTICO-ITS Europe Partnership, according to Hermann Meyer, June 2016 How can we protect our most vulnerable road users? and differentiate solutions for differing needs? • transport and motorways operators; CEO of ERTICO-ITS EUROPE. • users associations; and “The ERTICO Partnership has implemented different FINAL PAPER SUBMISSION Environmental Policy, Standards • telecom operators. programs on ITS, with one of them focusing on freight and August 2016 Sustainability and Harmonization Mr Coda urged the ITS community to focus on the future and called upon all logistics to provide a specific direction to ERTICO activities We all share the world in which we live and we need to care for this Successful ITS requires not only smart technologies but also policy and stakeholders to continue to work together to effectively deploy ITS in Europe. relating to the deployment of ITS in logistics and freight in SPEAKER REGISTRATION DEADLINE world. How can ITS make transport more environmentally sustainable, regulatory frameworks, governance and collaboration, defined architecture August 2016 reducing not only its carbon footprint but also pollution and noise? How and standards and successful funding strategies and business models. Europe and beyond,’’ Mr Meyer said. can we make active transport more convenient and appealing as part of How can we continue to strengthen these foundations for success and ABOUT IMOBILITY FORUM Some of the trends are picked up already by CO-GISTICS, a more liveable city? How can we help reduce the number of cars with continue to address issues such as liability and privacy? The iMobility Forum is an independent public-private platform with 228 the European funded project co-organiser of the ECITL only one occupant? How can we help accommodate the electrification of the vehicle fleet? members. Established in 2002, the iMobility Forum is chaired by the European Conference. Commission and co-chaired by ERTICO – ITS Europe, ASECAP and ACEA. CO-GISTICS is the first European project fully dedicated to Over 7,000 attendees and over It provides a platform for all ITS stakeholders in Europe to develop, the deployment of cooperative intelligent transport systems implement and monitor work programs linked to road maps and international (C-ITS) applied to logistics. 300 exhibitors from around 60 countries cooperation for the successful development and deployment of ITS. CO-GISTICS services will be deployed in seven logistics The forum has established nine working groups; Automation WG, Probe hubs, Arad (Romania), Bordeaux (France), Bilbao (Spain), data WG, Safe Apps WG, HMI WG, Legal Issues WG, Research and Innovation Frankfurt (Germany), Thessaloniki (Greece), Trieste (Italy) and WG, Implementation Road maps WG, International Cooperation WG and Vigo (Spain). Vulnerable road users WG). CO-GISTICS is a consortium that has 32 partners including It has developed and is continuously refining recommendations for work public authorities, fleet operators, freight forwarders, terminal items especially in the context of future R&D work to support the deployment operators and logistics providers. of ITS.
PROGRAM PARTNER HEADLINE PARTNER HOSTED BY CO-HOSTED BY SUPPORTED BY: 22 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 SPONSORSHIP AND EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
ITS16_A4-Advertisement.indd 1 5/11/2015 4:53 PM MEET IN ASIA PACIFIC FOR THE WORLD’S LEADING FOLLOW US #ITSWC16 TRANSPORT TECHNOLOGY EVENT ACTIVATING GLOBAL MOBILITY SOLUTIONS
23RD ITS WORLD CONGRESS 2016 10–14 October 2016 | Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre ITS - Enhancing Liveable Cities and Communities www.itsworldcongress2016.com
PROGRAM THEMES
Challenges and Opportunities Smart Cities and CALL FOR of Big Open Data New Urban Mobility The promise of Big Open Data is unlimited. The data and technology Cities continue to be engine rooms of global economic growth as well PAPERS are there, and open access is increasing. The dramatic increase in data as prime centres of population growth. How can ITS help cities avoid from infrastructure, vehicle and consumer sensors is complemented by being the victims of their own success, so that growth does not mean organisations opening up access to their previously proprietary data. How reducing liveability? Can new approaches to pricing help manage demand OPEN! do we now deliver the full promise of Big Open Data both within the and provide more sustainable funding? Can next generation traffic industry and to consumers? How can we use this data to solve problems management and incident management help smart infrastructure cater for such as congestion, improving the practicality of car-pooling, multi-modal these changing demands as well improve customer journey experiences? journey planning or simply keeping consumers informed? How can we How can we make cities friendlier to people through integrated public manage issues such as privacy, data ownership and liability? transport, smarter parking and pedestrian friendly zones?
Automated Vehicles and Mobile KEY DATES Cooperative ITS Applications There are many problems associated with road use – fatality and injury, Its a mobile and increasingly connected world. Many of us knew a world congestion, stress, pollution… Could automated and connected vehicles where work could be done only at the office, but now every aeroplane, train, ONLINE SUBMISSION OPENS offer a transport nirvana, and if so, how can we get there? What are the bus, café and home can also be a workplace. People demand information barriers remaining on the road to automated and connected mobility and 31 October 2015 anywhere and at any time it is useful to them and the explosive growth how and when will they be overcome? How will we manage the mixing of smartphones had led to all-conquering ‘app’. As these apps start to of automated and legacy vehicles and vulnerable road users such as appear on our dashboard and our cars use smartphones for infotainment, SUBMISSION DEADLINE pedestrians and cyclists? Will the sharing economy mean that cars no do any boundaries remain? How can we continue to provide an ever better 13 January 2016 longer sit idle for 23 hours a day and what might mobility as a service customer journey experience and move from customers searching for mean for our cities? relevant information to that information proactively coming to them? REGISTRATION OPENS April 2016 Vehicle and Future Freight including Network Safety Aviation and Maritime AUTHOR NOTIFICATIONS The guiding vision of a safe system is that no person should be killed Our economies depend on goods moving safely, efficiently and reliably on April 2016 or seriously injured on our roads. How can we use ITS to help make road, on rail, on water, through the air and through terminals. How can this vision a reality? How can ITS help safer roads and roadsides, safer we use ITS to achieve smarter future freight? What role might unmanned DEADLINE FOR RESUBMISSION OF vehicles, safer drivers and safer speeds to avoid crashes from occurring? vehicles play, on road, on rail, on water, through the air and through CONDITIONALLY ACCEPTED PAPERS How can we improve post-crash responses so that more victims survive? terminals? How can we offer seamless multi-modal solutions to customers June 2016 How can we protect our most vulnerable road users? and differentiate solutions for differing needs?
FINAL PAPER SUBMISSION Environmental Policy, Standards August 2016 Sustainability and Harmonization We all share the world in which we live and we need to care for this Successful ITS requires not only smart technologies but also policy and SPEAKER REGISTRATION DEADLINE world. How can ITS make transport more environmentally sustainable, regulatory frameworks, governance and collaboration, defined architecture August 2016 reducing not only its carbon footprint but also pollution and noise? How and standards and successful funding strategies and business models. can we make active transport more convenient and appealing as part of How can we continue to strengthen these foundations for success and a more liveable city? How can we help reduce the number of cars with continue to address issues such as liability and privacy? only one occupant? How can we help accommodate the electrification of the vehicle fleet? Over 7,000 attendees and over 300 exhibitors from around 60 countries
PROGRAM PARTNER HEADLINE PARTNER HOSTED BY CO-HOSTED BY SUPPORTED BY: SPONSORSHIP AND EXHIBITION OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE
ITS16_A4-Advertisement.indd 1 5/11/2015 4:53 PM ITS SPECIAL FEATURE
WARREN TRUSS CHAMPIONS MELBOURNE 2016
One of the Federal Government’s most senior Mr Truss said the Congress was an ministers and long-term supporters of transport opportunity for networking with Australia’s, infrastructure has strongly supported Melbourne’s the Asia Pacific’s and the world’s leaders in staging of the 2016 ITS World Congress. transport technology. Warren Truss – Deputy Prime Minister, It was also an opportunity for participants Infrastructure and Regional Development to immerse themselves into one of the world’s Minister, and long-serving cabinet member of most sustainable cities as it moved towards Liberal Governments – said Australia had, over the 2020 goal of becoming carbon neutral. the past decade, invested heavily in the future “Melbournians have a deep passion for their of sustainability and the role transport played in city, and you will no doubt experience why. achieving sustainability. “Take a walk through the vibrant young And Mr Truss said Melbourne had long been city and café filled laneways; relish the known as “a world leader in its support for these outstanding and culturally diverse food and causes”. wine in the city’s array of restaurants or
“Australia prides itself on being at the forefront of many innovative technology initiatives, with world leading cooperative ITS systems from Australia deployed in vehicles and cities across the globe. “
“Australia prides itself on being at the perhaps experience the city’s focus on multi- forefront of many innovative technology modal transport, including bikes, trams, buses initiatives, with world leading cooperative ITS and pedestrian precincts to facilitate mobility systems from Australia deployed in vehicles and to our sports and entertainment precincts, cities across the globe. parks and gardens. “These solutions are helping to make “We look forward to seeing live significantly safer and more efficient public and demonstrations of the technologies that are private transport, something we all strive to helping to make Melbourne and Australian achieve. infrastructure reliable and adaptable to “With advanced technology trials in Victoria, growth,” said Minister Truss. South Australia and New South Wales, we are “With various technical tours taking already shaping the future transport landscape place around the country, be sure to take the here in Australia,” Mr Truss said. opportunity to discover the ‘lucky country’. “With the 2016 theme of ‘Enhancing Liveable “Experience first-hand our unique history Cities and Communities’, you will see just how and ancient civilisation, whilst taking in the Melbourne fits right into the spirit of the ITS iconic scenery that sets Australia apart from World Congress series. the rest of the world. Mr Truss said it took considerable effort to be “We look forward to welcoming you to named the World’s Most Liveable city five years Melbourne for the 23rd World Congress on running and the theme of the Congress was in Intelligent Transport Systems 2016 from 10-14 keeping with Melbourne’s global reputation. October.”
24 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 ITS SPECIAL FEATURE
MOMENTUM GATHERS FOR INNOVATIVE TRANSPORT CRC More than 100 organisations in the Intelligent Transport Systems sector are strongly committed to the establishment of an Innovative Transport Cooperative Research Centre, according to one of the leading figures involved in the push. “The enthusiasm within the ITS community is huge – really astounding,” said Ian Christensen, Chief Executive Officer of the AutoCRC, a body established in 2005 as part of the CRC Program to develop new technologies in the Australian automotive industry. “We’ve talked to over 200 people from 130 organisations in the government, regulatory, industry and academic sectors, and each one of them has been enthusiastic, supportive and keen to see the CRC established.” And Mr Christensen said from talks he had while attending October’s ITS World Congress in Bordeaux, he could confirm a high level of willingness on the part of overseas stakeholders to at least be aligned with the Australian initiative. “Whether they would be fully fledged participants is not clear; it is more likely they would have an associate role involving an exchange of information and ideas rather than participating in Australian projects.” Mr Christensen said that significant commitment of industry partners is needed in order to qualify for CRC funding and that this makes sense given the objectives of the program. “It very much has to be industry investing in projects to which government would provide further financial backing – it has to be industry led and industry funded in significant measure.”
“We’ve talked to over 200 people from 130 organisations in the government, regulatory, industry and academic sectors, and each one of them has been enthusiastic, supportive and keen to see the CRC established.”
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 25 ITS SPECIAL FEATURE
Mr Christensen said at this stage, it would be “If the CRC undertook trials, then one of its development of the current CRC bid through the hard to put a figure on the level of government roles would be to disseminate information about efforts of a previous attempt led by ITS Australia. support an ITS-CRC would attract, but he said the effectiveness of the trials and the technology He said ITS Australia and members of the a typical industrial CRC program would seek involved. ITS community who realised there was an to attract $5 million of industry funding and $5 “There’s a communications task around opportunity for Australia to make a concerted million of government funding a-year to operate. the outcomes of trials that is important and, in effort in technical development in the transport “Ten million dollars of research money per the same vein, we would want to learn from sector started organising a bid for a CRC in year delivers a reasonable scale of operation, overseas trials. 2013-14. but it depends on the factors involved. “On the other hand, there would be “There was a sense in 2013 that technology “In ITS there are a range of things to do. technology development opportunities which was being rapidly developed in many places Some of it is technology development and would involve sub-groups of stakeholders in the and a window of opportunity was open for some is testing in the field to learn how to make CRC. stakeholders in Australia. the technology work effectively under local “Those endeavours would be intended to “There was a strong sense of ‘we need to get conditions. build the competitiveness of Australia’s industry on board this train because it’s about to leave “When you start trialling, costs increase participants and there would be commercial-in- the station’. quite substantially so it may be that an ITS- confidence information coming out of those trials “The bid was on track to be submitted in CRC has to re-dimension its bid and its ask of that wouldn’t be shared. June 2014, but the CRC program was temporarily government. The bid may have to be broken into “Hopefully that information; that technology closed. Pleasingly the program has since funding for technical development and funding would be embedded in new products and recommenced and there are new CRC program for piloting and trialling because the quantum services from Australian companies that would guidelines being developed which are expected of dollars needed for trialling could be quite develop international business.” to be made public around November. substantial.” Mr Christensen said there was consensus “We’re making a bold assumption,” Mr Mr Christensen said if an Innovative building required around protocols and Christensen said “that bids would need to be in Transport Cooperative Research Centre became standards. place by the end of June 2016, with a view to a a reality with acceptable levels of funding, it “For instance, everybody is quite concerned decision being made by Christmas and activity would be a major fillip for the future of the ITS and focused on cyber security. It may be that starting in July 2017. industry. CRC could play a role in developing cyber “The government has recommitted to having “At the moment, there is extensive trialling security standards and, if that was the case, it a CRC program and quite rightly wants to ensure being undertaken in Europe and the United would absolutely want all parties to know about it is strongly industry focused – that means States, and Australia is missing out. So we’re them and adopt them. in principle we’re back on track and the ITS standing still while the rest of the world is “So not only would we want to share community is very positive about the initiative moving forward. information; we would want everybody involved and the opportunities it presents. “An injection of funds and focus on ITS in the auto cyber-security space to participate “We’ve spoken to everybody involved in the at this time would be a major step towards in discussions so we could achieve a well first bid and many more additional parties, and Australia catching-up and keeping-up with considered standard and substantial ‘buy-in’ to they’ve all welcomed the prospect of having the implementation of productivity enhancing adopting that standard.” an Innovative Transport Cooperative Research technologies which become important to our Mr Christensen acknowledged that there Centre to contribute R&D and coordinate national competitiveness.” had been a significant contribution to the development in that space.” Mr Christensen said Australia was under pressure to lift its national productivity and export competitiveness. “Not withstanding that individual companies within the freight and logistics sector perform diligently and effectively, it’s incumbent “An injection of funds on Australia as a nation to use evolving technologies to further improve practices in the and focus on ITS at sector. this time would be a “For instance, in the food industry, the value of food in the hands of the consumer depends major step towards on freshness. So anything we can do to reduce the time taken to supply food to the domestic Australia catching-up and export markets is going to add substantial value to the national economy. and keeping-up with “Australia badly needs to find new ways the implementation of to be competitive overseas and we must maximise the effectiveness of the freight and productivity enhancing logistics sector and export logistics to give manufacturers and exporters the very best technologies which prospects to be competitive in global markets.” There would, Mr Christensen said, be become important to our several types of knowledge flowing from the national competitiveness.” CRC if it became a reality.
26 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 ITS SPECIAL FEATURE
SOUTH AUSTRALIA LEADS NATION ON DRIVERLESS CAR LEGISLATION
In an Australian first, legislation allowing for the mobility options for the benefit of the Australian and by leading the charge, we are opening up on-road trials of driverless cars is before the community and to support an established countless new opportunities for our businesses South Australian Parliament. industry in Australia supplying sophisticated and our economy.” Transport and Infrastructure Minister, technology components to the global automotive The Motor Vehicles (Trials of Automotive Stephen Mullighan, introduced a Bill allowing industry.” Technologies) Amendment Bill will provide for for “real-life” testing of the technology, a move Minister Mullighan said the legislation would exemptions from existing laws to allow trials of applauded by ITS Australia, the organisation, position the state at the forefront of an industry automated vehicle technology on public roads. representing ITS suppliers, government projected to be worth $90 billion in 15 years. “As the first state in Australia to regulate a authorities, academia and transport businesses. “We are on the cusp of the biggest advance framework for such testing, we are opening our ITS Australia CEO, Susan Harris, said: in motoring since the Model T opened up car doors to global businesses to develop and trial “ITS Australia wish to congratulate Minister ownership to the masses. their technologies here, while also creating the Mullighan and the SA government on the “In July, when we announced that South right environment for local businesses to grow release of this legislation consistent with their Australia would host the first trials of driverless and flourish,” Mr Mullighan said. commitment at an ITS Australia Business Event cars in the Southern Hemisphere, we sent a “For instance, hardware and software from in South Australia in April this year. message to the world that our state is open for South Australian-based Cohda Wireless is being “The introduction of this legislation business. used in more than 60 per cent of all Vehicle-to- demonstrates that Australian governments are “South Australia is now positioned to Infrastructure and Vehicle-to-Vehicle field trials eager to pave the way to support emerging become a key player in this emerging industry worldwide today. “Cohda is currently working on software for General Motors’ connected vehicle, the Cadillac SA Transport and Infrastructure Minister, CTS, which is due for release next year. Stephen Mullighan “Companies like Cohda are leading the way in intelligent, connected vehicle programs aimed at driverless cars and we want to foster more of that innovation to generate the kind of high- skilled advanced manufacturing jobs we want to develop in South Australia.” Paul Gray from Cohda Wireless welcomed the announcement. “As a global supplier of Connected and Autonomous Sensors, Cohda is pleased to have the opportunity to test our products on SA roads.” Mr Mullighan said that importantly, the legislation provides safeguards for the public. “Companies looking to trial technologies on our roads will have to submit detailed plans to the government for approval, have sufficient insurances to protect the public and still be subject to penalties for breaching road laws outside the scope of the trial. “It is critical the public has confidence that these trials will operate safely on our roads,” Mr Mullighan said. The legislation also requires notice of any trials to be published at least one month in advance on the Department for Planning, Transport and Infrastructure website, www.dpti. sa.gov.au, and a full report to be tabled before both houses of Parliament within six months of the completion of the trial.
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 27 ITS SPECIAL FEATURE Courtesy of Rio Tinto Australia. Autonomous Haulage Trucks, West Angelas minesite; credit Christian Sprogoe Photography
ITS HELPS DRIVE AUSTRALIA’S RESOURCES SECTOR The key role of ITS technology in Australia’s autonomous trucks and autonomous drills, we “And let me touch on the power of big data economic growth was highlighted in an address test and trial new technologies such as drones, for a moment. during October by Greg Lilleyman, Group and we use big data to optimise productivity. “Across Rio Tinto we have about 900 haul Executive Technology and Innovation, with the “In our Australian iron ore business we have trucks, each with about 200 sensors. In total global resources giant, Rio Tinto. 69 automated trucks setting new benchmarks in they gather approximately 5TB of data every Rio Tinto’s operations focus on metals efficiency and productivity,” Mr Lilleyman said. day. Through the use of big data analytics we and minerals including aluminium, copper, “It was our pioneering work with Komatsu on can compare operations site by site, but also diamonds, gold, industrial minerals (borates, automated trucks that helped lead the way in our operations look at the entire fleet to detect or titanium dioxide and salt), iron ore, thermal and industry. We can now compare fully autonomous predict impending equipment failure and thereby metallurgical coal and uranium. mines with a manned operation. extend the component life of these assets by It has a workforce of 60,000 people in “At our Nammuldi mine in the Pilbara we planning ahead. six continents – Australia, North and South now have the largest autonomous truck fleet in “In other words”, Mr Lilleyman said, “we not America, Asia, Europe and Africa. the world. This fleet outperforms the manned only better manage our on-site performance, Mr Lilleyman presented an insight into the fleet by about 12 per cent and we have seen a but also the capital side of the equation too, in operation of autonomous trucks in Rio Tinto’s commensurate saving in load and haul costs due terms of spares, and useful asset life or capital Australian mining operations while addressing to the greater efficiency. replacement. the Nikkei Asian Review Forum in Sydney on 15 “The improved utilisation allows us to run “As the example with Komatsu and October. the same mine using a smaller size fleet, which automated trucks highlights, the best His speech – entitled Partnering for a New means lower capital expenditure.” innovation happens in partnerships and Era of Growth – looked at Rio Tinto’s relationship Mr Lilleyman said at another of Rio Tinto’s collaboration. In many respects Japan’s with Japan over half a century, how Australia Pilbara operations, West Angelas, it operated thinking in machine automation and and Japan could work to promote long-term the world’s first fully autonomous production technologies have driven our iron ore growth and Rio Tinto’s view on China and the drill site. You need to drill holes for production business to its industry cost leadership “new normal” in Asia. planning, blasting and grade control. position. Mr Lilleyman also highlighted Rio Tinto’s “The seven autonomous rigs have drilled “It is that leadership position that builds commitment to harnessing new technologies to over 2.25 million metres – that is a lot of resilience during times of market change or drive its leadership position in productivity. metres and costs. These drills have delivered volatility. It is that embedded resilience that “We focus such an approach through productivity improvement of about 10 per cent, ensures we can provide Japan, Asia and the what we call the Mine of the Future. We use again translating to cost savings. world with the metals and minerals they need.
28 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 ITS SPECIAL FEATURE
BORDEAUX VENUE FOR V2X RADAR LAUNCH V2X-Radar – a technology that enables connected vehicles to interact with other vehicles (V2V) or with roadside infrastructure (V2I) was launched at the ITS World Congress in Bordeaux by internationally recognised Australian company, Cohda Wireless. V2X Radar technology is a non-line-of-sight sensor with 360-degree coverage which extends a driver’s horizon of awareness. It uses DSRC (Dedicated Short Range Communication) to detect objects from which signals are reflected. DSRC is a low-latency V2V and V2I communication protocol. V2X Radar is different to regular radar. Regular radar is directional, whereas V2X technology is omnidirectional. Cohda Wireless CEO, Paul Gray, said V2X-Radar was a low-cost addition to a standard V2X system that added radar functionality to the V2X connected vehicle. “This unique and innovative solution is standards-compliant, requiring no additional hardware in a V2X-equipped vehicle and no additional on-air messages,” Dr Gray said. “All it needs is our software in the receiving vehicle. V2X-Radar currently works with the NXP Roadlink chipset.” Dr Gray demonstrated the technology in front of delegates and the leader of Australia’s delegation to Bordeaux, Infrastructure and Regional Development Minister, Warren Truss. MAAS TO PROVIDE ‘TAILOR MADE’ MOBILITY SOLUTIONS Twenty European organisations joined According to Rasmus Lindholm, ERTICO’s forces at the ITS World Congress at Director of Communications and Partnership Bordeaux to establish the first Mobility as a Development, “MaaS has the potential to Service (MaaS) Alliance. fundamentally change the behavior of people The initiative will work towards a in and beyond cities, hence it is regarded as European and common approach to MaaS the biggest paradigm change in transport since through public and private stakeholder affordable cars came into the market.” cooperation, providing the basis for the Founding Partners of the Mobility as a economy of scale needed for a successful Service Alliance include Aalborg University, implementation in Europe. AustriaTech, Ericsson, ERTICO – ITS Europe, The key concept behind MaaS is to Federation International de l’Automobile put the users, travellers and goods, at (FIA) Region I, Finnish Ministry of Transport the core of transport services, offering and Communications, Helsinki Business Hub, tailor-made mobility solutions based on IRU, Connekt, ITS Finland, ITS Sweden, ITS individual needs. Ukraine, MOBiNET, National Mobile Payment This means that, for the first time, easy Plc. (Hungary), Swedish Ministry of Enterprise access to the most appropriate transport and Innovation, Finnish Funding Agency for mode or service will be included in a Innovation (Tekes), Transport for London, bundle of flexible travel service options CEO of ITS Finland, Vinnova, University of Tampere and Xerox. for end-users. Sampo Hietenan “Bundling services to simplify access to The MaaS Alliance builds upon the mobility is a key step to ensure the best use of momentum and drive achieved during all modes of transport,” said Jacob Bangsgaard, the last European ITS Congress in 2014 hosted by Helsinki, where MaaS Director General FIA Region I. received political support from the Finnish government. “I call upon the transport community to develop and combine these “MaaS is a new approach to changing mobility markets. It relies on services based on the public’s concrete needs. In the FIA, we believe existing and developing transport services, and has a huge chance for mobility must be safe, sustainable, accessible and affordable for all.” global scaling”, said the man behind the concept, Sampo Hietanen, CEO of The official launch took place at the Finnish Pavilion at the Congress in ITS Finland. Bordeaux.
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 29 ITS SPECIAL FEATURE
THE ROAD TO AUTOMATED VEHICLES “My feeling from Bordeaux is that automated Ms Harris said the issue of security relating vehicles will be on our roads well within 10 to to automated vehicles was gaining a higher 15 years.” profile. The words of Susan Harris, CEO of ITS “We need to really understand the ‘nuts and Australia, who’s back home after attending bolts’ of that issue, and also the adaptation and the ITS World Congress in Bordeaux and now implementation of policy relating to automated faced with the challenge of the 2016 event vehicles. being held in Melbourne. “Governments learn from each other “We’re already moving along the path to and aim to have a standard approach to potentially fully automated vehicles and we’re implementation that will facilitate a rapid not even noticing it. adoption of these life-saving technologies “Vehicles already have automatic window across the globe, and to deal with community winders, satellite navigation, sensors, and engagement.” cruise control moving towards adaptive cruise But Ms Harris conceded there were control,” Ms Harris told Highway Engineering regional challenges facing the uptake of Australia. uniform standards. and interact at an international level to bring “The public is increasingly experiencing “We come from a legacy of a range of about the right level of harmonisation. these technologies in new vehicles and it will standards and systems in place, but the “That’s really the great opportunity of the ITS be a gradual transition to increasing the level opportunity is there to learn from one another World Congress and the associated forums that of those technologies and becoming familiar and to move towards increasingly common and take place there and throughout the year. with them over the coming years. interoperable standards so we can achieve “Unlike many other industry forums, the ITS “In the next five years, I think we’re going to seamlessly connected transport systems World Congress brings together industry and see a rapid transformation of the new vehicle across the globe.” government leaders, policy makers, the heads of fleet and some of the safety technologies those Ms Harris also said it was an ongoing standards agencies and academic leaders who vehicles will include.” challenge for regulators to continually engage can really help inform those discussions.”
REPLACING WORK DIARIES WITH EWDS Heavy vehicle drivers and operators are a step “The heavy vehicle drivers who choose to exceed work time by up to three minutes for the rest closer to being able to replace their onerous use an EWD will also receive extra benefits of that 24-hour period, unless the driver makes up written work diaries with electronic work from using them, such as receiving alerts when for the five minutes at a later time in that day. diaries (EWDs) with the passing of the Heavy breaks are required.” This is intended to make it impractical to Vehicle National Law Amendment Bill 2015. The laws enact the recommendations put by deliberately schedule the additional eight minutes Chief Executive of the National the NTC to Australia’s transport ministers in May as work time. Transport Commission, Paul Retter, said last year. “The implementation of EWDs will be voluntary, the bill implemented the National Transport Importantly the laws ensure drivers who choose but we expect many drivers will choose them once Commission’s reforms to permit the use of to use an EWD won’t be fined for small breaches of they are widely commercially available,” Mr Retter EWDs instead of written work diaries. less than eight minutes. said. Mr Retter said the new laws would help This eight minute rule will not apply to rest time The National Heavy Vehicle Regulator will now heavy vehicle drivers comply with the existing and drivers will have a total of eight minutes for a be charged with developing operational procedures requirements that set the maximum number of whole 24-hour period, starting from a major rest to approve EWDs for use by transport operators and hours heavy vehicle drivers were able to work. break. drivers, and to ensure transport compliance officers “EWDs make it much easier to comply with For example, a driver who exceeds work time have the right technical equipment and support to the law and stay safe on the road,” he said. by five minutes in the first period of work may only read the data from an EWD.
30 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 ASPHALT IN FOCUS
Recycled tyre rubber hits the road
Used tyres clogging landfill sites in “We are about to enter the second year In addition, the government is also Queensland could be hitting the road again of a four-year study into tyre recycling, but considering the feasibility of banning tyres, along under a State Government funded recycling road asphalt applications have already proven with timber, green waste and concrete from project. successful in Queensland trials.” disposal at landfills in a bid to boost recycling Minister for Main Roads, Mark Bailey, and Minister Miles said recycling used tyres rates and market opportunities for these Environment Minister, Steven Miles, said the into roads made sense because it worked on materials. government was leading a national plan to put several levels. Dr Miles said while Queensland householders more rubber into roads. “Every year in Australia more than 51 would still be allowed to take these items to the “The disposal of used tyres is a national million tyres reach their end-of-life and only 16 tip, alternatives to putting them in landfill would problem, but Queensland has the opportunity per cent of these tyres are recycled, with most need to be offered. to be the leader in this recycling strategy,” Mr ending up stockpiled or dumped in landfill. “A disposal ban won’t affect residents; Bailey said. “The previous LNP government however, they can always help us by making sure “The government is partnering with Tyre de-regulated tyre storage, leading to a old tyres are not illegally dumped.” Stewardship Australia to develop and trial re-emergence of tyre stockpiling and Earlier this year, the Department of Defence specifications for the use of crumbed rubber a reduction in the flow of waste tyres into committed to ensuring its fleet tyres were in road asphalt applications. the Queensland market. managed and recycled in an environmentally- Tyre Stewardship Australia, a not-for-profit “The current government is committed to sound way by joining Tyre Stewardship Australia. company funded by industry, is responsible finding innovative solutions when it comes to Assistant Minister for Defence, Darren for implementing and administering the tyre waste.” Chester, said the government encouraged all product stewardship scheme. Touring the Chip Tyre recycling facility at defence contractors, suppliers, partners and Each year, about 51 million passenger tyre New Chum – a suburb of Ipswich – Ministers others involved in the recycling, tyre retail and equivalents reach their end-of-life in Australia. Bailey and Miles said they were impressed by transport business to have their tyres recycled A large number of tyres are currently the work of local businesses that accepted old and to consider becoming part of the voluntary disposed of in landfill, stockpiled, exported or tyres for recycling. scheme. illegally dumped, with approximately five per “Chip Tyre shreds some 2.2 million used Mr Chester said joining Tyre Stewardship cent being recycled. tyres each year for reuse in products such as Australia with Defence’s newly-contracted Ministers Bailey and Miles said the stage 1 adhesives, carpet underlay and road product,” National Waste Services Provider, Veolia, would research in partnership with Tyre Stewardship Dr Miles said. ensure Defence’s continued commitment to best Australia found that crumbed rubber in “From the end of this year, Chip Tyre will practice environmental management. spray seals could lead to improved road also crumb old tyres for road-based projects, It is anticipated that Defence will ensure performance, now we want to see if this is preventing even more tyres from ending up sustainable disposal of some 40,000 also true for asphalt. as landfill.” passenger tyre equivalents each year.
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 31 ASPHALT IN FOCUS
Changes in Nanoscaled Mechanical and Rheological Properties of Asphalt Binders Caused by Aging
In order to understand the changes in nanoscale caused by the This article is based on extracts from a research paper prepared aging of short and long terms, the frontier of atomic force microscope by Ben Liu, Junan Shen and Xuyan Song of the Road Engineering (AFM) was used to explore the nanomechanical forces. The adhesion, Research Centre, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, nanoforce curve, and rheological properties were tested on an asphalt Suzhou, China. The article was first published in March 2015 by binder before and after aging through rotating thin film oven (RTFO) Hindawi Publishing Corporation. aging. Highway Engineering Australia has utilised extracts due to space limitations and the complete presentation can be found at: Materials www.hindawi.com/journals/jnm/2015/961924/ This research used Shell Pen 70# as asphalt. The properties of Pen asphalt were shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Properties of Shell Pen 70# asphalt. Test index Unit Pen 70 Specs Test Abstract method Aging of an asphalt binder causes the changes in the microstructure Penetration (25°C, 5 s, 100 g) 0.1 mm 68 60~80 T0604 and, consequently, in the nanomechanical and rheological properties Ductility (5 cm/min, 15°C) cm >100 ≥100 T0605 of the aged asphalt binder. Short-term aging on asphalt binders was simulated using a Softening point (global °C 58 ≥46 T0606 rotating thin film oven (RTFO). These changes in the microstructure method) and nanomechanical and rheological properties were measured using Dynamic viscosity (60°C) Pa·s 230 ≥180 T0625 atomic force microscope (AFM) and dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). The residue after thin film T0609 The results indicated that (1) the adhesive force of the asphalt oven binder from AFM tests was increased after RTFO aging; (2) the Quality loss % 0.04 ≤±0.8 T0609 asphalt binder from DSR tests increased after RTFO aging; (3) the results from AFM were consistent with those from DSR, explaining the Ductility (5 cm/min, 15°C) cm 27 15 T0605 mechanism of the changes of rheological properties. Penetration ratio (25°C, 5 s, % 69 ≥58 T0604 100 g) Introduction Asphalt binder plays an important role in the performance of asphalt mixture, which accounted for 29% of rut depth at high temperature, It is indicated from Table 1 that the asphalt conformed to the according to the strategic highway research program (SHRP) requirements of the Chinese specifications. research. In addition, the materials used for atomic force microscope test Rheology is a very powerful tool for characterizing and quantifying including acetone solution and carbon disulphide solution are all materials’ properties. Since the rheological properties of asphalt commercially available. change during production and continue to change subsequently in service, there is necessity to study the phenomenon of aging. Methods As a result of the global climate, air temperature of most areas in AFM analysis uses the BRUKER company’s icon type atomic force China in the summer is higher and lasts for a long time, making the microscope. Its principle is that there is a small tip which is very rutting and water damage particularly more prominent than ever sensitive to the weak force at the other end of micro-cantilever. before. Tip gently contacted the sample surface, due to the extremely The DSR is widely used for characterizing asphalt binders and weak repelling force between needle tip atoms and the sample surface is required for specifications in many countries. DSR can accurately atoms; the force will be kept constant in the scan control. measure the rheological responses of asphalt films adhesion to A sharp tip probes the surface of a sample while collecting data. aggregate’s surfaces. The cantilever tip is usually only several micros in length, and is located As a special material, asphalt binder has viscoelastic property at the free end of a cantilever. Vertical displacement and lateral and is more complicated than other pavement materials. The testing distortion in the cantilever is measured and mapped as the tip probes involves using rotating thin film oven (RTFO) aged binders to mimic the surface of the specimen. the state of binder aging in the mixture beams. The surface information will be measured by nanoscaled resolution. Because of its complexity in compositions, the rheological The operation mode of the atomic force microscope was classified in properties of asphalt binder are dependent on the aging, the the form of acting force between tip and sample classification. temperature tested, and the test methods. A number of studies have There are mainly three kinds of operating modes: contact mode, recognized that binders of nearly identical SHRP performance grades non-contact mode, and tapping mode, with atomic force microscope can show differences in fracture properties that vary significantly. structure model as shown in Figure 1.
32 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 ASPHALT IN FOCUS
Figure 1: Atomic force microscope used in the study.
The nanomechanical properties of the asphalt before and after The δ is elastic and viscous deformation amount of relative index. aging are conducted by contact model. The probe model of the The smaller the δ is, the closer the material is in the elastomer, complex cantilever used in the study is SCANASYST-AIR, and its elasticity shear modulus (G), and its two components: storage modulus (G1) and coefficient is 0.4 N/m. After correction, deflection sensitivity value of loss modulus (G2), as shown in Figure 3. the cantilever beam is 51.48 nN/V, and the K of the spring coefficient is 0.4840 N/m. Summary and Conclusions This study followed the steps: In the study, the changes in nanomechanical properties were measured (1) Weigh the asphalt before and after aging separately, with the on base binder of both original and RTFO residuals using atomic force weight ratio of carbon disulfide and asphalt 1 : 9; microscope (AFM) and the rheological properties were tested by (2) Wipe completely glass slide with acetone solution to remove surface dynamic shear rheometer (DSR). dust and make sure the slide surface is clean; Conclusions can be drawn as follows: (3) Absorb by glue rubber head a drop of the asphalt solution prepared (1) The nanoadhesion was successfully measured from AFM of the picture and release it on a glass slide; and and curve, and it was found that it increased after RTFO aging for (4) Let the drop of solution be a thin film. base binders. Nanoforce curve from AFM showed that adhesion force Dynamic shear rheometer (DSR) is a machine that determines the is 30.7 nN and 41.5 nN for asphalt and RTFO residuals, respectively. rheological properties of asphalt binders for Superpave system: rutting (2) G of the binders was higher for RTFO residual than for the original resistance at high temperature and fatigue resistance at intermediate one. The influence between the G of the RTFO residual and that temperature. of the original was temperature-dependent and decreased as the It belongs to the plate type rheometer. Asphalt samples were temperature increased. placed between parallel plates as shown in Figure 2, at a certain rate (3) The rheological properties of the asphalt changed consistently with of rotating shearing, determining binder plural shear modulus G and the nanomechanical properties with the aging. phase angle of the δ, charactering its viscoelastic properties. G is (4) From the tests of AFM and RTFO, the results had a good correlation material repeated shear deformation measurement of total resistance, of base asphalt with the aging; SBS modified asphalt and other composed of elastic (recoverable) part of G1 and G2 of part of the asphalt with different modifying agents should be tested in the future viscosity (irreversible). study to understand the aging mechanism of different asphalt better.
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 33 ASPHALT IN FOCUS
$4 million Flying Flagstaff under pressure
When Higgins Contractors took on a The project demanded a highly concentrated Gully paving job of major proportions, it looked level of compaction work in the short spaces of to Wirtgen New Zealand to supply reliable time open to the team, so a total of five Hamm Asphalt Plant equipment in the form of Hamm rollers, rollers – including HD75 and HD90+, articulated Vögele pavers and Wirtgen milling machines tandem rollers and rubber-wheeled GRW 280 to help complete the project. static rollers – were used. Often, all five rollers development Imagine being tasked with milling and were on the move at the same time. resurfacing an entire 1.3 kilometre-long main The fleet of Hamm rollers proved a Downer EDI Limited (Downer) plans to runway and an additional 235 metre taxiway comprehensive solution under time-sensitive redevelop its Flagstaff Gully Asphalt – all while the airport in question remained circumstances, offering not only a flexible Plant in Tasmania at an estimated cost fully operational. double-vibrating and oscillating option, but of $4 million. Being the only airport in the Hawke’s driver comfort and visibility as well; paramount The redevelopment of the plant Bay region to service flights on Air New under the demands of full night-shift will commence early next year and Zealand’s national Link service meant this operations. is expected to be completed by complex undertaking at Napier Airport In addition to the Hamm roller fleet, two mid-2016, subject to the necessary could only be completed at night. Napier is a Wirtgen W130F milling machines were on- approvals. coastal centre on New Zealand’s north island. site for precise surface rehabilitation work. Sergio Cinerari, Chief Executive With scheduled flights due to depart Additionally two universal class Vögele pavers Officer, Downer Infrastructure early in the morning and the requirement were required. The Vögele 1600-2 and 1603-2 Services, said the project represented that Higgins Contractors had all plant are both members of the Super Series range; a continued investment in Tasmania by and work lights off the runway, as well as the former tracked, the latter wheeled and his company. sweeping it for foreign object bebris (FOD) each boasting a 7-8 metre pave width and a “The new plant will produce a by six o’clock in the morning, the window of maximum laydown rate of 600 tonnes/h. variety of high performance and high opportunity to complete the job done was “A project of this magnitude required a recycle content asphalt products not tight. number of things to go to plan,” said Mr Seay. currently available in this state. But with aircraft flying into Napier “We ensured the contractor had suitable “These products include warm mix typically using the runway up until 9.30 at resources available to get the job done to and low CO2 asphalt that incorporates night – and sometimes as late as 11.00 – in schedule. It was critical for Higgins to have up to 20 per cent recycled asphalt and reality the ‘night shift’ often wouldn’t be able the assurance that all the plant it needed to other recycled materials that would to swing into gear until the wee small hours. produce the end result could be relied upon otherwise end up in landfill, such as This proved a major project for Higgins night after night.” rubber tyres,” said Mr Cinerari. and for Wirtgen New Zealand, which The finished paved product is proof enough “Sixty thousand tonnes of 20 per supplied a line-up of milling machines, of the attention to detail required of such a cent recycled asphalt, the typical pavers and rollers in order to remove the project as the Hawke’s Bay Airport Runway 16- volume used by Hobart each year, existing open graded asphalt surfacing from 34 Resurfacing. will see up to 600 tonnes of CO2-e the runway and complete the subsequent In all, over the course of five-and-a-half emissions avoided. dense graded hot mix replacement work. weeks, 26 separate shifts worked the runway “This is equivalent to 2.1 million “It’s not often you see such an extensive and taxiway areas to get rid of the severely kilometres of car travel per year or the selection of gear from across the brands on cracked and ravelling open graded asphalt and carbon absorbed by more than 2,200 one project at one time,” said Richard Seay replace it with the new material. trees over 20 years.” of Wirtgen New Zealand. A total of 9000 tonnes of asphalt was Tasmania’s Minister for “But the Hawke’s Bay Airport runway required to be produced for the job: roughly Infrastructure, Rene Hidding, said resurfacing work was a harmonious equating to half the normal annual asphalt Downer’s investment reflected the opportunity for us, and a reflection of the production for Hawke’s Bay in less than two growth in business confidence in the ongoing relationship we have with Higgins.” months. state. “The proposed redevelopment of the 25-year old Flagstaff Gully asphalt plant will require up to 25 local contractors and, once complete, will It was critical for Higgins to have the assurance that all the plant be run by a team of five employees and support an asphalt laying crew of it needed to produce the end result could be relied upon night 10 Tasmanians.” after night.”
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50+ ASPHALT IN FOCUS
UP TO % 78PRODUCTIVITY GAIN
very day, paving supervisors try to increase production any way they can and their efforts can add up by the end of a job with considerable Edollars and even days saved. As a paving supervisor, Wayne Thames of Ranger Construction Industries Inc. knows all about production and the effort that goes into making even marginal gains. That makes Ranger’s recent road-widening job all the more impressive. “Productivity was dramatically increased from what we estimated,” said Mr Thames. “We had a production bid based on placing 450 (US) tons per shift, and with the Cat® AP255E we’ve been able to increase that to over 700 tons and sometimes over 800 tons.”
36 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 ASPHALT IN FOCUS
The additional 250-350 tons represents an To accommodate increasing traffic, increase of 56-78 per cent over the planned upgrades and widening have been in progress 450 tons. “It’s been amazing,” Mr Thames said. on prioritised sections since 2000. Ranger’s Crews for Ranger recently widened a latest work covered about 23.75 kilometres. shoulder on an increasingly busy Highway 80 Specifications called for two lifts – the first near Belle Glade – just a few kilometres from 50mm; the second 37mm – to elevate the the company’s headquarters in West Palm shoulder to 16mm below the existing main Beach, Florida. The shoulder will eventually road pavement. A 16mm overlay will then be become another traffic lane. The work is being placed over the entire shoulder. completed in both east and west-bound lanes. Most of the paving required widths of 1.2m and less, too narrow for large pavers. Mr Thames turned to the AP255E, capable of minimum widths of 150mm and a maximum of 3.4 metres. Shoulder work can be slow, with high “This paver has tonnage levels tough to reach given the narrow paving widths and, in the case of electronic grade Highway 80, exits and turning lanes. controls. We’ve tested “We bid the job thinking we would use a road widener,” Mr Thames said. them out and they Yet the more he thought about goals for production, smoothness and density, the more work beautifully.” it seemed like a job best suited for a paver.
WAYNE THAMES, PAVING SUPERVISOR RANGER CONSTRUCTION
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 37 ASPHALT IN FOCUS
Mr Thames spoke with the local Cat dealer SEEING IS and determined the AP255E would be ideal BELIEVING FOR for meeting project specifications. It didn’t take much testing for him and AP255E USERS colleagues to be convinced of the machine’s benefits. Asphalt foreman, Kenny Newhouse, said: “After that first day, it really sold me on what that paver can do,” he said. The AP255E has a hopper big enough to accept asphalt from a material transfer vehicle (MTV), helping the paver work continuously, and avoid the stops that can impact smoothness. The AP255E also has a vibrating screed, helping jumpstart density. But it was the production that really caught Mr Thames’ attention. Road wideners stop takes two people, he can do from the centre more frequently and place material at a slower console position.” pace. They also require significant raking and Mr Thames said Caterpillar engineers more compaction behind the machine. placed the catwalk so the operator stands “It’s just a much slower process,” he said. above the vibrating screed. “The paver moves more quickly. We “It keeps the operator away from the average about 5.5 metres per minute.” vibration,” he said. “The mat and the screed; Substantial density was achieved before not the operator, take the brunt of the force.” the roller hit the mat. The “raking” crew and Mr Thames thought the paver idea was the screed operator weren’t needed. worth testing, and expected the pros and “It’s a one-man operation,” Mr Thames cons to mostly offset each other. That wasn’t said. “One individual can stand back there the case. Foreman, Kenny Newhouse, said he was and operate the left and right-hand sides “Since day one, the paver has performed. skeptical before stepping on the Cat of the screed. He can operate the augers, The machine has already paid for itself many AP255E Asphalt Paver. the flight chains – everything that usually times over.” “I mostly operate the 10-footers (3m), and the AP255E is a lot smaller. I kept an open mind and it worked really well. “The gates are consistent, and the controls are easy to handle. The mat is very good.” “It’s very operator friendly. It has electronics and joint matcher. It’s a lot better than the smaller pavers I’ve used in the past, especially with the electronic controls for the operator. “I was very surprised by the productivity. When I look at a paver like that, I think smaller parking lot applications, but after the first day, it really changed my outlook on what that paver could do.” Wayne Thames, paving supervisor at Ranger Construction Industries, said: “The paver has electronic grade controls. We’ve tested them out and they work beautifully. “The visibility from the paver is impeccable; from the MTV, to the trucks in front, to the line you’re trying to hold. It’s almost unrealistic. You basically control the whole job from a single operator station.”
38 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 Stormwater Report
PRODUCT: RMS TYPE SB STORMWATER DISH DRAIN GRATE BR DURHAM & SONS - PH: 02 4587 7011 STORMWATER REPORT
Stormwater drain key to planning for New wastewater Green Square facility for Murray Sydney Water and the City of Sydney Brinckerhoff and RPS Manidis Roberts to build Bridge are constructing a major underground the stormwater drain. stormwater drain to service the city’s Green Detailed design continues for some SA Water plans to relocate its Murray Bridge Square precinct. sections of the stormwater drain. It is being Wastewater Treatment Plant to ensure the The Green Square area is one of the built using a combination of open trenching regional city’s future wastewater needs can fastest growing in Sydney, with nearly and micro-tunnelling. Work will happen across be met. 10,000 new apartments due for completion multiple locations simultaneously. A business case for the plant upgrade is over the next four years. The City has Construction started in May 2015 and is included in SA Water’s Regulatory Business committed $540 million over the next expected to be completed in by late 2017. Proposal to the Essential Services Commission 10 years to build world-class community of South Australia for the 2016-20 period. facilities and infrastructure for Green Square, More than $66 million has been budgeted focussing on high-quality design. for this project for 2016-20, with additional Green Square Town Centre will be the expenditure in future years to be determined area’s new commercial, retail and cultural through detailed design and tendering hub. processes. The 2.4 km underground stormwater SA Water’s Senior Manager of Stakeholder drain will run from Link Road, Zetland Engagement, Matthew Bonnett, said the to the existing stormwater system at proposed upgrade would offer a range of Alexandra Canal, Alexandria, and will provide benefits to both the community and SA Water. The first microtunnelling machine arrives at Green stormwater services to accommodate growth “A new and improved plant will support Square. and development in the Green Square area. growth in Murray Bridge and help improve our It is a key part of Sydney’s urban renewal environmental performance by addressing and the Liveable Cities strategy. odour issues,” Mr Bonnett said. The new stormwater drain will significantly “Constructing a new plant away from the reduce flooding in and around the Green River Murray floodplain and residential areas Square Town Centre during torrential rain - will minimise impacts on the community and particularly at Joynton Avenue and on Botany environment. Road. “This will also enable us to comply with Sydney Water and the City of Sydney odour standards set by the Environment formed the DG Alliance with UGL Engineering, Protection Authority as part of our Microtunnelling machine lowered into launch pit. Seymour Whyte Constructions, Parsons Photos courtesy Sydney Water/City of Sydney. Environment Improvement Program.”
Major stormwater harvesting and reuse project in Brisbane
Seven stormwater harvesting schemes are These schemes are being progressively built, Council said the benefits of the project being constructed in Brisbane with more with all of them to be completed by April 2016. included reducing demand for potable water than $5 million in Federal funding allocated Stormwater harvesting and reuse projects by up to 185 megalitres per year, fostering to the Brisbane City Council. are being undertaken in the following locations: habitat creation within the project locations, Council submitted a proposal to the • Whites Hill Sports and Recreation Reserve, increasing the amenity of open spaces Federal Government for funding towards a Camp Hill - open water storage; within the Brisbane city area and improving stormwater harvesting and reuse project. • CB Mott Park, Holland Park - open water waterway health. It was one of nine successful applicants storage; It said the city had experienced extreme around the country and has been awarded • Ekibin Park East, Greenslopes - open water weather patterns in the last 10 years; from $5.39 million over four years of the total storage; the worst drought in the region’s history $10.78 million project cost to deliver seven • Langlands Park (Chadwick Place), between 2001 and 2009, to the major flood stormwater harvesting schemes to sport and Greenslopes - above-ground tanks; event in 2011. recreational parks across Brisbane. • Sexton Street Park, Tarragindi - above- The need to build resilience and manage Council will construct water storage ground tanks; risks in South East Queensland had been basins, in-channel storage systems and • Norman Park Sports Precinct, Norman Park made clear by these weather events. above-ground tanks to supply filtered - in channel storage; and This project is jointly funded by the stormwater to seven local parks and • Downey Park Sports Precinct, Windsor Federal Government’s National Urban Water recreational facilities to be used for (Finsbury Park, Wilston) - in channel and Desalination Plan and Council’s Clean irrigation purposes. storage. Green and WaterSmart Initiative.
40 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 PH: 1300 DURHAM PH: 1300 387426
Custom & Special Made Products Cast and Ductile Iron Access Covers and Grates Precast Concrete Pits and Kerb Lintels Galvanised Mild Steel Gratings and Steel Fabrication
CAST / DUCTILE IRON GRATING B R Durham & Sons is Australian owned and operated and has been established for more than 60 years with experience in providing Australian and International markets with long lasting quality drainage products with third party accreditation. Durham specialises in “making the job easy for you.” Located in Sydney, Yass, Queensland and Darwin.
We design, manufacture and supply precast concrete structures, access covers and grating for residential, commercial and industrial purposes, ranging from class A (pedestrian) to Class G Pedestrian Guard Heel Guard (airport taxiways). Australian made or imported from overseas. We are also agents for Saint- CAST / DUCTILE IRON ACCESS COVERS Gobain (France) and Hydrotech (Germany). Custom made products available.
Our range includes::
· Precast Concrete: Reinforced precast concrete pits, sewer shafts, ris- ers, kerb lintels (RMS and council type), grates and access covers precast into concrete surrounds. To AS4198 · Access Covers: Concrete infill, paver infill and solid top types, Paver Infill Covers Infill Covers available in assorted sizes from 300x300 to 900x900 clear opening. Multiple part access cov- GALVANISED & STAINLESS STEEL GRATING ers available for sizes over 900x900. Trench access covers also available. All access covers are gas, air and water tight. Third party accredited to AS3996. · Round Covers: Sewer and stormwater infill and solid top types available in Classes B and D. Saint-Gobain hinged round access covers with unique spring bar lock- ing system. · Sump Gully Grates: Available in galvanised mild steel and cast ductile iron. All grates are bicycle safe. Pedestrian and wheelchair guard also available. RMS and council Galvanised Grating Stainless Steel Grates approved types. · Trench Grating: PRECAST CONCRETE PROCUTS Pedestrian, bicycle and wheelchair safe trench grating readily available in galvanised mild steel, cast ductile iron or stainless steel grade 316. Hy- drotech ductile iron grates and concrete channel system in various sizes. · Cast Iron Boxes: Water, gas, gas tight sealed, stop valve, hydrant and sub soil. · Underground Water Tanks · Step Irons (galvanised and plastic coated) · Lifting tools / keys (short and long handle) Precast Concrete Custom built products
web: www.durham.com.au email: [email protected] STORMWATER REPORT
UNIVERSITY CULVERT – MT OUSLEY WOLLONGONG Combining traditional tunnelling technology The northern extension, however, was with modern day rehabilitation techniques sized at 1200mm, which at times of heavy enabled ITS Pipetech to submit and rain, was restricting the flow of water into the provide a solution to RMS [Roads and culverts causing flooding to the upstream Maritime Services] to extend the life of an creek valley and threatening local property existing set of culverts that crossed the M1/ and the university campus. Princes Highway outside The University of The project identified the probability Wollongong. of one or more of the culverts becoming The prime objective of the work was to blocked under a one-in-100-year storm event; provide structural integrity and equalise therefore the feasibility review recommended the bores of a triple cell culvert that passed that the pipes at the upper ends of the beneath one of the busiest arterial routes in culvert set be enlarged to a common profile Australia and to achieve a design life of 100 similar to the remainder of the culvert. years. It also recommended that an inclusion A secondary consideration was to devise of debris barriers with vehicle access be a methodology and a sequence of works that installed to the culvert entrance for access to caused the least disruption to the motorway undertake maintenance and routine debris that carries over 18,000 vehicle movements clearance under the project scope. a day just two metres above the top of the ITS Pipetech’s submission was to culverts. develop a methodology to tunnel around The university culverts carry the Dallas the existing inlet pipes to standardise the Street branch of Fairy Creek which crosses three cells into a common profile to meet the under the motorway via a three cell precast hydraulic demands and reduce the potential concrete pipe. for blockages and water retention in the Over the years as the Princes Motorway upstream valley. was upgraded and widened, the original Once this had been engineered, the void 1350mm triple culvert set was extended to profile of the existing culverts had to be take additional traffic lanes. created and structurally lined together with
42 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015
STORMWATER REPORT
the existing pipe to complete the structural each of the three cells and replace with a cast rehabilitation process. insitu reinforced structural pipe bore. The proposal also took into consideration Matching the existing diameter, it could any potential damage to the riparian zone be structurally relined with a UV cured and the effects this would have on damage Berolina GRP liner to provide the client with to local flora and fauna, as well as designing an uninterrupted free-flowing three cell an access down from the motorway level to underpass to meet hydraulic requirements. the culvert level with an associated structural The initial 6.5 metres of each culvert retaining wall. progressed from a headwall intake under the It had been identified that any blockage of breakdown lane and inside carriageway of the the culvert would result in significant flooding north bound lanes of the Princes Highway. to the surrounding area during periods of high The contract scope preference was to avoid intensity rainfall. any closure of the highway. In order to remove This would bring the possibility of an the pipes without disruption to traffic, ITS eventual collapse of the culvert that would proposed a modified tunnelling system using a risk the security of the motorway above three-stage heading arrangement commencing causing possible closure and widespread with the outer right; then the outer left before ITS opted for the use of its Tunneline cast traffic disruption. finishing with the middle bore. insitu structural lining system to construct the The section of motorway is a key link As the heading advanced, the existing three bores that were set at 1350mm id to between the Port Kembla industrial area concrete pipe could be broken up and match the internal main cell diameters. Each and the Hume highway, with an AADT of removed from the workings leaving a space bore was cast in a single operation using a approximately 18,000 vehicles per day of large enough to facilitate casting a structurally 40Mpa structural concrete which 16 per cent is heavy goods. reinforced surround to form a bore at a The final stage in the operation was to Closure of this stretch of motorway would diameter similar to the existing downstream install a 1350mm high strength UV cured have had serious ramifications on the local pipework. fibreglass Berolina lining through the culverts economy, as well as resulting in negative Prior to the above, ITS had to construct to provide the client with a smooth bore exposure for the client. an access to the site; a reinforced concrete structural lining with a design life of 75 years. The proposal was to remove the driveway with spray concrete retaining wall The adoption of old techniques and new restrictions in the head pipe, create a was built to allow plant movements to the technologies enabled ITS to complete the structural element to create a 1350mm void tunnelling site. works efficiently, effectively and to the client’s and then to reline this with a fully structural The cover to the motorway above was specification. element to provide the required diameter and less than 1600mm above the existing pipe, ITS was able to deliver the project without negate the need for extra works to maintain with allowance for working room to build the accidents, incidents or lost time events. The capacity and avoid road closures. tunnel reducing it to 1200mm. ITS’ designs work was completed within program, with The proposal; to remove the initial 6.5 needed to accommodate SM1600 and 45 ton numerous benefits and at a significant all- metres of 1200mm id concrete pipework to axle loadings. round saving to the client and the community.
44 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 MAJOR PROJECTS
Toowoomba Second Range all heavy vehicles, including ones carrying upgrading the Nudgee Road interchange and dangerous goods. widening the Deagon Deviation to two lanes Crossing contracts signed Queensland Treasurer, Curtis Pitt, said in both directions,” Mr Bailey said. the project had cleared the final stage of “The Nudgee interchange upgrade will the procurement process, which formally involve lengthening the on-and-off-ramps The Nexus consortium will deliver the commenced with the issuing of Expressions significantly to provide safer merging and landmark $1.6 billion Toowoomba Second of Interest in June 2014. exiting opportunities for motorists.” Range Crossing project. “I’m delighted through this process The Australian Government has committed The consortium comprises Transfield we’ve been able to deliver an outcome that up to $929.6 million and the Queensland Services, Plenary Group, Cintra demonstrates innovation, value for taxpayers Government $232.4 million to the Gateway Infraestructuras Internacional S.A., Acciona and is environmentally responsible. Upgrade North project. Concesiones S.L., Acciona Infrastructure “As the Surat Basin and Lockyer Valley The Queensland Department of Transport Australia and Ferrovial Agroman Australia. are important for the agriculture and mining and Main Roads and Transurban Queensland The project will be delivered as a Public sectors, the Second Range Crossing also will will jointly manage the delivery of the project. Private Partnership, with the Queensland improve efficiency for freight operators and Lend Lease Engineering will design and Government contributing up to $321 million. free up local roads for residents.” construct the project. The Federal Government’s contribution is Queensland Minister for Main Roads, Mark $1.285 billion. Bailey, said the crossing would deliver real Construction will commence this year and benefits for Toowoomba by enhancing safety Aurecon to design work is expected to be completed by late on the existing range crossing and across Beresfield intersection 2018. the CBD road network, significantly reducing Transfield Services’ scope of work includes travel times. upgrade operations and maintenance services to “This is a project that has been on the infrastructure commencing upon construction drawing board for far too long – it can’t come completion. soon enough for motorists and for workers Aurecon Australia has been awarded the Managing Director and CEO, Graeme Hunt, who will benefit from new jobs. design contract for an upgrade of the said the selection of Transfield Services as “The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Weakleys Drive and John Renshaw Drive part of the consortium endorsed its position will bring $2.4 billion over 30 years of intersection at Beresfield – a north western as a leading operations and maintenance productivity gain for business and industry to suburb of Newcastle. services provider for transport infrastructure. Toowoomba,” Mr Bailey said. The intersection upgrade at the “This long term partnership with the northern end of the M1 Motorway is one of Queensland Government will provide a three projects in the Australian and NSW strong and expanding revenue base for our Final stage design of Governments’ jointly funded $392 million M1 infrastructure business and we look forward Gateway Upgrade North Productivity Package. to delivering a positive outcome for our client The project will help reduce travel times and all stakeholders.” project between Newcastle and Sydney, improve road Minister for Infrastructure and Regional freight efficiency and cater for the expected Development, Warren Truss, said Nexus growth of freight traffic. was selected for the project because of its Work on designing Brisbane’s $1.162 billion New South Wales Parliamentary Secretary expertise, innovative design and ability to Gateway Upgrade North project between for the Hunter and Central Coast, Scot deliver a value-for-money project that would Nudgee and Bracken Ridge has progressed to MacDonald, said the extensive upgrade would support the movement of freight to the Port its final stage. improve driving conditions for motorists of Brisbane. The upgrade is described as a vital piece using the intersection. Mr Truss said more than 1,800 full-time of infrastructure for the tens of thousands “The existing two lane roundabout at jobs would be supported during construction of motorists who commute on the road Beresfield is used by around 4,000 vehicles of the crossing, which would save up to 40 every day and the expansion will reduce an hour during the weekday peak and the minutes in travel time for heavy vehicles bottlenecks that happen during peak times upgrade will enable the road to cater for compared to travelling on the existing Range and improve the local road network. increasing demand,” Mr MacDonald said. Crossing. Since the release of the preferred plan “This intersection upgrade involves The project will include a separated in 2013, an interactive tender process had replacing the existing roundabout with traffic connection to Mort Street in Toowoomba, produced solutions to reduce congestion and lights to improve motorist safety, traffic flow which will benefit freight operators who need improve safety on the Gateway Motorway – and to ease congestion. to travel in and out of the city. one of Queensland’s busiest motorways. “The upgrade will also complement future The final design will see two lanes built State Minister for Main Roads and Road upgrades across the road network, including each way from the Warrego Highway East Safety, Mark Bailey, said the wider community the proposed extension of the M1 Pacific Interchange to Warrego Highway West and would benefit from the increased capacity Motorway to Raymond Terrace to improve grade separated interchanges at Warrego and safety upgrade for the thousands of safety and travel times.” Highway West, Toowoomba-Cecil Plains Road motorists who used the highway every day. Subject to planning approval, the and the Gore Highway. “Major construction is expected to start intersection upgrade will be completed by 2019. A 30-metre deep cutting at the top of early next year, and will involve widening The Australian and New South Wales the range will also be built as an alternative an 11.3-kilometre section from four to six governments have each committed $195.8 to a tunnel proposal, enabling safer travel for lanes between Nudgee and Bracken Ridge, million towards the M1 Productivity Package.
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 45 MAJOR PROJECTS
Milestone for Metro North West tunnellers With more than half of Adelaide’s freight task located to the north and west of the city, the project will significantly reduce heavy vehicle travel times and lower operating costs for the transport industry. Tunnelling on the $8.3 billion Sydney Metro North West project passed More than 52,000 vehicles are expected to use the Northern the 70 per cent completion mark in mid-September, with at least 22 Connector on weekdays and the more efficient movement of freight kilometres of the 30 kilometres of tunnelling completed. and commuters along the North-South Corridor will drive economic Sydney Metro North West is one of two core components of Sydney growth, and boost productivity in South Australia. Metro – Australia’s largest public transport project With planning works well progressed, early works will commence Sydney Metro Northwest was formerly the 36 kilometre North West in January 2016, with major construction on the Northern Connector Rail Link – the project will open in the first half of 2019 with a metro expected to commence by May of that year and be completed by the train every four minutes in the peak. end of 2019. The second component is Sydney Metro City & Southwest – a new The project, along with major infrastructure investments, like the 30 kilometre metro line linking with Metro Northwest at Chatswood, Torrens Road to River Torrens and Darlington Upgrade projects, will and then going under Sydney Harbour, through the CBD and south drive economic growth in SA. west to Bankstown. A fully upgraded North South Corridor will also help stimulate urban It is due to open in 2024 with the capacity to run a metro train renewal, strengthen local communities and create economic growth. every two minutes each way under the centre of Sydney. The Northern Connector is funded on an 80:20 basis with the Sydney Metro North West includes Australian-first innovations Federal Government providing $788 million and the South Australian such as a $1.2 million tunnel simulation centre and state-of-the-art 3D Government $197 million. goggle technology to train a new generation of tunnellers. Both governments will work with industry on developing road The centre features a life-size replica of a Sydney Metro tunnel pricing reforms for South Australia, including the possible introduction which provides a real-life perspective from within a tunnel boring of heavy-vehicle network charging. machine. New South Wales Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance, said the venture was an investment in producing skilled Early opening for Grand Gateway workers for the future. “Tunnelling is a highly specialised skill and we’re nurturing it for the future – I congratulate the tunnel builders on Sydney Metro Northwest The Grand Gateway near Perth airport opened on 13 September – four for investing in their workforce for the future,” Mr Constance said. months ahead of schedule. More than 420 tunnellers have graduated from the training centre at The Federal and Western Australian Governments said in a Sydney Metro Northwest’s Showground Station site since the program statement to mark the opening that thousands of motorists would have began. their travel times slashed following completion of the final section of the Tonkin Highway/Leach Highway interchange, a major part of the Gateway WA project. They said the upgrade at Grand Gateway, which supported more than 1,000 construction jobs, would significantly improve access around the airport and surrounding industrial areas meaning businesses could get their products to market more quickly and efficiently. Gateway WA is the largest road project to be undertaken in Perth and is jointly funded by the Commonwealth ($676 million) and the Western Australian Government ($310 million). The entire project has created 7,000 jobs. When complete, the Gateway WA will deliver a fully upgraded road network around the consolidated Perth Airport terminal and nearby Kewdale and Forrestfield industrial estates. The two governments said the project was vital to Western Australia’s future economic prosperity with passenger air travel and the road freight task around Perth expected to double over the next Delivering the Northern Connector decade. Combined with the consolidation of the Perth airport domestic and international terminals, there was a clear need to deliver the upgrade The Federal and South Australian Governments are investing $985 quickly to reduce congestion and improve safety for motorists and million to build the Northern Connector as part of a shared plan to freight operators. deliver a fully upgraded North-South Corridor in Adelaide in a decade. The Tonkin Highway/Leach Highway intersection has been plagued The Northern Connector will involve construction of a new six lane by heavy congestion and lengthy traffic delays at peak periods, which 15.5 kilometre road linking the Northern Expressway with the South is stifling Perth’s productive capacity. Road Superway and Port River Expressway, saving up to seven minutes The governments said the new free-flow interchange would on travel time and avoiding six sets of traffic lights. unlock the surrounding road network and ensure motorists enjoy The project will support, on average, 480 jobs a year during uninterrupted movement in all directions. construction and unlock the economic capacity of South Australia’s To date, Gateway WA has invested more than $500 million in third transport network. party suppliers and subcontractors. The vast majority of this work has
46 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 MAJOR PROJECTS
been delivered by more than 600 Western Australian businesses. up to 30 per cent and support the growth of Melbourne Airport, and The Gateway WA project includes: the rapidly growing northern and north western suburbs. • construction and upgrade of five main interchanges; “The M2 corridor will be safer and more reliable, with a new freeway • widening Tonkin Highway to six lanes between Great Eastern management system that will manage traffic flow and reduce crashes.” Highway and Roe Highway; and Mr Donnellan said the majority of works would be undertaken at • upgrading Leach Highway between Tonkin Highway and Orrong night to minimise the impact on motorists, although they should allow Road to expressway standard. extra travel time when planning their journeys. Other major upgrades will continue on the Tonkin/Roe Highway “To assist with the safety of motorists the speed limit between Bulla interchange and other associated road sections which are expected to Road and Bell Street will be reduced to 80 kilometres-an-hour during be completed by March 2016. the day, and lane widths will be adjusted, although the number of existing lanes will remain unchanged during peak periods.” Senator Ryan represented the Federal Minister for Major Projects, Tullamarine project to cut congestion and Paul Fletcher, at the project site. create jobs “Increasing the capacity of this major transport corridor will contribute to meeting the demands of Melbourne’s growing population and increasing freight while supporting economic growth,” Senator Construction has started on Melbourne’s $1.3 billion CityLink Ryan said. Tullamarine Widening project between Bulla Road and Bell Street. Mr Fletcher said the Tullamarine Freeway was one of Melbourne’s The major infrastructure development started on 5 October with the busiest road corridors. The Australian Government has committed installation of protective barriers and the relocation of utility services. It $200 million towards the upgrade of Section 1 from Melbourne Airport will create around 1400 direct and indirect jobs. to Melrose Drive. “This will mean less congestion on CityLink and Tulla for motorists “This project represents an important partnership between the and more jobs for Victoria,” said Premier, Daniel Andrews, when he Australian Government, Victorian Government and private enterprise spoke to workers on the project at Essendon Fields with Victoria’s working together to provide much needed city-shaping infrastructure Minister for Roads, Luke Donnellan, and Senator Scott Ryan. in Victoria,” Mr Fletcher said. Mr Donnellan said the project would increase the road’s capacity by All construction works are expected to be completed in 2018. MAJOR PROJECTS
Government releases “Importantly, the Implementation Group the seven kilometre stretch of road to a has identified that an early commitment to four-lane dual carriageway. Upgrades will be delivery plan to build Inland Rail will give certainty for businesses made to the Nicholson Road and Fraser Road inland rail and will allow the private sector to invest in intersections and a Principal Shared Path on complementary projects leveraging Inland the northern side of Armadale Road. Rail’s enhanced logistics benefits. The overall cost of the duplication is $145 The multi-billion dollar Inland Rail project “The group’s analysis indicates there million, with the WA Government contributing – connecting Melbourne to Brisbane with a is some scope for private sector funding; $29 million. high performance freight line – took another however, the release of this report will now step in mid-September with the Federal allow potential investors to consider the Government releasing the delivery plan. merits of the proposal. Improving access to The freight line will take an estimated “If viable alternatives emerge that are Kooragang Island 200,000 trucks from Australian roads each substantiated by evidence, these would be year and generate economic benefits of considered on their merits and referred to around $22.5 billion. Infrastructure Australia as appropriate. Early works are under way on the $103 million The delivery plan outlined a 10-year “As with any project of this magnitude, it is duplication of Tourle Street and Cormorant construction timeframe to complete the important the government fully considers the Road on Kooragang Island at Newcastle in 1,700 kilometre project, including some 600 project and how best to implement and fund New South Wales. kilometres of new track, and put the cost it. As part of our consideration, I am referring The Federal and New South Wales at $10 billion. Accompanying the plan was the business case to Infrastructure Australia.” governments have each committed more than a detailed business case, developed by the The government will consider the report in $51 million to the project to improve traffic Australian Rail Track Corporation. the context of the 2016 Federal Budget. flow and cater for future growth. The release of the plan and business case Tourle Street and Cormorant Road form on 11 September coincided with the Minister the main corridor connecting Kooragang for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Multi-million dollar Island to Newcastle and the southern section Warren Truss, receiving the final report of the upgrade for key Perth of the Port of Newcastle. Inland Rail Implementation Group. Approximately 33,000 vehicles, including “This report and business case provides arterial road more than 3000 heavy vehicles, use the the information needed to consider how best road daily as the main corridor connecting to build the Inland Rail network to meet the Newcastle with Newcastle Airport and Port freight challenge of the coming decades The Federal Government will provide $116 Stephens. – expected to treble along the eastern million for the Armadale Road duplication The upgrade will improve traffic flow seaboard to 2030,” Mr Truss said. between Anstey Road and Tapper Road in and cater for a forecast increase in traffic “Inland Rail will complement existing road Perth’s south. due to future urban development in Port and rail networks and will dramatically boost The project will improve safety and ease Stephens, the expansion of Newcastle Airport productivity. Initially, it will provide for 1,800 traffic congestion on one of the main east- and growth of industrial development on metre trains carrying containers stacked two- west links within the Western Australian Kooragang Island. high and, in the longer term, much heavier capital’s transport network. New South Wales Minister for Roads, 3,600 metre trains. Traffic on Armadale Road has increased Duncan Gay, said by undertaking work such “The new freight line will reduce transit significantly in recent years and is forecast to as shoulder widening and building a new time between Melbourne and Brisbane by increase by a further five per cent annually bridge, the governments were supporting the more than 10 hours, reducing the journey to due to ongoing residential and commercial increasing number of freight movements in- less than a day. It will remove 5.4 billion net development in the region. and-out of the Port of Newcastle, one of the tonne kilometres of freight, from roads each The section between Anstey Road and world’s largest coal exporters. year,” Mr Truss said. Tapper Road has a crash rate considerably “Early work will include building road “For the first time, south east Queensland higher than the Western Australian average embankments at the southern end of the will connect by rail to Melbourne, Adelaide and the duplication will upgrade the standard Tourle Street Bridge and in the Long Pond and Perth, avoiding the need for freight of the road. area on the northern side of Cormorant Road. to transit through the congested Sydney Armadale Road links the two southern “The embankments will allow the soft soil network. public transport corridors and provides to settle and prepare the ground to properly “Inland Rail will reduce the travel distance access to other major arterial roads – Kwinana support the future road pavement.” between Melbourne and Brisbane by 200 Freeway, the Tonkin, South West and Albany The work also includes building an kilometres and carve 500 kilometres from the Highways. underground barrier to prevent movement Brisbane to Perth trip.” Up to 27,500 vehicles use the section of old steelwork and adjustments to Telstra Mr Truss said the government has of road every day and the growing traffic services on Tourle Street and Ausgrid already committed $300 million to get pre- congestion was a concern to the Cities of overhead power lines on Cormorant Road. construction activities underway, including Cockburn and Armadale. Tenders from prequalified contractors detailed corridor planning, environmental Cockburn Central is a regional transport have been called for construction of assessments and priority land acquisitions. corridor and activity hub, close to the the duplication. The tenders close on 18 “The project will create up to 16,000 direct Kwinana Freeway and major arterial roads, November and major work is expected to jobs during a 10-year construction period and including Armadale Road and Beeliar Drive. start early next year after the successful a regular 600 jobs once operating. The project will also involve upgrading contractor is announced.”
48 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 MAJOR PROJECTS
Stage two of Gold Coast rail system and its mass transit capabilities State Transport Minister, Jackie Trad, became increasingly important for the region said now a funding agreement had been light rail on track beyond the Commonwealth Games. secured with the Commonwealth the state Ms Palaszczuk welcomed the would be in a position to appoint a preferred Commonwealth’s commitment and said with contractor in early 2016 following the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2 will be delivered the support secured, Stage 2 could now be conclusion of the Request for Tender phase in time for the Commonwealth Games, with all built in time for the Games. last December. three levels of government committed to fund “I congratulate the Prime Minister for “Light rail has become the backbone of the extension. committing funding support to help deliver the public transport network and Stage 1 Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull, and Stage 2. has driven a 25 per cent increase in public Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, “Once the Commonwealth was provided transport patronage on the Gold Coast in the announced a funding agreement for the with the business case, the Prime Minister first year alone,” Ms Trad said. project on 11 October – Stage 2 of the Light prioritised the decision to fund this “Gold Coast Light Rail is a transformative Rail will support more than 1,000 jobs during infrastructure which will be critical to the piece of infrastructure and Stage 2 will construction. success of the Games. continue to change the way people move and Mr Turnbull said the Federal Government “With this announcement from the get around the Gold Coast.” would commit $95 million towards Stage 2. Commonwealth and the $55 million funding Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate, said the “Construction of Stage 2 of Gold Coast commitment from Gold Coast Council, all funding agreement showed the value of all Light Rail will provide the missing link from three levels of Government are now on board three tiers of government working together. the Gold Coast to Brisbane. to deliver this legacy project for Queensland. “This announcement is a historic day for “This project is vital for the Commonwealth “This funding commitment from all three our city and will ensure this vital second Games transport task. It connects five competition levels of government is an investment in the stage of the light rail is completed before the venues and nine events to accommodation and success of the Games and the Gold Coast’s Games,” Mr Tate said. public transport interchanges.” future. The new line will connect the Coast “Gold Coast Light Rail patronage Mr Turnbull said as congestion increased to Brisbane and complement an impressive continues to exceed expectations, with an on the Pacific Motorway between the Gold pipeline of new resorts and attractions already average of more than 18,200 trips made on Coast and Brisbane, the efficiency of the in train.” Gold Coast Light Rail each day.” PUT AN END TO MANUAL SPREADING
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Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 49 MAJOR PROJECTS
The Department of Transport and on the project’s procurement process. roads in recent times, where the Federal Main Roads has identified savings within The project is jointly funded with the Government, in partnership with NSW, its existing budget to allow for a State Federal Government committing $907 million is delivering $3.6 billion to dramatically Government contribution to the project and the Queensland Government $227 improve Western Sydney roads. with no new spending required over the million. “This project prepares the way for forward estimates. Western Sydney’s growing population and Six national and international consortia sets the foundation for a strong economy are vying to construct the proposed 7.3 Badgerys Creek for generations to come.” kilometre light rail alignment from the proclaimed site for second Information on Western Sydney’s Helensvale heavy rail station and bus airport and the Western Sydney interchange to connect with Stage 1 at the Sydney airport Infrastructure Plan can be found at Gold Coast University Hospital light rail westernsydneyairport.gov.au station. New regulations naming Badgerys Creek as the site for Western Sydney’s airport were Concrete mixing plants Caloundra Road to proclaimed in the last week of August by the specifically for Pacific Sunshine Motorway tender Federal Government. The Airports Legislation Amendment Highway upgrade process (2015 Measures No.1) Regulation 2015 amends the Airports Regulations 1997 to declare the Commonwealth-owned land at Badgerys Two concrete mixing plants are being built Queensland’s Department of Transport and Creek as the site for ‘Sydney West Airport’, as to supply more than 80,000 cubic metres of Main Roads has started reviewing designs for it is known in legislation. concrete for the Halfway Creek to Glenugie more than $1 billion in works to upgrade a The proclamation was made by Minister section of the Woolgoolga to Ballina Pacific seven kilometre stretch of the Bruce Highway for Infrastructure and Regional Development, Highway upgrade. between Caloundra Road and the Sunshine Warren Truss, who said the debate about an The mixing plants will supply the project Motorway. airport for Western Sydney had lasted for with concrete for road surfaces, bridge Prospective contractors had until 1 decades. and drainage structures. The 12 kilometre October to submit expressions of interest “We have ended the indecision and section of highway is being built by Civil for the project and the department is due to uncertainty, getting on with the job of Mining and Construction. provide a recommendation for the final award ensuring the right infrastructure is in place to The main facility is being built along the of contract by mid next year. cater for Western Sydney’s rapid population new highway alignment for efficiency and Minister for Main Roads, Mark Bailey, growth and development needs,” Mr Truss to help remove heavy vehicles accessing the said the project remained on track, with said. project from the existing Pacific Highway. construction expected to start in late 2016. “The airport will be a game changer for It is about 600 metres north of Parker “Under a selection process known as the region, New South Wales and the national Road on the eastern side of the Pacific ‘double early contractor involvement’, two economy. Highway. The smaller plant is being built at contractors will be chosen to work with TMR “It will connect Western Sydney with the corner of Parker Road and the existing to develop a design that meets the required the rest of the world and deliver tens of Pacific Highway at Wells Crossing. performance standards, including maximising thousands of jobs through both construction The Halfway Creek to Glenugie project environmental outcomes,” Mr Bailey said. and long-term operation, returning around will join with the Glenugie upgrade A revised preferred planning layout, which $24 billion to the economy.” completed in February 2012. Work on the was released in July this year, established the Mr Truss said the proclamation prepared project is expected to be finished in 2017. basic structure within which the contractors the way for the next key planning steps It will include twin bridges above should work. to be taken once the environmental Halfway Creek and Wells Crossing Creek, This included the requirement that the assessment process concluded, including the as well as a wide median to help animals section of highway should be widened from determination of the airport plan. It would crossing at Newfoundland State Forest. four-to-six lanes and, in line with national also enable airspace around the site to be The section of highway is part of the highway standards, the posted speed limit protected. larger 155 kilometre Woolgoolga to Ballina should be increased to 110 kilometres an hour. Russell Matheson – the Federal MP for project, which is expected to provide about Mr Bailey said the concerns of the Sunshine Macarthur – said the proposed airport facility 2,500 direct jobs and 7,500 indirect jobs at Coast community had been considered would deliver important opportunities and the project’s peak. throughout the process, with the revised benefits. More than 80 per cent of the Pacific preferred planning layout reducing impacts on “We continue progress towards an Highway duplication is now either the Beerwah State Forest by 11 hectares. operational airport for Western Sydney come completed, under contract, or currently “I have instructed the Department to work the mid-2020s, with the development of under construction, with works on track for with contractors through this next phase to the draft Environmental Impact Statement completion. further minimise impacts to the State Forest and draft airport plan well underway, and The Federal Government is providing and improve access for the businesses in the expected to be released for community $5.64 billion as part of its commitment Aussie World tourist precinct.” consultation before the end of the year. with the New South Wales Government to More than 150 industry representatives “Residents will have seen the bulldozers complete the Pacific Highway upgrade by attended an information session to be briefed and other construction equipment on nearby the end of the decade.
50 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 MAJOR PROJECTS 20 YEAR STRUCTURAL WARRANTY
Improving transport network on Cape York Peninsula
Work is underway on upgrading a 29 kilometre section of the Peninsula Developmental Road north of Coen on Cape York Peninsula. The project is being funded under the Cape York Region Package, a $260 million program of works jointly funded by the Federal Government ($208 million) and the Queensland Government ($52 million) to upgrade critical infrastructure on Cape York. It aims to improve accessibility to Cape York Peninsula for the local community and benefit local industries. An average of 91 direct jobs will be supported over the life of the project and the contractor, CMC, has committed to include employment and training opportunities for Indigenous employees. As well, CMC has indicated it intends to use a significant number of ITCS sub-contractors local to the Cape region. The project will provide improvements to drainage, as well as ENCLOSURE RANGE pavement works and bitumen sealing to produce an 8.5 metre-wide ALUMINIUM ENCLOSURES FOR sealed road. Once completed, the drive will be much safer for the growing INTELLIGENT TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEMS number of people who depend on the road, including locals, tourists and transport operators Around 34 kilometres of the Peninsula Developmental Road was QUEENSLAND DEPARTMENT OF sealed last year with funding provided through the Cape York Region TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS APPROVED Package. CERTIFICATE 13-04 Another three Peninsula Development Road projects are planned for this year; two between Laura and Coen, and another between Coen VIC ROADS COMPLIANT and Weipa. VRT 906-1.6-2011 RMS COMPLIANT Creek crossing upgrades north of TSI-SP-012 DTEI COMPLIANT Townsville SPECIFICATION PART 265
Engineering consultancy, AECOM Australia Pty Ltd, is undertaking Logix Engineering Pty Ltd ITCS & ITDS enclosure range is the design of the $174 million upgrade to Cattle and Frances Creeks manufactured from 2.5mm marine grade Aluminium and crossings on the Bruce Highway north of Townsville. are powder coated T33 smoke blue as standard. AECOM is coordinating the design of an upgraded bridge and road The enclosures are suitable for ITS application in all infrastructure at Cattle and Frances Creeks. states of Australia. They are approved in Queensland and A new higher-level section of highway from Cattle Creek to Victoria and have been deployed on major projects in these Toobanna will be built, as well as a new, higher-level, 160 metre bridge states as well as in New South Wales, South Australia and over Cattle Creek. The existing highway will be upgraded, with key Western Australia. sections raised by around half-a-metre. A series of rural intersections along the route will also be upgraded, Enclosures are available with natural ventilation, fan to provide or improve existing acceleration and deceleration lanes. ventilation or with air conditioners or heat exchanges. Detailed design work will be finalised in late 2016, with construction Cooling options are all available in AC or DC voltages. expected to commence in mid-2017. The upgrade will play an important role in improving flood immunity and safety on the highway; when complete, it will improve CONTACT US the region’s freight connectivity, travel reliability and access to essential services. 28 Spine Street Sumner Park Brisbane TELEPHONE +61 (0)7 3376 9436 Senator for Queensland, Ian Macdonald, said the project would Queensland 4074 Australia WEBSITE logixeng.com.au benefit local residents and heavy vehicle operators, who would have a safer highway and better access to major centres during times of flooding. It would also, Senator MacDonald said, help underpin North Queensland’s growing economy. The Cattle and Frances Creeks upgrade project is jointly funded – the Australian Government is contributing $139.2 million and the Queensland Government $34.8 million.
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 51 MAJOR PROJECTS
Community consultation key for M4 East EIS Mr Giles said Port Jackson Partners would deliver an initial report to government in November with the scoping study to consider the economic and business case for the project, where trade might come Stakeholders had until 23 October to comment on the Environmental from, ownership of the railway and the impact on new and existing Impact Statement (EIS) for the M4 East, the first underground section freight users. of Sydney’s motorway network, WestConnex. “The NT and Queensland Governments are also undertaking related The M4 East will connect to a widened M4 at Homebush and extend studies on the technical feasibility of the project based on engineering, underground in twin tunnels (three lanes in each direction) for 5.5 environmental and heritage considerations. kilometres. “Inadequate economic infrastructure is a significant barrier to the It will emerge near the Bunnings Warehouse on Parramatta Road or development of Northern Australia so it is vital that a project like this is on Wattle Street at Haberfield – motorists can exit at two locations. given every consideration.” The project will generate 10,000 new jobs during construction, cut travel times for motorists and inject $20 billion worth of benefits into the national economy. Preferred design released for M5 Construction of the M4 East alone will generate more than 2,500 direct jobs and support a further 1,500 indirect jobs. The M4 East will employ more than 100 apprentices/trainees. NSW Roads Minister, Duncan Gay, said the 45-day EIS consultation process represented a 50 per cent increase on a standard EIS period. “The EIS shows in 2021 travel volumes on sections of Parramatta Road are expected to be cut by up to 53 per cent as a result of WestConnex, compared to a do nothing scenario, and motorists will bypass 22 sets of traffic lights,” Mr Gay said. “An independent air quality assessment detailed in the EIS also found air quality will generally improve along the Parramatta Road corridor by removing stop-start traffic and providing motorists with a continuous free-flowing motorway. Following exhibition of the EIS and consideration of community feedback, a submissions report will be provided to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment. The Federal and NSW Governments have released the new M5 motorway’s preferred design, which will more than double capacity Mount Isa to Tennant Creek railway on the M5 East corridor. scoping study Motorists already have the benefits of a widened M5 West, but come to an abrupt halt when they hit the traffic pinch point at the existing M5 East tunnel. A potential new rail project linking Mount Isa in Queensland to Tennant When WestConnex is completed, traffic currently running on Creek in the Northern Territory has taken another step with the residential streets will be able to access a continuous free-flowing Territory Government awarding a tender for a scoping study to Port motorway. This will ensure only people who want to use local streets Jackson Partners. to access local businesses will divert from the motorway. NT Chief Minister, Adam Giles, said the scoping study would Motorists driving from south western Sydney will continue using investigate the opportunities and benefits a Mount Isa to Tennant the existing M5 East to access Sydney Airport and suburbs south and Creek railway could provide and how to give the project the best east of the airport like Brighton Le Sands and Maroubra. chance of success. Alternatively, they will be able to use the New M5, which will “The 600 kilometre railway between Mount Isa and Tennant Creek feature twin tunnels to access suburbs north of the airport such could provide enormous economic opportunities, potentially opening as Marrickville, and for a direct connection to the Alexandria new mining projects and boosting development in our regional and employment hub. remote areas,” Mr Giles said. Travelling from west to east, motorists will enter one of the new “Preliminary investigations suggest a number of mining companies M5 twin tunnels adjacent to the Kingsgrove industrial estate and in the Mount Isa area could be interested in exporting through the Port travel underground for nine kilometres to St Peters. Those travelling of Darwin, instead of Townsville. from east to west will follow the same corridor route in the second “We don’t need a feasibility study to tell us we should open tunnel. opportunities to develop the significant resources we know exist in this Once WestConnex is complete, motorists will have the choice region. to stay on the new M5 for an underground connection to the M4 “This piece of enabling infrastructure would join to, and benefit (bypassing King Street, Newtown) or surface at the St Peters from, the existing railways between Adelaide and Darwin and from Interchange to access direct connections to areas such as Alexandria, Mount Isa to Townsville. Redfern and Mascot. “It would provide an efficient route to market for potential new WestConnex is designed to limit land acquisitions wherever projects in the region and a new logistics option for those who possible and more than two thirds is being built underground and in currently use both these lines. existing road corridors. “It is quicker and cheaper to export from Western Queensland Subject to planning approval, work on the New M5 will start mid- through Darwin because it saves days in shipping time.” 2016, with the tunnel due to open to traffic in 2019.
52 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 MAJOR PROJECTS
Excavating for first NorthConnex Meanwhile, Ulverstone-based VEC Civil Engineering has successfully tendered for the first IIP works package. The package tunnel shaft – valued at more than $5 million (including materials, services and contract labour) – will provide a substantial boost to the economy of north west Tasmania. Work started in mid-September to excavate the first NorthConnex Under the contract, VEC will install 10,000 new sleepers and six tunnel shaft with a 40-tonne piling rig breaking the first ground. kilometres of new rail on priority areas of the Melba Line, the South The shaft will provide access for workers and machinery to start Line and the Western Line. construction of a nine kilometre underground road tunnel which will VEC has made a commitment to TasRail that it will use local remove traffic from Pennant Hills Road – the road labelled the most suppliers for its subcontracting and service requirements. congested traffic corridor in Australia. An Infrastructure Australia national audit revealed Pennant Hills Road as the most expensive road in the country, based on cost of Consultation on potential impacts of delays caused by congestion. Melbourne Metro Traffic congestion currently costs Sydney over $6 billion per year, a figure set to grow to $28 billion a year by 2031 under a “do-nothing scenario”. Information sessions and online forums are being held during NorthConnex will link the M1 Pacific Motorway at Wahroonga to the October and November by the Melbourne Metro Rail Authority as part Hills M2 Motorway at West Pennant Hills via twin tunnels, with capacity of the engagement process with residents who may be affected by for three lanes in each direction, providing a continuous free-flowing construction of Melbourne’s new underground rail network. motorway bypassing 21 surface traffic lights. The authority has sent letters to 21,000 residents and businesses Tunnel shafts will be excavated to a depth of up to 93 metres (at along the alignment of the new nine-kilometre, twin rail tunnels being Wilson Road) below ground surface, providing a launch point for road built as part of the $9-$11 billion project. headers which will tunnell to the north and south. The letters invited locals to come to information sessions and find The project will save motorists 15 minutes travel time compared to out more about where the tunnel will go, how it may be built, and the Pennant Hills Road, support 8,700 jobs, and inject around $4 billion planning process that will be undertaken. dollars into the NSW economy. Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, said the authority was The tunnel shaft excavation work represents a significant milestone undertaking an extensive consultation process to ensure households in making the project a reality. Major tunnelling work is expected to and businesses understood the project, why it was needed and how it commence later this year, with full project completion expected in would affect them. 2019. “This consultation process is about starting open, honest and When completed, the new twin tunnels will be capable of carrying respectful conversations with people who may be affected by this more than 100,000 vehicles each day, including removing 5,000 trucks critical project.” from Pennant Hills Road. “Melbourne needs Melbourne Metro Rail; without it our city will grind to a halt.” Ms Allan said the Melbourne Metro Rail Project was the biggest public transport infrastructure development since the City Loop, and Tasmanian rail projects boost civil its construction would cause significant disruption. construction sector The nature of the disruption will vary widely along the length of the corridor; it will include temporary noise and visual impacts during construction, changes to infrastructure close to houses and The Tasmanian and Federal Governments are providing nearly $120 businesses and, in some cases, acquisition of property. million for the first tranche of funding for the state’s rail network over Ms Allan said the project would transform Melbourne’s public the next four years. transport network, unlocking capacity in the centre of the train system, The investment of $119.6 million will enable TasRail to achieve creating room for 20,000 extra passengers every hour, every day. further improvements to the safety and reliability of the track network. She said $4.5 billion in funding had already been secured, almost TasRail has released to the market a tender for the largest and most half the total expected cost. significant works of the Tasmanian Freight Rail Revitalisation Program. The value of the major project is in the order of tens of millions of dollars, which includes the cost of materials, services and contract ‘Transformation’ of Murray Basin labour. Rail network TasRail is applying the State Government’s Local Benefits Test for all contracts under the revitalisation program. The project will require the installation of 48,000 new sleepers and What Victoria’s Agriculture Minister, Jaala Pulford, describes as 30 kilometres of new rail, including re-railing of a selected number of the $416 million transformation of the Murray Basin rail network, level crossings and minor drainage works. will boost the safety, capacity and reliability of freight services in A majority of the funding will be spent on the upgrade of the major Northern Victoria and better connect primary producers to the state’s freight rail routes – the Melba Line, the Western Line and the South major ports. Line. Under the government’s Murray Basin Rail Project, lines from There is also provision in the funding package for selected re-railing, Geelong to Mildura, Manangatang, Sea Lake and Murrayville will be re-sleepering and drainage works on the Fingal, Bell Bay and Derwent standardised, and the existing unused standard gauge connection Valley Lines; and the renewal of selected bridges and culverts. between Maryborough and Ararat will be reopened.
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 53 MAJOR PROJECTS
Ms Pulford said the initiative would fix the missing links in the That initiative will use improved traffic management technology state’s freight network and connect regional Victoria to the ports and innovative engineering solutions to streamline traffic and public of Portland, Geelong and Melbourne, as well as improve freight transport on Hoddle Street. connections to southern New South Wales and South Australia. The feedback will also inform short term improvements along Axle loading on Murray Basin freight lines will be increased to 21 Punt Road. Options being considered include full time clearways, tonnes, allowing larger trains to carry more produce with each trip. which would involve relocating on-street parking, and the potential to By enabling more freight to be moved by rail, the project will implement a fifth lane within the existing road lanes. increase the efficiency of the network, remove around 20,000 truck The investigations will focus on reducing congestion, increasing trips to the ports each year and keep export industries competitive. reliability of public transport and improving access for cyclists and “The full Murray Basin Rail Project will boost the safety, capacity pedestrians, and improving safety for all road users on the corridor. and reliability of freight services and better connect primary Up to 90,000 vehicles travel on Hoddle Street each day and up to producers to the State’s major ports,” Ms Pulford said. 40,000 vehicles travel Punt Road. “This project is of critical importance to the Victorian and Around 200,000 people travel across Hoddle Street on intersecting Australian freight network.” roads, with around half on public transport. The Government has already provided up to $220 million in the Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan, said the 2015-16 Victorian Budget for the project, with $30 million fast-tracked government wanted to hear from motorists, cyclists and public earlier in 2015 to start work on maintenance and safety issues on the transport users who used the corridor, as well as local residents and Mildura line. The works are underway. business owners. Major construction is expected to commence in the second half of Mr Donnellan said their views would be a vital part of investigations 2016 and 270 jobs will be created during construction. into traffic management improvements which would be made over the next two-to-four years. “The Government wants to hear from everyone in the community Soft soil works on key section of Pacific on how they use this road corridor, so that we can best reduce Highway congestion.”
Work is scheduled to start in November on the next stage of soft soil Eton Range realignment moving ahead works on the Woolgoolga to Ballina section of the Pacific Highway upgrade. The 155 kilometre Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade is the final section Tenders have closed and a contractor is expected to be announced of the Pacific Highway upgrade, which is on track for completion in the coming months for the $189 million Eton Range realignment before the end of the decade. project in Queensland. Once the upgrade is complete it will shave 25 minutes off the travel The project involves widening to four lanes and partial realignment time between the two centres and is expected to reduce crashes along for the existing Eton Range crossing. the section by more than 20 per cent. Over 4,000 vehicles, including around 800 heavy vehicles, travel Soft soil treatment will be carried out on sections of the highway through the range each day. before major building work starts to ensure the upgrade opens on time An earthworks trial is underway at the site on the Peak Downs to traffic. Highway to provide design inputs including survey, geotechnical, The Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade crosses several floodplains and environmental and archaeological investigations. geologically complex regions, with some sections of highway requiring The trial is investigating options including: work to improve the stability of underlying soft soils. • safety measures to reduce speeds on the steep descent; Soft soil works can include installing drains into the soil to extract • methods to reduce driving demands on heavy vehicle operators; water and building road foundations with granular fill to help the soil and settle more quickly. • processes to keep the Peak Downs Highway open during They are funded under the $564.6 million Woolgoolga to Ballina construction. planning and preconstruction project, for which the Federal and New The $189.2 million realignment is being jointly funded by the Federal South Wales governments are each providing $282.3 million. and State governments - $166 million is coming from Federal coffers. This funding is in addition to the commitment by both governments The project will support development in local towns and boost towards the construction of the Woolgoolga to Ballina upgrade, which productivity in existing and future mining operations in the Bowen and is being funded on an 80:20 basis. Galilee Basins by addressing limitations in the region’s freight transport network. It will be specifically designed to safely carry road trains and over- Combatting congestion on Hoddle Street dimensional vehicles. and Punt Road About 295 jobs will be directly supported over the life of the project. A dedicated fauna underpass at the top of the range has been The results of public consultation on the Victrorian Government’s incorporated into the design, which means there is a safe crossing plan to reduce congestion on Melbourne’s Hoddle Street–Punt Rd point for koalas and other animals in the new alignment. corridor will be provided to the government for consideration in Construction is expected to begin early next year and, weather early 2016. permitting, is expected to take two years. Feedback from the consultation process will inform options for the government’s $60 million Streamlining Hoddle Street Initiative.
54 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 BRIDGES
New high-level bridges for NT Highways
Construction started in September on two new bridges at the crossing It has allocated $11 million for flood immunity improvements on the of the Victoria Highway and Saddle Creek in the Northern Territory. Victoria Highway. The construction contract has been awarded to Advance Civil The flood immunity of the Roper Highway is also being improved Engineering Pty Ltd for $6.6 million. with a tender awarded for the construction of two new bridges at The new bridges will be accessible to motorists all year round being Roper River and Wilton River. built to a height that will withstand anything up to a one-in-50-year The project will improve access to local communities, such as flood. Work will include reconstructing 800 metres of the Victoria the Ngukurr and Numbulwar by reducing future closure times at the Highway to raise the level of the bridge approaches. crossings. NT Minister for Transport, Peter Chandler, said it was estimated The existing Roper River and Wilton River crossings are bed level the completed works would reduce the average time Saddle Creek crossings, and during the wet season they are prone to flooding, crossing was closed each year from 18 hours to less than one hour. making the highway impassable for a significant portion of the year. “The works will improve the safety and efficiency of the upgraded In addition to the construction of high level bridges over the two sections of the Victoria Highway, particularly for freight vehicles crossings, 7.3 kilometres of approach roads will be reconstructed and road trains that make up a significant portion of vehicles using including a realigned section of the Roper Highway. Major works will Territory highways,” Mr Chandler said. commence in April 2016 following the wet season. “The resulting transport efficiency gains will reduce costs for freight Sitzler Pty Ltd has been selected to build the new bridges and carry operators and businesses throughout the Territory.” out associated road upgrades. The Australian Government has committed $77 million to the The Roper Highway project is a jointly funded project with the Northern Territory Roads Package for upgrades to NT roads on the Federal Government contributing $32 million and the Northern National Land Transport Network. Territory Government contributing $8 million. First of 40 new bridges on Woolgoolga to Ballina Upgrade
The start of major bridge works at Halfway Creek in mid-north New Work will soon be underway on the Sherwood Creek Road South Wales is part of the 155 kilometre Woolgoolga to Ballina overbridge, a 60- metre-long overbridge consisting of five girders upgrade of the Pacific Highway. weighing approximately 55 tonnes each. The bridge work is a key part of the upgrade which features more The first stage of bridge building will involve boring holes about than 40 new bridges across rivers, creeks and floodplains. one metre in diameter and eight metres deep which will then be Piling work at Halfway Creek has commenced to build new reinforced with steel and concrete to form a foundation. 55-metre-long twin bridges, which will form part of the new Pacific Installation of girders and pouring of the concrete bridge deck will Highway. follow bridge abutments and piers being built. Contractor, Civil Mining Construction, is boring holes approximately The Sherwood Creek Road overbridge will improve connectivity of one metre in diameter which will then be reinforced with steel and the local road network once the Pacific Highway upgrade is complete concrete to form a strong foundation for the Halfway Creek Bridge. and will take approximately eight months to build, weather permitting. Construction is expected to take approximately six months, with With 60 per cent of the Pacific Highway already upgraded to four- the bridge due to be fully open to traffic in 2017. lane divided road, the focus is now on Woolgoolga to Ballina, the final Key features of the project include new overbridges at Sherwood and largest remaining section of the $5.64 billion outlay to upgrade Creek Road and Kangaroo Trail Road, twin bridges over Corindi Creek, the highway. the Corindi floodplain and Cassons Creek, and twin bridges over the The upgrade is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Corindi Local Access Road. Wales governments on an 80:20 basis.
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 55 BRIDGES
Maintaining Critical Road, Rail, and Bridge Infrastructure
The civil and structural engineers guide to newer, proven, high-performance spray-applied waterproofing technologies to protect concrete and steel infrastructure. By Del Williams.
A recent US 60 Minutes TV broadcast called fast curing, impervious to water, able to have long been used, they have significant “Falling Apart” explains that “America’s roads, bridge cracks and capable of lasting decades drawbacks and must be continually inspected bridges, airports and rail lines are outdated without extensive maintenance. and maintained over time. and need to be fixed” due to decades of “Spray applied waterproofing now According to Bardow, in past decades neglect. accounts for over 50% of the membranes MassDOT utilized mopped emulsion The broadcast goes on to state that “nearly applied to our bridges,” says Alexander reinforced with fiberglass fabric for bridge 70,000 bridges in America – one out of every Bardow, P.E., MassDOT’s State Bridge decks, then later turned to sheet goods. nine – is now considered to be structurally Engineer, member of AASHTO’s “Our experience showed that reinforced deficient” and that according to the American Subcommittee on Bridges and Structures emulsion was not a good deck waterproofing Society of Civil Engineers, “32 percent of representing Massachusetts, and past system because it debonded,” says Bardow. the major roads in America are now in poor President of Boston Society of Civil Engineers “Water could get underneath it and into condition and in need of major repairs”. Section of ASCE. the deck. We turned to prefabricated sheet The problem with much of America’s “What drove us to spray applied applied membranes. These were easy to apply, infrastructure is that it has outlived its waterproofing is its enhanced durability, but we wanted more durability.” intended service life and a failure of traditional bonding to concrete, and crack bridging As for non-elastomeric coatings like waterproofing coatings has led to a significant ability,” says Bardow, who oversees and helps epoxies and paints, these do not have the corrosion of structural elements, including to prioritize work on 5,000 bridges that elasticity to bridge cracks, and are moisture corroded rebar and crumbling concrete. receive federal funds for MassDOT. resistant rather than truly waterproof. Fortunately, new high-performance Bardow explains: “If cracks form due to “Spray applied waterproofing membrane waterproofing alternatives are replacing more deck deterioration or traffic loading, then is the next step after sheet membrane,” says traditional materials such as sheet goods and water gets into those cracks and the concrete Bardow. “It gives us better performance and sacrificial short-term liquid sealants to help matrix. The [underlying] membrane must be has measurable performance characteristics civil and structural engineers cost-effectively pliable enough to accommodate these cracks that we can count on for extended deck life. protect and maintain critical infrastructure without failing.” “We expect spray applied waterproofing ranging from rail, highway, and pedestrian membranes to last about 30 to 50 years,” he bridges to tunnels, parking decks, airport Drawbacks of Traditional Techniques adds. “We would still repave and resurface terminals, and DOT entrance/exit ramps. While traditional methods of waterproofing the asphalt overlay, but would not need This new category of spray applied such as emulsions, sheet goods or non- to do anything to maintain the underlying waterproofing products is seamless, rugged, elastomeric coatings like epoxies and paints waterproof membrane during that time.”
56 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 BRIDGES
“Instead of traditionally sealing bridge decks over US 45 (Structure No. 016-6201), which was “Instead of traditionally every five years or so, they could be spray originally constructed in 1940 for the Wabash sealing bridge decks applied waterproofed with materials like BDM Railway Company. every five years or so, that can last five decades or more,” says Traci A CDOT project in downtown Chicago, Micucci, President of Eastern Bridge Works, recently completed by Pine Waterproofing, they could be spray a Poughkeepsie, N.Y.-based waterproofing involved applying 65,000 sq. ft. of spray applied waterproofed with contractor. applied waterproofing and needed to be materials like BDM that can “That would eliminate repeatedly tearing returned to service as quickly as possible. up the asphalt overlay, resealing the deck and The concrete surface had an extremely last five decades or more.” repaving it, plus all the required lane closures. rough surface, but BDM was still able to It would stop rebar corrosion and concrete achieve a superior bond. The contractor was spalling in decks to keep infrastructure safely able to install over 30,000 sq. ft. of 80 mils operating.” BDM and 40 mils of top coat with aggregate Spray Applied Waterproofing These spray applied membranes can be within seven days, and completed the job Since crack bridging is critical in ensuring sprayed horizontally, vertically and overhead within four weeks. long-term waterproofing protection, many at any thickness, as well as applied at specified In critical, high traffic highway and rail owners are requiring the ASTM C-1305 crack thickness in one continuous application. Spray bridges, the speed of installation and return to bridging test for liquid-applied membranes. applied waterproofing can also be applied service is a particular advantage that minimizes The test consists of applying the robotically with greater speed and consistency downtime. Some products, such as BDM, can membrane system across two concrete than other materials. accept ballast, temporary traffic, other trades blocks with matching faces. The test sample “By robot, we can consistently spray apply or asphalt overlays one hour after application. is then brought down to -15° F for 24 hours to waterproof over 10,000 sq. ft. of deck per day To further illustrate the importance of stabilize it at this temperature. with BDM at 80-85 mils on any surface,” says installation speed, many in the industry are The testing requires the two blocks be Ted Predki, Chief Estimator and Project Manager utilizing spray applied waterproofing as a pulled apart at a rate of 1/8”/hr to a maximum at Pine Waterproofing and Sealant. “It’s easy to standard accelerated bridge construction opening of 1/8”; then closed to a zero gap high-build spray it in one coating.” material. at the same speed. The test fixture must As a waterproofing contractor, Predki The accelerated bridge construction maintain the sample at the -15°F temperature also prefers the spray applied waterproofing process involves using prefabricated bridge through the ten cycles of testing required. approach for its fast set and curing times. “[The elements and systems such as composite Some manufacturers have conducted waterproofing] can set in 10 seconds so you can decks manufactured off-site, which are then this test for additional cycles to further test walk on it,” says Predki. installed with closure pours and appropriately the limits of their products. For instance, In Orland Park, Il., Pine Waterproofing and waterproofed. This expedites the project, Bridge Deck Membrane (“BDM”) by Bridge Sealant installed nearly 7,000 sq. ft. of spray improves quality, reduces traffic impact and Preservation passes the ASTM C 1305 test applied waterproofing on the Metra Bridge lowers total life cycle costs. after forty cycles. Railroads are also turning to spray applied waterproofing systems for their enhanced durability and long-term performance. Chapter 8, Part 29 of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA) Manual for Railway Engineering includes guidelines for spray applied membranes. Some spray applied elastomer waterproofing systems have coefficients of linear thermal expansion similar to concrete and steel, the most common bridge building materials. This physical property is an important prerequisite to ensuring success when membranes are used as a composite with layers of asphalt.
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 57 BRIDGES
“When we did the Metra Fast 14 project, we now be completely waterproofed with spray For highway bridge projects that involve had to complete a bridge project in essentially applied technology. complicated staging and traffic management, one weekend, explains MassDOT’s Bardow. Articulus, a flexible expansion joint system some spray applied waterproofing systems “Within that time, we had to demolish the developed by Bridge Preservation, offers with an aggregate top coat can be used as a existing bridge, set prefabricated bridge units seamless waterproofing protection for joint temporary driving surface for up to two weeks. for the new bridge, do all the closure pours, openings. When used in conjunction with spray This allows large areas of waterproofing have the concrete set, then come back to spray applied waterproofing membranes, these to be applied prior to paving and reduces the apply waterproofing membrane. expansion joints form a high strength chemical number of cold joints for a more durable final “The contractor accomplished this and the bond that forms a single, monolithic layer wear course. speed of spray applied membrane installation of waterproofing across both the joints and The aggregate top coat also enhances the was an important factor in meeting the bridge deck. bond between the membrane and asphalt, accelerated deadline.” Protection board for railroad bridges is adding further long-term performance to the Bardow says that a spray applied another area of recent innovation. Integrated finished system. membrane is standard for accelerated bridge Ballast Mat – a spray applied ballast mat “With new spray applied waterproofing construction for MassDOT projects. “With also developed by Bridge Preservation – technology designed to reliably last decades the large number of closure pours we do, provides seamless, high build protection of without ongoing maintenance, civil and we were also concerned about effectively the waterproofing system with a secondary structural engineers have a valuable new tool waterproofing them so water intrusion does ballast protection course, as well as providing that can help them cost-effectively maintain not become a problem over time.” additional waterproofing protection and critical infrastructure while minimizing In addition to the more durable and enhanced electrical resistivity. downtime,” says Eastern Bridge Works’ Micucci. cost-effective protection that spray applied It passes the North American Ballast Impact For more information, please visit: waterproofing provides, it also opens the Test and can accept ballast loading one hour www.bridgepreservation.com door to complementary technologies. after application. For flat decks, it can also be Bridge joints, as an example, are a typical applied at varying thickness to provide slope Del Williams is a technical writer based in location for the development of leaks. They can for drainage. Torrance, California.
58 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 Can you take the risk that you might be using non-compliant steel?
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Asset management tool ensures future of bridges
Financial modelling of bridges is becoming increasingly important as Changing values asset owners are moving to more proactive maintenance programs, A key output of a bridge financial model is an understanding of according to engineering consultancy pitt&sherry. how the structure’s value changes over time, Mr Sonnenberg said. How maintenance funds are spent has become a vital consideration Asset owners can benefit by developing a maintenance program and for asset owners. Traditionally, they have scheduled works based on monitor the effect the maintenance has on the value of the structure. defects identified during level two (2) inspections in a reactive manner This provides an understanding of how the value of the structure despite it being much more desirable to work proactively. will decline should no works be undertaken compared with works pitt&sherry applies a method for addressing a range of that can slow the loss in value. The deterioration of each component asset management issues using level 2 inspection data, which is modelled based on an understanding of its life drawn from the is supplemented with financial information and the company’s relevant design codes and the exposure class of the component. knowledge of structural deterioration, based on Australian and “For example, we know that with all things being equal, concrete international standards. structures in the tidal splash zone deteriorate quicker than concrete The tool integrates with the company’s AssetAsyst® software, an structures in a benign environment. We can pick up the exposure expanding asset inventory, maintenance and inspection management classification from the level 2 inspection,” said Mr Sonnenberg. system developed to better manage all types of infrastructure, The forecast expenditure is determined from the defects identified including bridges. during the level 2 inspections, as well as through knowledge of works “Using deterioration models developed with historic observations that are required based on the life of components. we can predict the future condition of structural components, whether “We can program for maintenance, such as repainting, in 20 it be in one, five or 10 years,” according to Andrew Sonnenberg, years from the time it was first installed if we want a long life for the National Bridge Leader at pitt&sherry. structure or we can choose not to maintain the structure and have its “This will help asset owners plan for upcoming works. The condition deteriorate,” Mr Sonnenberg explained. structures may have a particular condition level, which they don’t want To complete the modelling, the replacement value of the structure any structural components to drop below. and its current value are reviewed to establish if it is more cost “By applying this tool the modelling will show when a component effective to repair or replace. It is also an aim to vary the expenditure is likely to drop below this level and asset managers can then schedule on replacement and/or rehabilitation works over time to fit available and budget for works in these years accordingly.” budgets.
60 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 The Road to Relevant Research Proactive asset owners Deterioration modelling of bridges allows asset owners to take a proactive approach to their management plans. pitt&sherry was engaged by the City of Melbourne to develop a model for its bridge assets, including the iconic Queen’s Bridge and Princes Bridge; two heritage structures built in the 19th century. “For the City of Melbourne we have captured the life of certain bridge elements to not only assess their current condition, but also gain knowledge on how long these elements will last,” said Mr Sonnenberg. “By developing a predictive model of the future of its bridges the City of Melbourne has taken a proactive approach to maintaining the health of its heritage structures.” Mr Sonnenberg said the City of Melbourne was now well positioned to minimise maintenance costs over the life cycle of each of the bridge’s key components. Did you know you can access the latest “By being proactive with its bridges the City of Melbourne can issue of Highway Engineering Australia via accurately set aside funds in its budget to keep the structures well Informit? maintained. As many asset owners have limited budgets this could prove crucial for them to manage maintenance costs,” he said. The Informit Engineering Collection is an ever expanding resource covering Asset management aspects of highway engineering - planning The project has extended pitt&sherry’s relationship with the City of and development, design, construction, Melbourne after it developed the first asset management plan for the maintenance and management. The heritage bridges. database offers an extensive variety The ability of bridge deterioration models to predict future of resources including journals, trade conditions will provide the local government with significant publications, reports and conference advantages in improving the effectiveness of maintenance decisions. proceedings. Zhanna Sichivitsa – Team Leader, Asset Management of Engineering Services Group at the City of Melbourne – said pitt&sherry’s background knowledge of its bridge assets, combined with the sophisticated tool, delivered a financial model that would improve how cost effective its The Collection guarantees quality through partnerships asset management programs would be in the coming years. with peak professional bodies including Engineers “Council will be using the modelling every year to justify renewal Australia and the Institution of Professional Engineers bids for maintenance work on our bridges. We can now also include New Zealand, as well as Content Providers including bridges in our 10-year long-term asset management plan,” Ms EPC Media Group. Sichivitsa said. The Informit Engineering Collection delivers hard to find “pitt&sherry did a thorough job and their knowledge of our assets content designed to complete and complement your was valuable. The project team was very responsive and using the highway engineering requirements. AssetAsyst software produced very detailed results we can use each year.” Other key titles published by EPC Media include:
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Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 61 BRIDGES
$10 million price tag for two WA bridges
More than $10 million will be spent by the Western Australian The Shire of Murray, which is responsible for the bridge asset, Government on the construction of two new bridges. is working with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services to The government has awarded a $6.93 million contract for the provide temporary access during construction. replacement of a timber bridge over the Murray River on Coolup East The project is due for completion in October 2016, and will create Road in the Shire of Murray. It has also allocated $3.4 million for the about 20 jobs. construction of a new two-lane bridge on the South Western Highway In Byford, two ageing timber bridges on the South Western – the bridge will span Beenyup Brook in Byford. Highway will be replaced with a new, wider concrete structure built BMD Constructions will build the 98-metre, two-span steel and to meet the latest safety standards. concrete bridge over the Murray River in place of the existing 101 “South Western Highway is already a dedicated heavy haulage metre, 13-span timber bridge. route. The new bridge has been designed to remove any load Transport Minister, Dean Nalder, said the key transport link from the restrictions for heavy vehicles, which will allow over-mass loads to South Western Highway to the Pinjarra Williams Road would receive use this section of the highway,” Mr Nalder said. an important and necessary upgrade, boosting road user safety. Works will start in October and demolition of the southbound Mr Nalder said the project was regarded as a priority because the bridge will be completed by November. Once the southbound bridge existing bridge had a 10 tonne load limit, restricting use by heavier vehicles. has been demolished and reconstructed, work will start on replacing “This project will increase the load capacity of Coolup East Road the northbound structure. between South Western Highway and Pinjarra Williams Road for traffic The new bridge will be built downstream from the current bypassing Pinjarra.” structure and includes two lanes in each direction and sealed The Minister said the project would be funded through the State shoulders. The path along the western side of the highway will also Initiative Program and brought forward from the 2016-17 financial year be widened to three metres. due to the urgency of the work. The project, jointly funded by the state and Australian “The program is about strengthening and growing our regions and governments, will create 85 jobs and is scheduled for completion in helping communities realise their potential through the delivery of key mid-2016. economic infrastructure.”
New bridge key feature New, safer bridge for of Bruce Highway Collie River near Burekup interchange Construction is underway on a new bridge over the Collie River near Burekup, with Watpac awarded the contract on the $16.54 million project. Construction of a new six-lane bridge is the focus of a $105 million The Australian and Western Australian governments will each provide upgrade of the Boundary Road Interchange on the Bruce Highway $8.27 million to the project under the Bridges Renewal Program, which near Narangba – 34 kilometres north of Brisbane is designed to bolster the productivity of local bridges, better serve The upgrade will boost the interchange’s capacity and enhance communities and drive greater efficiency in road freight and traffic safety for motorists who use the section of the highway. movement. The project will feature a six-lane, four-span concrete bridge built The timber Collie River Bridge is 86 years old and is nearing the end over the Bruce Highway, including a shared pedestrian and cycle of its life. The new concrete structure will be built downstream of the crossing, as well as new signalised intersections at the new exit and existing bridge and help improve safety for all road users. entry ramps. The works will involve building a modern bridge with safety barriers Expressions of interest opened on 17 September and it is as well as a new culvert across the Collie River Floodway. Around 1.7 anticipated the successful tenderer will be announced early in 2016, kilometres of the South Western Highway in Burekup between Russell with construction to start mid-year. Road and Raymond Road will be realigned. The realignment will improve The tender for the upgrade is a two-stage approach. It involves safety for the increasing number of vehicles using the stretch of road consideration of initial non-price submissions, and then shortlisting and for locals accessing Burekup. An average of 6,000 vehicles use the prequalified contractors down to a select number of tenderers in the Burekup Bridge each day, of which around 18 per cent are heavy vehicles. first stage. The natural river bank will be enhanced with rock protection, and The second stage enables any shortlisted contractors to tender improvements will be made to improve erosion control. for a Transport Infrastructure Contract– Construction Only (TIC-CO) Modifications to existing intersections will also be needed, including contract to undertake the major works. Raymond Road, Russell Road and Orchard Drive, which will improve The Bruce Highway-Boundary Road Interchange Upgrade project safety for Burekup residents. is jointly funded with the Federal Government committing up to $84 The existing bridge will remain open to traffic until the new alignment million and the Queensland Government contributing $21 million. is complete. The new bridge should be completed by mid-2016.
62 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015
Schwarze Industries Australia Pty Ltd ROAD SWEEPERS MULTI-PURPOSE SWEEPERS TRAILER & TRACTOR BROOMS
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330401A_Schwarze Industries | 2126.indd 1 28/01/15 2:46 PM Schwarze Industries Australia Pty Ltd INDUSTRY NEWS ROAD SWEEPERS MULTI-PURPOSE SWEEPERS
Exiting the freeway can be problematic It can carry more than 8,000 vehicles TRAILER & TRACTOR BROOMS Improvements to for some motorists, resulting in significant each day, around 35 per cent of which are traffic disruptions as drivers try to change trucks, and the intersection upgrade will Lyell Highway lanes to position themselves correctly. ensure freight can move between various To ease some of the confusion and make locations safely and efficiently. Construction was due to start in October exiting easier, WA’s Main Roads has analysed The Australian Government will provide on a $1.2 million project to improve the key major conflict points along the freeway and $5.62 million and the Victorian Government strategic passenger, freight and tourism identified opportunities to provide dedicated $1.87 million to the project. route between Hobart and Queenstown on exit lanes at five key locations. Tasmania’s west coast. Under the Traffic Congestion Tasmanian company, Andrew Walter Management Program, the new clearly Constructions Pty Ltd, has been awarded marked exit lanes will remove merge points Feedback being the contract to improve the Lyell Highway’s to allow traffic to exit the freeway without road surface from south of Brady’s Lake to causing disruption to the flow of traffic. assessed on Mid-West Wilsons Straight. Research has shown this type of coastal route The highway work includes improvements treatment improves traffic flow by reducing on a 0.4 kilometre section of road at Wilsons the need for vehicles to merge after an off- Straight and a 3.5 kilometre section south of ramp. An example of the dedicated lane can The Western Australian Government and Brady’s Lake on the Lyell Highway. be seen on Mitchell Freeway northbound relevant councils are assessing community Speed restrictions and altered traffic at Hutton Street where it has resulted in feedback on the options for a future coastal conditions will be in place throughout the free-flowing traffic along this section of the route between Dongara and Northampton in construction period to ensure a safe work freeway. WA’s Mid-West. place for construction staff. The cost of the project includes The month-long consultation period The project is expected to be completed resurfacing some intersections, traffic ended on 2 October and the feedback will by the end of February 2016, weather management for night work, line marking and inform authorities in identifying preferred permitting. new signage. routes to meet future needs for moving Rene Hidding, State Infrastructure A total of $8.5 million is being spent this people and freight. Minister, said the government’s investment year to improve merge lines and add exit There are three options between in road infrastructure, such as the $500 lanes as part of the State Government’s $40 Dongara and Geraldton for consideration million, 10-Year Action Plan for the Midland million package to eleviate congestion. and three between Geraldton and Highway, was providing certainty for the civil Northampton, which include upgrading construction industry. existing roads and new inland routes. “This is an important sector that not only All options incorporate the planned keeps our economy moving, it employs a Improving traffic flow Oakajee-Narngulu Infrastructure great many Tasmanians,” Mr Hidding said. Corridor, which is being proposed by at key Shepparton the Departments of State Development intersection and Planning as an outer bypass east of Geraldton, and the central part of the long- Five new freeway exit term route. VicRoads is assessing tender submissions The Brand Highway, between Dongara lanes to aid traffic flow for construction of a $7.5 million dual- and Geraldton, already carries about 3,700 lane roundabout designed to ease traffic vehicles per day, of which 16 per cent Linemarking for five new dedicated exit lanes congestion, reduce delays and improve are heavy vehicles. By 2031, volumes are is being added to Perth’s freeways as part of connectivity through Shepparton in north expected to increase by 60 per cent to the Western Australian Government’s Traffic east Victoria. about 6,000 vehicles per day. Congestion Management Program. Shepparton is a major regional hub which The North West Coastal Highway, The first exit lane opened on 10 October needs a road network capable of handling between Geraldton and Northampton, on Kwinana Freeway at the southbound exit existing and future transport needs, and the carries about 1,100 vehicles per day, of to South Street, and another was due to open roundabout will be built at the intersection which one quarter are heavy vehicles. on the northbound exit to Leach Highway of Doyles Road and the Midland Highway at Volumes are expected to increase to about from October 25. Shepparton East. 3,000 vehicles per day by 2031. Under the $2.5 million project, three Both Doyles Road and the Midland Highway The project to identify the preferred dedicated exit lanes are being added on the carry significant heavy vehicle traffic and the route and carry out detailed planning has Customer Support Mitchell Freeway, at the northbound exit to intersection is operating at full capacity during been funded by the WA Government’s Quality Performance Public Safety Value Hay Street, southbound exit to Hutton Street the morning and afternoon peaks. Royalties for Regions program and is and the southbound exit to Cedric Street. The upgrade will increase the capacity of supported by the Mid West Development This means drivers who want to leave the the roundabout to handle traffic, as well as Commission. The People You Know The Products You Trust freeway will have their own dedicated exit duplicate the approaching road lanes. Once a preferred route is identified and lanes, allowing traffic to run more smoothly. Doyles Road is also part of the bypass endorsed by state and local governments, It allows through-traffic to flow and reduces route of the Goulburn Valley Highway for more detailed planning work will be “pinch-point” congestion associated with north-south traffic between Melbourne and undertaken. merging two lanes into one. Brisbane.
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 65
330401A_Schwarze Industries | 2126.indd 1 28/01/15 2:46 PM INDUSTRY NEWS
storage, smarter energy management, Transport part of CEFC waste-to-energy plants and cleaner cars. Infrastructure a priority “The CEFC’s investment in these areas is focus on investment helping generate cleaner power, accelerate for Northern Territory & opportunities the take-up of energy efficient technologies Victoria and cut energy costs for businesses, local governments and households. Transport is one of the key areas in which “We’re providing finance for better A Northern Territory Infrastructure the Clean Energy Finance Corporation buildings, cleaner energy, more efficient Development Fund – financially independent (CEFC) is working to unlock key investment vehicles and energy productivity for of the Territory Government – will invest in a opportunities for Australia’s cities of the future. businesses across the country.” diversified portfolio of infrastructure related Other areas identified for funding by Mr Yates said global research showed projects such as roads, hospitals, schools and the CEFC are clean energy and greener investing in public and low emission transport, agricultural projects. buildings. building efficiency and waste management And in Victoria, the government has named Corporation CEO, Oliver Yates, told in cities could generate worldwide savings of the board that will oversee the activities of the Smart Future Cities 2015 conference more than $24 trillion by 2050. Infrastructure Victoria, the independent body in Newcastle on 1 October that there “This represents a great opportunity for that will ensure the state’s immediate and was significant opportunity to invest in Australian cities and the CEFC is working long-term infrastructure needs are identified technologies that would help Australians live to help unlock investment opportunities for and prioritised. in cleaner, energy efficient, connected and smart future cities, in transport, clean energy The Territory fund could be the catalyst for productive cities. and greener buildings.” major economic investment and the creation “Australia is one of the world’s most The Smart Future Cities 2015 conference of thousands of new jobs, according to Chief urbanised countries with almost 90 per cent and exhibition in Newcastle from 1-2 Minister Adam Giles. of us living in urban areas; and why not? October, was the first of its kind to be held Speaking at the Northern Territory Major Australian cities regularly rank among the in Australia. Projects Conference on 6 October, Mr Giles most liveable in the world,” Mr Yates said. It was an initiative of the Tom Farrell said it would support the development of “To keep us at the forefront of liveability, Institute for the Environment at the infrastructure using the proceeds of the sale of planning and investment is needed now as we University of Newcastle, in partnership with Territory Insurance Office. transform our cities to a low carbon future.” the Regional Clean Energy Program of the “Using $200 million from the sale of TIO as Mr Yates said that since its inception, the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, a financial ‘cornerstone’, the fund will seek a CEFC had made $1.4 billion of investment and The City of Newcastle. further $800 million of capital from Australian commitments towards projects with a total The Clean Energy Finance Corporation and overseas investors to create a $1 billion value of more than $3.5 billion. (CEFC) has developed financing solutions investment pool,” Mr Giles said. “Australian cities can benefit from a broad designed to accelerate investment into “The fund will be used to invest in range of clean energy technologies, such the clean transport sector. It also works infrastructure projects across the Territory as LED street lighting, solar PV and battery with major banks and lenders to leverage – creating revenue for the fund, essential its funding to increase investment capital infrastructure for Territorians and new jobs available to the sector. across the whole economy.” The CEFC and leading Australian non- Treasurer, David Tollner, said the fund was bank lender, Firstmac, have a $50 million expected to be operational by the second half asset finance program which provides of 2016. finance for highly efficient cars and light “It is a down-payment on the Territory’s vehicles. The program is designed to further future growth; an investment that will deliver boost Australia’s switch to low emissions and jobs and prosperity for years to come. electric vehicles, and can be used by fleet “TIO was sold because it posed a huge risk managers to purchase low emissions and to the Territory Government’s finances – but electric vehicles. we are determined that the sale proceeds will Working with the CEFC, National be spent wisely.” Australia Bank has a $120 million finance The fund’s interim board will appoint an program, marketed as the Energy Efficient independent commercial infrastructure fund Bonus, under which businesses can upgrade manager, responsible for making investment to higher fuel efficiency vehicles and decisions. equipment, including hybrid and electric The interim board will include: Les Fallick, vehicles and related infrastructure. principal of Granite Capital, as chairman; Bill The CEFC’s Energy Efficient Loan program Moss, former head of Macquarie Bank’s real with Commonwealth Bank has up to $200 estate and banking divisions; James Paspaley, million available for financing manufacturing executive director of Paspaley Pearls; and and not-for-profit organisations looking to Jodie Ryan, Under-Treasurer of the Northern upgrade equipment, including vehicles, with Territory Government. more energy efficient technologies. Infrastructure specialist, Jim Miller, has For further details about the CEFC, visit been appointed as the inaugural Chair of www.cleanenergyfinance.com.au Infrastructure Victoria.
66 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 INDUSTRY NEWS
Mr Miller was an Executive Director at planning with the public service and its Macquarie Capital from 1994-2015 and is agencies. Improving conditions for currently the Deputy Chair of Infrastructure Infrastructure Victoria will be required Partnerships Australia. to publicly release a 30-year Infrastructure coal related traffic south Maria Wilton joins the board as Deputy Strategy detailing short, medium and long-term of Mackay Chair. She is the Managing Director of Franklin needs and priorities. Templeton Investments Australia, and a The government will be required to develop director of the Financial Services Council of a five-year Infrastructure Plan outlining its Construction is getting underway on a dual- Australia. priority projects and funding commitments, lane roundabout at the intersection of the The current President and Vice Chancellor and Infrastructure Victoria will assess the Bruce Highway and Hay Point Road south of of Monash University, Professor Margaret government’s progress against this plan. Mackay in Queensland. Gardner, and former CEO of Westpac New The expert body will also independently Vassallo Constructions has been awarded Zealand and the Bank of Melbourne, Ann assess the economic, environmental and social the contract to build the 80 metre-wide Sherry, will also join Infrastructure Victoria as merits of major projects, and publish research roundabout, which is designed to improve members of the board. on a range of infrastructure issues. safety for motorists. The Board will include the Secretaries of “Governments come and go, but our long- More than 12,000 vehicles drive through the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the term infrastructure priorities always remain,” the busy intersection each day, including Department of Treasury and Finance and the said Premier Daniel Andrews. freight traffic heading to the Hay Point and Department of Environment, Land, Water “That’s why we’ve appointed a board to give Dalrymple Bay coal terminals; important and Planning. They will ensure Infrastructure us clear, expert advice that is independent of contributors to the Queensland economy. Victoria is able to coordinate infrastructure politics and focussed on our state’s priorities.” Requirements of the road freight industry were carefully considered during the project’s design phase, with a particular focus on ensuring heavy vehicles could Transport infrastructure priority for NSW access the two coal terminals without causing major disruptions to normal traffic Delivering infrastructure is one of 30 transport, particularly in off-peak periods flows. priorities unveiled in mid-September by New where possible. The dual-lane roundabout will ensure South Wales Premier, Mike Baird. He said this would enable business and motorists don’t need to conduct dangerous Mr Baird said the 30 “State Priorities” the community to move around the city with manoeuvrers to pass slow moving freight – including 12 “Premier Priorities” – would greater ease, reducing travel times, boosting vehicles. allow the government to measure and deliver productivity and reducing business costs. It will replace the temporary traffic signals projects that created a stronger, healthier “Over the coming weeks, I will work with currently in place at the intersection. Works and safer state. The Premier said congestion my ministers to put in place rigorous plans are expected to be completed and open to across metropolitan Sydney was estimated to achieve these aims and I will be personally traffic by mid-2016. to already cost up to $5 billion per annum, monitoring the government’s performance.” The Australian Government is fully and would rise to $8 billion by 2021 if action The Premier said each of the 30 ‘State funding this $15 million project. was not implemented. Priorities’ would be measured against the Mr Baird said to ensure consistency best available indicators of economic growth, of journey times on key roads continued infrastructure delivery, service provision and to improve, the government was working other measures of community wellbeing and New infrastructure to make better use of existing road safety across NSW. infrastructure, build extra road capacity Find out more about the Premier’s priority list for and encourage commuters to use public Priorities and State Priorities at nsw.gov.au. Queensland
Major public transport projects and key motorway upgrades top the Queensland Government’s 2015 Infrastructure Australia (IA) submission. Minister for Infrastructure, Jackie Trad, said Queensland’s list of projects for federal government funding met IA’s key goal to prioritise and progress nationally significant infrastructure that could boost national productivity and transform cities. Ms Trad said the 12 priority projects nominated were vitally important to ensure Queensland’s future economic productivity. The submission comprises seven new priority projects and five existing projects from the 2013 Infrastructure Priority List.
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Projects on the 2013 Infrastructure Priority The overpass is part of the new Bruce management activities undertaken by NSW List to be retained and updated are Cross River Highway interchange at Roys Road and Bells Roads and Maritime. Rail, Bruce Highway Upgrades, Beerburrum to Creek Road. “The activities covered by this decision are Nambour Rail Upgrade, Mount Isa–Townsville The Roys and Bells Interchange Upgrade smaller-scale projects that are not of state Rail Corridor Upgrade including Townsville project is one of four major interchange significance such as new overtaking lanes for Eastern Access Corridor (TEARC) and Ipswich improvements between Caboolture and existing roads, short sections of new road, Motorway – Rocklea to Darra – State 1. Caloundra being funded through $196 million bridge replacement projects and a range of New initiatives and projects for in Federal Government funding. routine maintenance and safety works. Infrastructure Priority List consideration are The Bruce Highway is the key transport “This great cooperation between the two Gold Coast Light Rail – Stage 2, Cunningham route between Brisbane and Cairns, and tiers of government will save the time and Highway – Yamanto to Ebenezer/Amberley the addition of the overpass will help cost previously spent on multiple approvals upgrade, Pacific Motorway – Mudgeeraba to improve safety for local and highway traffic, and removes unproductive red tape from Varsity Lakes capacity upgrade, Inland Rail/ accommodate future growth and improve both governments.” Southern Rail Corridor and Pacific Motorway– links between local communities. Gateway/Pacific Motorway merge. The upgrade means a shortened travel Initiatives in development are Smart Road time for motorists who previously had to Infrastructure for SEQ – Managed Motorways travel further north to use the Caloundra O-Bahn tunnel report: and National Land Transport Network Road interchange to access Bells Creek Road. Renewal. The two lane overpass and interchange significant jobs boost Minister Trad said south east Queensland replaces the previous at-grade intersections from project was home to one-in-seven Australians. at Roys Road and Bells Creek Road, which She said in the next 25 years an additional had right-turn restrictions in place. 2.2 million people would move into the region There are also safer on-and-off-ramps A detailed analysis of Adelaide’s O-Bahn City and it was critical to ensure key infrastructure and the upgrade will provide improved local Access Project, including the response to projects were planned immediately. road connections to Roys, Bells Creek and extensive consultation with community and “Infrastructure Australia has already Dianella roads, and accommodate future stakeholders, has been released by the South recognised Cross River Rail is the number traffic growth. Australian Government. one priority infrastructure project for the State Transport and Infrastructure Minister, nation and it remains so for the Queensland Stephen Mullighan, said the Project Impact Government. Report signalled the next stage of the project, “We continue to call on the federal Removing duplication in which would support about 450 jobs during government to come to the table with funding design and construction. so this project can be delivered to address the NSW roads regulation “The report shows our primary objectives - Brisbane CBD capacity constraints identified to significantly improve travel times for more in the Australian Infrastructure Audit. The strategic assessment of small-scale road than 31,000 O-Bahn bus passengers and more “A second rail river crossing will ease and traffic works in New South Wales has been than 70,000 vehicles which travel this part of congestion, unlock economic opportunities approved under national environment law. the city ring route - will be achieved through and make Queensland a more internationally Through the strategic assessment, a broad the project,” Mr Mullighan said. competitive state.” landscape-scale assessment of potential “The report states that in the evening peak Ms Trad said the Queensland impacts to the environment has been it can take more than 20 minutes to travel the Government’s first budget delivered a $10.1 completed. 1.45 kilometres between Hackney Road and billion building program to support 27,500 This means the NSW Roads and Maritime Grenfell Street, which not only hampers the jobs and its building program was the second Service can proceed with critical road O-Bahn’s reliability but also delays all traffic highest in the nation. improvements, without needing to wait for including O-Bahn buses.” “We are getting on with the job approval from the Federal Government. Mr Mullighan said the report addressed of delivering Queensland’s first State Federal Environment Minister, Greg Hunt, issues raised during community consultation, Infrastructure Plan in three years to ensure said strategic assessments represented a way which informed the revised design announced there is certainty for industry and our state of streamlining approvals while maintaining in June. does not miss out on the vital infrastructure environmental standards. “The project now reduces the impact on projects the community needs.” “The approval of this strategic assessment parklands and increases parking in the East will improve the efficiency of road upgrades End based on feedback from the community, in NSW, but most importantly, we have done as well as giving motorists and buses on this while maintaining high environmental Hackney Road a better run into the city. Bruce Highway overpass standards. “The Project Impact Report also shows the “We are demonstrating to the community safety benefits with the changes to Hackney opens at Beerwah that the government is serious about Road, including fewer accidents anticipated reducing red tape and we are serious about on this part of the city ring route.” Motorists in the hinterland of Queensland’s protecting the environment.” Mr Mullighan said the O-Bahn City Access Sunshine Coast Region will experience faster New South Wales Minister for Roads, Project would support hundreds of jobs in and safer access across the Bruce Highway at Duncan Gay, said there was previously the construction, professional and technical Beerwah with the opening on 30 September unnecessary duplication in the approvals services industries, as well as material of the Bells Creek road overpass. required for some road and traffic suppliers.
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“Combined with other major projects, the The North Eastern Maintenance Alliance and environmental sustainability. O-Bahn tunnel will help build confidence in between VicRoads and Downer Group has “The Mitsubishi Outlander Plug-in Hybrid the local construction sector,” he said. already improved journeys, built safer roads Electric Vehicle (PHEV) is the world’s first Chief Executive of Master Builders SA, and delivered projects including the $14 Plug-in Hybrid SUV and its versatility will suit John Stokes, said the tunnel project was million Omeo Highway upgrade and the Queensland’s robust environment.” sending the right message for private sector installation of wire rope barriers on the Hume In July this year, Ergon Energy said its confidence. Freeway. retail business was working with government “This project creates jobs when many “Locals can expect to see more works in and industry to help create an electric businesses are reporting a slowing of their local areas as VicRoads and alliances vehicle highway with Australia’s first solar- demand; it creates demand for skilled workers work together to improve roads and networks powered fast-charging station for EVs to be who might otherwise look for opportunities across the state,” Mr Donnellan said. established in Townsville. interstate and its proposed path through Alliance staff will be located in VicRoads urban environments will draw upon some of depots and offices enabling a shared the best expertise that our industry offers,” responsibility for engaging with the he said. community, managing road maintenance Rolling out new Civil Contractors Federation Chief, Phil and being more strategic in response to road Sutherland, welcomed the project and said maintenance challenges. arrangements for ‘big it came at a time when private investment in The announcement follows the recent rigs’ in Tasmania infrastructure was at a historic low. commitment to spend $135.6 million over the “The State Government is to be next year to repair unsafe and deteriorating commended for filling the gap with publicly roads across Victoria, including an $80 million The heavy vehicle industry, the Tasmanian funded projects which generate much- investment for road resurfacing under the Government and local government have needed work for civil contractors, create Road Surface Replacement Program. cooperated to develop approved routes hundreds of jobs and stimulate the economy for the operators of oversize and overmass more widely,” he said. vehicles. Todd Hacking from Cement, Concrete and The initiative has been taken in line with Aggregates Australia said the original O-Bahn Ergon Energy’s new Federal legislative changes that come into project had transformed public transport in effect by 1 January 2016 – those changes Adelaide. investment in electric will replace various permits with new “The 650-metre concrete tunnel that will vehicles requirements for heavy vehicle operators. make this project a reality is a much-needed Under the new arrangements, operators of infrastructure project that will support oversize and overmass vehicles will be able to the heavy construction materials industry Ergon Energy – a Queensland Government- keep travelling along key routes without the at a time when private infrastructure and owned corporation – has entered into need for a permit. residential construction is soft,” Mr Hacking a partnership with Mitsubishi Motors to Rene Hidding, Tasmania’s Minister for said. bring eight electric vehicles (EVs) into the Infrastructure, said an approved Route electricity distributor’s passenger fleet this Network Map had been developed based on a year. Vehicle Reference Guide that sets out a range The eight Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV’s of different oversize and overmass vehicle Alliance model brings (Plug in Hybrid Electric Vehicles) joining the combinations currently in use on the state’s Ergon fleet will be based in Cairns, Townsville, roads. regional roads upgrades Rockhampton, Mackay, Maryborough and Mr Hidding said, however, operators Toowoomba. would still need to apply to the National Improvements to regional roads in Victoria’s Ergon Energy Chief Executive, Ian McLeod, Heavy Vehicle Regulator for permits for their south west, east and north east regions are said the agreement underscored Ergon’s vehicles to travel outside approved Route being delivered under an alliance model. strategy to reduce carbon emissions and Networks. The alliance between VicRoads and embrace emerging technologies. “The challenge for Tasmanian state and Fulton Hogan came into operation from the “Ergon Energy, as an electricity distributor local governments has been to develop beginning of September – it will deliver for believes that wider adoption of EVs will a system that mitigates risk to state road the next five years what Victoria’s Minister happen,” Mr McLeod said. networks, but minimises the administrative for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan, “As an electricity distribution utility that burden to heavy vehicle operators and road describes as critical road maintenance services 97 per cent of Queensland we see managers. services to regional Victoria. a logical connection between operating EVs “That’s why the government has been Mr Donnellan said the alliance would and the power we provide to customers each working closely with the transport industry to provide more efficient maintenance services and every day.” find the right balance. including road repairs, bridge maintenance, Ergon Energy is also finalising a lease offer “We provided $1.7 million for specialist roadside clearing and improvement works to employees that could see up to a further consultants to work with councils on and manage emergency responses. 100 EVs taken on for private use. developing and implementing a series of The Minister said the deal built on the Mitsubishi Motors Australia CEO, heavy vehicle access networks across the success of the existing partnership in Mutsuhiro Oshikiri, said he was pleased to Tasmanian road network.” the north eastern region, which has been partner with Ergon Energy in its efforts to Mr Hidding said the Route Network Map extended until 2020. raise awareness of electric vehicle technology and Vehicle Reference Guide had been
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developed in consultation with the Local VicRoads’ data shows that in the 12 month But it’s not just accidents, breakdowns Government Association of Tasmania and period, 1157 pieces of junk were collected by and trash that keeps the IRS team busy; councils, as well as industry and the National its Incident Response Service (IRS), including kangaroos, sheep, horses and cows often Heavy Vehicle Regulator. tractor tyres, ladders, tools, mattresses and cars. create tricky traffic situations. To help heavy vehicle operators The excavator bucket was plucked from a “We’ve had to escort a family of ducks understand the new arrangements, the lane of traffic on the Princes Freeway. across a busy freeway in the past and even Department of State Growth was scheduled Steve Bean, VicRoads Manager of Traffic help move on a pelican that had perched to hold information sessions around the state and Incidents, said debris, big or small, could itself in the middle of a busy road. in late October. inflict serious damage and cause major “But sadly, not all animal encounters end The executive director of the Tasmanian disruption to the road network. well and each year a significant number of Transport Association, Robin Phillips, said “Any item that falls from a vehicle has the domestic pets are killed on our roads. the advent of a new system for oversize and potential to kill,” Mr Bean said. “We understand this can be very overmass vehicles would ensure transport “Not only is debris dangerous, the cost distressing for owners and have recently operators could continue to support the and disruption to the network can be huge, purchased a microchip scanner to use in Tasmanian economy, and service businesses especially if we have to close lanes during those situations where identification may still that were reliant on the transport of peak traffic times to safely remove items. be possible.” equipment and manufactured products. “Debris that ends up on Melbourne’s VicRoads’ Incident Response Service “The work undertaken by the Department freeways costs taxpayers more than $1.4 operates on Melbourne’s metropolitan of State Growth, with local councils, will also million in removal costs each year, so it’s in freeways, 24/7, 365 days a year. allow for a better understanding of our road everybody’s interest to check their loads.” assets into the future. In addition to debris removal, over the “We have to safeguard our infrastructure past 12 months the IRS has helped move 75 so our heavy vehicle industry retains an pedestrians to safety, conducted 214 welfare Bypass routes confirmed appropriate level of access to the Tasmanian checks and assisted with the removal of more road network going forward,” Mr Phillips said. than 500 abandoned cars. for Miling and Wubin “On average 41 cars a-month are dumped on the side of our freeways. These range from Construction will start next year on the first of those that have run out of fuel, broken down two bypasses around the Western Australian Clearing freeway debris and, of course, vehicles that have been stolen. Wheatbelt towns of Miling and Wubin. “Emergency lanes are definitely not The preferred routes for the traffic a costly exercise for parking lots and dumped cars can be a real bypasses have been released by the Federal VicRoads hazard,” said Mr Bean. and WA Governments – the alignments have been confirmed as: • Miling Bypass – a 4.1 kilometre bypass east A 35 kilogram excavator bucket was one of of the town, estimated to cost $25 million. more than a-thousand items retrieved from Works to begin by mid-2016; and Melbourne’s freeways in the year to 30 June, • Wubin Bypass – a 5.5 kilometre bypass 2015. east of the town, estimated to cost $20 The amount of rubbish removed from million. Works to begin by 2017. the freeways was enough to fill a shipping The bypasses will help boost the economic container and VicRoads has urged drivers capacity of the Wheatbelt region by providing to secure loose loads to avoid clogging the a safer and more efficient link for freight network. operators, with reduced operating costs and travel time savings. The upgrades are part of the two governments’ $420 million Great Northern Highway, Muchea to Wubin project, and their construction will support 100 new jobs. The Federal Government is contributing 80 per cent of the funding and the WA Government 20 per cent. The WA Government worked with local communities and stakeholders to identify the preferred road alignments for the bypasses. A number of options were identified and presented to the communities for feedback, enabling Main Roads to gain a better understanding of issues and constraints, and to recommend an ultimate option for each of the towns. Intersections at Wubin will be upgraded to cater for the larger freight vehicles so
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local businesses can continue to operate and The Council of Capital City Lord Mayors Installation of the electronic trucks that desire to stop in the town can do (CCCLM) said giving Mr Briggs responsibility communications is part of the Bruce Highway so. for cities and the built environment cemented Managed Motorways project, which is An eastern bypass of Miling reflects the political support across all of Australia’s major designed to assist in breaking traffic gridlock desires of the community by moving heavy political parties for federal engagement and during peak periods. freight vehicles away from the main street, investment in cities. The $34.8 million project is funded by the which contains the primary school and is “We are buoyed by the appointment of a Federal and Queensland Governments on a supported by the Shire of Moora as the Minister for Cities, and look forward to working 50:50 basis. preferred option. with the Federal Government to address the The bypass options have been of infrastructure gap that our cities face,” said significant interest to local communities CCCLM Chair, Martin Haese – the Lord Mayor who, in recent years, had expressed safety of Adelaide. Shred-the-Red drives concerns at the number of large trucks “Our cities are facing enormous challenges passing through the towns. in managing population growth and the business transport The WA Government has provided $40 associated demands for transport and other reform million in other road construction to improve infrastructure, whilst continuing to provide the road network in the Wheatbelt region sustainable environments to maintain over the period 2011/12 to 2014/15. productive and liveable cities. More than 200,000 businesses in Western “It is in our cities where people live and Australia will be able to process vehicle are employed, with 60 per cent of Australia’s registrations and update details online by the population living in Brisbane, Melbourne, end of the year under the State Government’s Local government Sydney, Perth and Adelaide. red tape blitz. “Our cities are where the contribution to Transport Minister, Dean Nalder, said says Minister for Cities the National economy is greatest; cities are the the advance meant improved efficiencies benefits transport drivers of the national economy, generating for all businesses, but particularly for the the majority of Australia’s GDP. transport sector, which would help improve “This appointment signals that cities are productivity. The appointment of Jamie Briggs as the to be given the attention they need. We look “We want to reduce red tape for Minister for Cities and the Built Environment forward to working alongside Federal and businesses, cut their administrative burden has been supported by two key local State governments to develop the appropriate and lower their costs,” Mr Nalder said. government bodies – the Australian Local planning and investment mechanisms that Improvements driven by Main Roads WA Government Association (ALGA) and the provide the right decisions to enable the and the Department of Transport include: Council of Capital City Lord Mayors. delivery of thriving future cities,” he said. • a new ‘one stop shop’ for the heavy The ALGA and the Council said the Deputy Prime Minister, Warren Truss, vehicle industry for processing permits appointment was a positive step in retains the Infrastructure and Regional and over size, over mass movements, addressing the challenges faced by Australia’s Development portfolio and Paul Fletcher has rather than having to deal with four cities and clearly showed the needs of cities been given responsibility for Major Projects separate agencies; were firmly on the Federal Government’s under the first Turnbull Ministry. • a phone service 138HVO which received agenda. more than 27,000 calls in its first six President of ALGA, Mayor Troy Pickard, months; said cities played a critical role in driving • replacing the two most common permits national economic growth and local ‘Smart’ on-ramp signals for restricted access vehicles with a single government backed the Commonwealth’s gazette notice, removing a $50 fee and intention to work in this policy area. ease Bruce Highway saving industry $250,000 a year; “While Minister Briggs will work with congestion • a new team of traffic escort wardens, Minister Hunt in the Environment Portfolio, allowing police to return to frontline securing the liveability and sustainability duties; of our cities will require coordination Ramp signals and electronic communications • undergrounding power lines to improve across a range of areas including transport, that have been activated on the Bruce truck driving safety and reduce costs; infrastructure and housing, as well as the built Highway between Caboolture and the • new pullover and layover bays to allow for and natural environments. Pine River will improve traffic flows at key efficient changeovers; “There is enormous potential for strong congestion points. • changes to the accredited mass partnership and collaboration between all The ramp signals play the same role as management scheme to allow loading in a three levels of government to reduce carbon traffic lights, but only operate during high- network approach, rather than individual emissions, deliver better transport solutions demand periods. They use smart technology approvals; and and improve local environmental outcomes, to detect and manage vehicle merge sections • extending the online payment system as well as facilitate greater community of the highway. DoTDirect, currently available to engagement in shaping our cities. The signals control the number of vehicles individuals, to businesses by the end of “ALGA is excited by the opportunity entering the highway from the Dohles Rocks this year. to work with the Commonwealth to make Road, Anzac Avenue, Boundary Road, “About 40 billion tonnes of freight is our cities more liveable, productive and Deception Bay Road and Uhlmann Road on- transported by road in WA each year, so it’s sustainable.” ramps. important to ensure hurdles are removed
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so the industry can function efficiently,” Mr “This strong feedback demonstrates a Nalder said. high level of interest in our biofuels industry “This approach also helps keep down and has helped shape the development of prices for consumers. For instance; obtaining the Liquid Fuel Supply (Ethanol and Other a heavy vehicle permit now takes about 24 Biofuels Mandate) Amendment Bill 2015. hours in WA, compared to up to two months “The Bill includes an initial two per cent in the eastern states.” ethanol mandate for petrol and a half-a-per Finance Minister, Bill Marmion, said the cent bio-based diesel mandate. In practical formation of a red tape reduction team in terms, this mandate will require E10 to make Main Roads WA was a prime example of up 20 per cent of regular petrol sales in business and government collaboration. Queensland.” The vehicle combinations will be assessed Mr Bailey said the Bill was intended to by a panel comprising the Road Safety stimulate growth and encourage investment Commission, local government, WA Police, in the biofuels and bio-manufacturing Main Roads and the caravanning industry. Ethanol mandate to industries, while maintaining consumer Under the trial, the road trains will travel choice. on a section of Great Northern Highway, boost clean energy “Regular unleaded petrol will still be between Munjina-Roy Hill Road and Utah available for those who can’t or don’t want to Point, Port Hedland. Legislation requiring fuel sellers to meet use ethanol fuels,” Mr Bailey said. WA Transport Minister, Dean Nalder, said targets for the sale of ethanol-blended the road trains were longer but safer than any petrol and bio-based diesel is before the seen on Australian roads, with a prime mover Queensland Parliament. and four trailers, spanning 60 metres. The Liquid Fuel Supply (Ethanol and Other Trial of longer road “These vehicles are known as Super Biofuels Mandate) Amendment Bill 2015 was Quads and we have committed to an introduced on 15 September and was referred trains approved for Australian-first trial of these road trains to to the Utilities, Science and Innovation Pilbara operate in the Pilbara,” Mr Nalder said. Committee for detailed consideration. They have undergone and passed The committee must provide its report to rigorous assessments to ensure they are safe the Legislative Assembly by 17 November. The longest road trains in Australia have been to operate on public roads. The Bill has the following objectives: granted approval by the Western Australian The vehicles are equipped with electronic • provide assurance to existing ethanol Government to start operating in the state’s braking systems, stability controls and in- and biodiesel producers and stimulate Pilbara region. vehicle telematics to monitor the vehicle’s investment in a biofuels industry in A three-month trial will assess the road operation. The telematics ensure drivers Queensland; trains’ impact on the road infrastructure do not deviate from the approved route or • contribute to regional growth and jobs and other road users, such as pavement exceed 90 kilometres-an-hour. creation; assessments, traffic data, community surveys “Even though they are longer, these are • reduce greenhouse gas emissions from and on-road monitoring. state-of-the-art vehicles with improved safety motor vehicles; and • take advantage of the emerging second generation technologies for biofuels from a range of feedstock. Minister for Energy and Water Supply, Mark Bailey, said the proposed mandates outlined in the Bill would help Queensland transition to a clean energy economy, grow the biofuels and bio-manufacturing sectors, and boost jobs across the industry, especially in regional areas. “Earlier this year I released a discussion paper, Towards a clean energy economy: achieving a biofuel mandate for Queensland and my department and I have been consulting widely with industry, interest groups and motorists on our biofuel mandate policy,” Mr Bailey said. “Nearly 300 people attended community forums held across the state throughout June, and we received 88 submissions in response to the discussion paper from a range of groups including fuel suppliers, ethanol producers, consumer representatives and members of the community.
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and superior handling compared to the confidence that they are not breaking the Medical Research Institute, the Royal Adelaide standard 53.5 metre road trains, the longest law,” Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Hospital and the Neil Sachse Foundation currently allowed on our roads,” the Minister Luke Donnellan, said. - it demonstrates the benefits that can said. Chair of the Victorian Motorcycle Council, be achieved through collaboration,” Mr The first two state-of-the-art vehicles Rob Salvatore, said: “The council welcomes Wesselingh said. have been manufactured by WA trailer the legalising of motorcycle lane filtering for “The team includes neuroscience, manufacturers, Bruce Rock Engineering and Victoria, showing that riders and government radiochemistry, imaging, and spinal cord Howard Porter, to transport iron ore and other can successfully work together to improve injury experts. This collaboration will provide minerals for Process Minerals International rider safety and reduce congestion, superior health outcome evaluations for and QUBE Bulk. benefitting all road users.” spinal cord injury patients.” Though capable of higher speeds, the The new lane filtering measures do The Neil Sachse Foundation was road trains will be limited to 90 kilometres- not permit lane splitting, which is when established in 1995 by Neil Sache, an AFL an-hour, allowing easier overtaking by other motorcycles travel between moving traffic at player who was left a quadriplegic following vehicles and ensuring superior on-road high speed. This is currently unlawful and will an on-field accident. Mr Sache said Project performance. remain so because of the danger it poses to Discovery was a cutting edge research project Mr Nalder said the trial provided the all road users. designed to revolutionise the diagnosis and mining industry with greater productivity and VicRoads will support the lane filtering law treatment of spinal cord injury. lower operating costs, reduced the number change with a public awareness campaign for “The benefits of this breakthrough of vehicles on the road in the long-term and all road users. research are profoundly important to those introduced a safer vehicle. who suffer spinal cord injuries across Australia and the world.” Mr Sachse said once fully funded, Project SA researchers pursue Discovery would revolutionise the global Lane filtering becomes spinal treatment for diagnosis and treatment of spinal cord injury, legal in Victoria and would ensure the solutions were available vehicle accident victims by 2020.
Changes to Victorian laws to allow motorcycles and scooters to lane filter came The South Australian Health and Medical into effect from the first week in November. Research Institute has received a $250,000 Overtaking lanes for The State Government has amended State Government grant to find revolutionary the laws following consultations with solutions to spinal cord injuries from motor Careys and Kitty Creeks motorcyclists, cyclists and drivers. vehicle accidents. Lane filtering is the practice of Minister for Health, Jack Snelling, said the Tenders are open for the contract to motorcycles and scooters travelling at low Lifetime Support Authority awarded six South construct overtaking lanes at Careys Creek speed through stopped or slow moving Australian research teams funding, as part of and Kitty Creek on the Bruce Highway around traffic; for example at traffic lights. its inaugural research grant program. 50 kilometres north of Mackay. While not explicitly banned, riders who “This research program has dedicated The $7 million project will involve filter are at risk of committing an offence $500,000 to foster high-quality treatment construction of two sets of overtaking lanes; under a number of Victorian Road Safety and support for people catastrophically one northbound and one southbound. Road Rules. injured in motor vehicle accidents,” Mr The overtaking lanes at Careys and Kitty The changes affect a wide range of Snelling said. creeks are being fully funded under the community members, not just motorcyclists, “The South Australian Health and Medical Federal Government’s $110 million Bruce and it is important that all road users are Research Institute will use its grant to study Highway-Overtaking Lanes package, as part aware of the new laws. innovative solutions to positron emission of the government’s $6.7 billion expenditure The government has extensively sought tomography scanning of spinal cord injuries. to fix the Bruce Highway. people’s opinion on the changes, with a “In partnership with the Neil Sachse Such upgrades increase capacity and community meeting in June and over 1,000 Foundation, the research will utilise a also substantially reduce the number of risky online survey responses. cyclotron, or particle accelerator, located manoeuvres drivers sometimes take when The changes include permitted filtering: at the South Australian Health and Medical passing slower vehicles, particular large • between lanes or lines of traffic in the Research Institute. trucks. same direction; “The technology focuses on spinal cord More than 5000 vehicles travel daily • between lanes or lines of traffic and inflammation and may lead to improved between Mackay and Proserpine, with parked cars; scanning of affected areas, better surgical approximately 800 of those being heavy • for motorcycle licence holders (not learner intervention and improved patient outcomes,” vehicles. permit holders); Mr Snelling said. The Bruce Highway is a key transport link • at speeds up to 30km/h (penalties will South Australian Health and Medical for Queensland and construction of the lanes apply for filtering in excess of 30km/h); Research Institute Executive Director, will significantly reduce the risk of accidents and Professor Steve Wesselingh, said the grant on the section of highway. Construction will • unless signed otherwise. would assist with Project Discovery. start later this year and is expected to be “Motorbike and scooter riders can now “Project Discovery is a partnership completed by mid-2016. move ahead of slow or stationary traffic with between the South Australian Health and
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Boom gates at the sites are down for nearly Ms Garrett said such exercises gave Roads package delivered an hour on average each morning, holding- the community confidence in the ability of up ambulances and other emergency service authorities to manage a crisis. in Indigo vehicles, as well as disrupting traffic flow. “This simulated emergency gives our Removing the crossings will reduce road councils and emergency services the The $1.8 million Indigo Shire Roads package congestion for the 60,000 vehicles that use opportunity to work together and put their has been completed. them each day, and allow the government to skills to the test. The works package comprised the run more train services on the Belgrave and “This is about improving the way we upgrading and sealing of three gravel Sunbury lines. provide relief to people who have been roads: Carlyle Road between Corowa and The package of works represents an affected by a major disaster and making the Rutherglen; Soldiers Road between Harkins investment of $481.2 million. community safer in the future.” Road and Fishers Road (Barnawartha); and The Blackburn Road, Heatherdale Road and Minister for Local Government, Natalie Sanatorium Road between Allans Flat and Furlong Road projects have been fully funded Hutchins, said the annual training exercise Yackandanadah. by the Victorian Government. Removal of was designed to help councils work across Sealing the roads will contribute to the Main Road level crossing is jointly funded boundaries during disasters and put their reduced travel times and cut transport by the State and Federal Governments with skills and knowledge to the test. operating costs by 25 per cent, meaning savings from the Regional Rail Link project. “Training exercises like these help ensure industry in north east Victoria can get more Victoria’s Treasurer, Tim Pallas, said funds that staff are ready to respond if called on.” of its products to market more efficiently. from leasing the Port of Melbourne would Councils from the North West Metro The Indigo Shire economy generates support removing the 50 worst level crossings Region supported the exercise including $629 million a year in gross regional in the state. Banyule, Brimbank, Darebin, Hobsons Bay, product through beef, sheep, dairy, fruit and Mr Pallas said the lease proceeds, to be Hume, Maribyrnong, Melbourne, Melton, viticulture. paid up front, would go into the Victorian Moreland, Moonee Valley, Nillumbik, The upgrades will also save the Indigo Transport Fund (VTF). Whittlesea, Wyndham. Shire Council $10,000 per annum in reduced The VTF would also support the building Co-ordinated by the North West operating and maintenance costs, meaning of Melbourne Metro, the West Gate Distributor Metro Region Emergency Management it can re-invest those resources into other and other major transport initiatives. Collaboration, the event will inform and priority projects. improve emergency management plans, Indigo Shire Mayor, Cr Bernard Gaffney, systems and processes in the future. said the roads were identified by council as in need of immediate attention. To raise $ 1.8 Refining responses to million would have been a major impost on the Indigo community.” road emergencies Key interchange upgrade Construction on this project began in November 2014 and was completed in A virtual at Longwarry July 2015; some minor intersection works emergency on Soldiers Road are being undertaken by involving a large Work on the $31.2 million interchange at VicRoads and the final seal on all three roads truck pile-up the intersection of Sand Road and the is scheduled for late 2015. and a hazardous Princes Freeway East at Longwarry – about chemical spill 80 kilometres south east of Melbourne – is was simulated expected to start late in 2015. in Melbourne in The contract to deliver the project has More Melbourne level the last week of been awarded to Cut & Fill Pty Ltd. August to test The existing intersection will be upgraded crossings being removed councils’ abilities into a full freeway interchange with new entry to deal with large and exit ramps to allow motorists to enter and Work was due to start by October at two of numbers of injured exit the freeway and connect to other roads. four Melbourne level crossings identified for people and mass evacuations. Two new roundabouts will be constructed removal by the Victorian Government. Minister for Emergency Services, Jane to provide further connections to Sand Road, An alliance comprising Leighton Garrett, said the “aftermath” scenario the freeway and nearby service centres, and Contractors, Aurecon and Hyder Consulting involved more than 200 staff from councils to provide safer and easier travel. A bridge will has been awarded the contract for level and emergency services who worked also be built over the freeway. crossing removals at Blackburn Road in together to provide relief to hundreds of Once the interchange is complete, the Blackburn and Heatherdale Road in Mitcham volunteer patients. current variable speed limit that reduces to 80 in Melbourne’s east, and Furlong and Main The exercise was hosted by the cities of kilometres-an-hour during peak times will be roads in St Albans in the west. Yarra and Moreland, and included emergency removed, allowing a consistent 100 kilometre- Works at Main Road and Furlong Road personnel from 14 agencies including an-hour limit along the freeway. were expected to begin by October and to be the Metropolitan Fire Brigade, the State The upgrade is jointly funded, with $22.5 completed in 2017. The removal of Blackburn Emergency Service and Victoria Police. million from the Federal Government and Road and Heatherdale Road level crossings It saw hundreds of injured or affected $8.7 million from the Victorian Government. will start later this year and will take 12-18 “victims” converge on two emergency relief Construction is expected to be completed by months to complete. centres in Moreland and Collingwood. mid-2017.
74 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015
ROAD SAFETY
QLD road safety action plan to save lives
A new Road Safety Strategy and Action Plan – a road map to improve safety, reduce injury and curb Queensland’s road toll – has been released by the State Government. The strategy sets a long-term target to reduce the road toll from the four-year average (2011-14) by more than a quarter, to below 200, by 2020 and to reduce Victorian road safety first at Yea the number of hospitalisations from road accidents. The Action Plan includes 57 initiatives, The final touches have just been made to an safety barrier commenced on 7 September and builds on the work of the Queensland innovative new road safety project designed when preliminary works including drainage, Government’s Safer Roads, Safer Queensland to help reduce deaths and serious injuries on pavement repairs and widening the median Forum. regional roads in Victoria. strip were undertaken. “The government’s action plan targets VicRoads and the Transport Accident “Once the preliminary work was Queensland’s road toll and aims to drastically Commission (TAC) have installed a Victorian- completed, the centre median was sealed and reduce the number of crash deaths and first wire rope safety barrier down the centre foundations and footings were put in place serious injuries on the state’s roads,” Minister of a one-kilometre stretch of the Melba for the wire rope. for Road Safety, Mark Bailey, said. Highway, near Yea, about 100 kilometres “Then came removal of the existing “The plan is the culmination of discussions north east of Melbourne. guardrail on the road side and the installation and solutions put forward by the experts at The project will be used as a of easy rail, and tensioning of the wire rope. A the Safer Roads, Safer Queensland forum held demonstration site for the life-saving final seal was applied to the road and the site in April this year. capabilities of a centre line wire rope barrier was cleaned-up.” “The government is investing more in preventing head-on collisions and crossing Mr Sherritt said the project would guide than $500 million over two years for centreline crashes. the roll-out of similar projects to reduce important road safety programs to fund the Using a centre line wire rope barrier has head-on collisions and reduce road trauma in implementation of the 57 initiatives in the been identified as an effective safety measure regional Victoria. action plan.” to prevent vehicles crossing the centreline. “One of the key objectives of this Key initiatives include: The Melba Highway project will guide the pilot project is to deliver a road safety • Establish a Citizen’s Taskforce to make rollout of similar projects to reduce head-on improvement to this section of road that recommendations to government about collisions in other parts of the state, including embraces the ‘Safe System’ principles, road safety issues; the Geelong-Bacchus Marsh Road and the focusing primarily on safer roads to reduce • Implement “CO-LAB” – a program to Goulburn Valley Highway. crash likelihood and the severity of crashes if engage 16-to-21-year-olds on road safety; This is an innovative pilot project to allow they do occur. • Reform motorcycle licensing including drivers to become accustomed to a new “This project aligns with the focus of the implementing pre-learner training courses; driving environment over the one-kilometre Safe System Road Infrastructure Program, • Introduce an app version of the 100- stretch of road. aspiring to eliminate death and serious injury hour learner logbook, including periodic The $350,000 upgrade also includes from Victorian roads by embracing a ‘Towards reminders for learners to focus on certain rumble strip edge lines, reflective posts and Zero’ vision. driving situations such as night time, wet more than 400 safety cushions to provide Mr Sherritt said there would be on-going weather and highway driving; added protection for motorcyclists. monitoring of traffic flow and any crash • Install flashing lights in 200 risk-assessed The use of a centreline wire rope barrier incidents at the location, and the public school zones; has been successfully implemented in several would be invited to be part of an assessment • Introduce double demerit points for two two-lane roads around Australia and overseas, process. or more mobile phone offences committed including the Pacific Highway, New South “Following completion of the project, within one year; Wales, the Midland Highway, Tasmania and the community will be invited to provide • Advocate at the national level for the roll- the Centennial Highway, New Zealand. feedback on the new, safer driving out of seatbelt interlock technology that In each case, the number of crossing-the- environment through a formal evaluation would prevent the engine starting before centreline crashes has reduced dramatically. process.” the passenger clicks in their seat belt; and Last year alone, run-off-road and head-on Minister for Roads and Road Safety, • Improve safety for vulnerable road users crashes accounted for 91 deaths in Victoria, Luke Donnellan, said the project would by making available $10 million to improve and already (to mid-September) 71 fatalities as provide added protection for motorists when infrastructure safety for bicycle riders a result of these crashes have occurred in 2015. mistakes were made. and pedestrians, and $27 million over Bryan Sherritt, Regional Director, “We know people make mistakes and they two years for the Cycle Network Local VicRoads North Eastern Region told Highway shouldn’t have to pay for them with their life,” Government Grants Program. Engineering Australia that work on the Mr Donnellan said.
76 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 ROAD SAFETY
a framework that may be used to inform changes to policy settings and amendments to fatigue laws.” The Heavy Vehicle National Law has prescriptive work and rest hour rules, in addition to chain of responsibility obligations and an overarching duty not to drive while impaired by fatigue. “At the moment there is no simple test for driver alertness like there is for alcohol or speed, because fatigue levels are relatively difficult to establish and measure,” Mr Retter said. “In the future new technologies may be able to tell drivers whether they are in a fit condition to drive. The challenge is to collect enough robust evidence about what fatigue In line with the National Road Safety level should be considered safe. ABS reduces Strategy Action Plan 2015–2017, the “We know that hours of work are not the government will develop a Regulation Impact only cause of fatigue. Crash data indicates motorcycle casualties Statement (RIS) to consider mandating that other factors, such as times of travel, and ABS for motorcycles. Consultations will quality and quantity of sleep also impact on by over 30 per cent be held with motorcycle user groups and driver fatigue. manufacturers about the report and the RIS. “Collecting information after a crash has occurred can only tell us what didn’t work,” Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) on Mr Retter said. motorcycles in Australia could help in 93 per “What we need is information about cent of crash situations according to a new Informing new everyday operations and practices that can report into the benefits of ABS. tell us what keeps drivers safe. This will The report found that ABS reduced framework for fatigue support any future improvements to the law. motorcycle injury crashes by 31 per cent “This is an opportunity for transport and was even more effective in more serious research operators and drivers to demonstrate real life crashes. practices that help drivers do their jobs and “The report commissioned by the keep safe.” Australian and Victorian governments The National Transport Commission (NTC) is indicates that ABS could provide a 36 per looking for ways to collect better information cent overall reduction in fatal and severe to inform improvements to heavy vehicle injury crashes,” said Minister for Territories, driver fatigue laws. Improved safety Local Government and Major Projects, Paul A discussion paper proposing agreed Fletcher. terminology, systems and processes standards on Noarlunga Minister Fletcher has responsibility for to enable a new framework to support motor vehicle issues under the Turnbull comparable and accessible data across to Victor Harbor Road Government. industry, governments and enforcement “ABS technology is common in passenger agencies was released by the NTC during cars sold in Australia, however only around August. Safety upgrades are underway on the 20 per cent of new motorcycles are sold with Interested parties had until 16 October Noarlunga to Victor Harbor Road in South it.” to lodge submissions in response to the Australia. Mr Fletcher said researchers believed the discussion paper. Announced last November as part of a current road safety benefits of ABS would Chief Executive of the NTC, Paul Retter, package of upgrades to key roads across the be increased by up to 60 per cent if ABS said only when all the evidence was on the state, the works include installing a 1.2 metre became standard on all new motorcycles table would it be possible to determine wide central painted median along a three from 2018. whether the current regulations were kilometre section of the Noarlunga to Victor “With motorcycles currently the fastest appropriate. Harbor Road, between Old Willunga Hill Road growing vehicle type, ABS could make a “This project won’t be proposing changes and Yundi Road. real impact on reducing the fatalities on to Australia’s fatigue laws, but it will ensure State Road Safety Minister, Tony Piccolo, Australia’s roads each year,” Mr Fletcher said. that we have consistent and more accurate said Victor Harbor Road was an important “ABS has the potential to save over 70 data about how fatigue affects drivers and route on the South Australian road network. of the more than 200 motorcyclists’ lives the safety of our nation’s roads,” Mr Retter “Audio-tactile line marking will be installed lost each year and reduce hospitalisations said. as part of the central median, to help prevent by around 4,000 each year when fully “We know that drowsy drivers are more the risk of head-on road crashes,” Mr Piccolo implemented throughout the motorcycle likely to crash. Finding the best option to said. fleet.” prevent these crashes relies on us developing “These markings make noise and cause the
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 77 ROAD SAFETY
vehicle to vibrate when driven over to alert “In addition to the government’s “There have been four casualty crashes road users that their vehicle is veering. investment, councils have also contributed here between 2010 and 2014, resulting in one “The project also includes extending the nearly $600,000 towards the projects,” Mr fatality and three minor injuries.” sheltered right turn lane at the junction with Piccolo said. Mr Piccolo said a koala crossing, new Pages Flat Road, resurfacing works and the “For example, the intersection of West guardrail, rumble strips and roadside hazard replacement of safety barriers.” Terrace and Currie Street in Adelaide will removal were just a few of the road safety The upgrade is a $1.95 million investment be upgraded. There have been 12 casualty initiatives funded by the 2015/2016 Responsive from the Motor Accident Commission’s Road crashes between 2010 and 2014 here, Road Safety Program. Safety Infrastructure Fund. mainly due to poor line of sight and lack of About $5.4 million will be invested Commission CEO, Aaron Chia, said pedestrian and cyclist access. for infrastructure upgrades, junction the improvements would provide a safer “This project is jointly funded by the State improvements and other general environment for all road users. Government and Adelaide City Council, and developments for pedestrians and vulnerable “This stretch of road is utilised by the local will see a traffic signal mast arm installed for road users. community and many visitors travelling to and southbound motorists, as well as new ramps Minister Piccolo said the funding provided from the Victor Harbor area,” Mr Chia said. and bicycle lanterns for north-south travel by the program aimed to achieve the highest “We know most road fatalities occur in across Glover Avenue.” road safety benefit for the community. regional South Australia and this work will Nearly $900,000 has been allocated “Investing money to install guardrail or to improve road safety in the area.” specifically to cycling infrastructure on remove roadside hazards helps reduce the The upgrades are expected to be arterial and local roads. chance of casualty crashes occurring. completed by March 2016. More than half of the new projects, “The funds may be for minor works or totalling over $5 million, target roads in rural upgrades, but the overall safety benefit for and regional South Australia. road users is immeasurable. Mr Piccolo said two of the larger regional “There is another strong regional focus $13 million for SA road projects were near Naracoorte, in the state’s with this program, with more than half of the South East. approved works targeting improvements in safety improvements “About $1.4 million will be invested on a rural South Australia.” five kilometre stretch of Wimmera Highway aimed at reducing run-off and head-on type Black spots will be upgraded throughout crashes,” he said. South Australia with 14 new road projects “Between 2010 and 2014, five casualty Full freeway interchange identified for funding of more than $8 million crashes occurred here, resulting in two under the Black Spot Program. fatalities and three injuries. at Princes Freeway-Sand And $5 million will be spent on road safety “Included in the upgrade will be the upgrades under the Responsive Road Safety widening of curves, installing audio-tactile line Road intersection Program. marking to help alert motorists who may stray SA Road Safety Minister, Tony Piccolo, said from the road and safety barriers to prevent eliminating black spots was an important part crashes with roadside hazards. A $31 million safety upgrade is underway of providing a safe road network for all road “Another $1 million will be invested to widen at the Longwarry intersection, about 80 users and the program was always looking at existing road shoulders on curves, remove kilometres south east of Melbourne. reducing problem areas where crashes were hazards like trees and install more safety barrier The upgrade will elevate the intersection common. on the Riddoch Highway, Naracoorte. to a full freeway interchange. Minister for Territories, Local Government and Major Projects, Paul Fletcher, said the new interchange, jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian governments, would separate local Sand Road traffic and fast- moving Princes Freeway vehicles. The freeway carries considerable volumes of tourist traffic from Melbourne to the Gippsland region and is also an essential route for Victorian freight operators. The upgrade will allow local residents safer access to and from the Longwarry and Labertouche community. “This particular intersection has a poor road safety history, with 25 crashes where people have been injured from 2009,” Mr Fletcher said. “The new interchange will remove the competing traffic at the intersection and provide a safer environment for those travelling in the region.
78 Highway Engineering Australia | Oct/Nov 2015 ROAD SAFETY
“Once complete, the interchange will see Mr Donnellan said the campaign Sand Road traffic elevated over the Princes represented a major shift in the way the Safety improvements at Highway, removal of the 80 kilometre-an-hour government and the TAC talked with speed limit, new entry and exit ramps, as Victorians about road safety. Guildford Road-Tonkin well as two roundabouts on either side of the For the last 25 years Victorians have seen freeway providing safer connections to Sand advertisements of “If you drink and drive, Highway Road.” you’re a bloody idiot” or graphic imagery of Work on the interchange is expected to be crashes, but now they are being presented completed in late 2017. with a new style of television commercial. One of Perth’s busiest intersections - Guildford Federal Member for McMillan, Russell They are now being asked to consider Road at Tonkin Highway in Bayswater - is Broadbent, said the community had what it would be like to lose their loved ones undergoing a $3.6 million upgrade to improve advocated for change at the intersection on the roads. safety. for some time and the region’s growing Victorians know they should wear a About 53 crashes occurred at Guildford population now called for a more significant seatbelt and why they shouldn’t drink and Road/Tonkin Highway northbound on-and- investment into improving the safety of the drive, speed or text at the wheel, but we are off ramps from 2010 to 2014, and about 126 intersection. still seeing too many people die on the roads, crashes occurred at the southbound on-and-off The intersection upgrade is jointly the Minister said. ramps over the same period. funded with $22.5 million contributed by the “Road trauma is not about numbers The project – which started at the beginning Australian Government and $8.7 million from published next to the words “road toll”. It is of October – involves widening Guildford Road the Victorian Government. about our brothers, sisters, children, parents, on the northern side to make room for a new friends and colleagues. It is about Victorians eastbound through-lane to improve traffic flow. and their families whose lives will never be Extra right-turn pockets will be provided for the same.” traffic entering and exiting Tonkin Highway to New road safety Towards Zero represents a new approach reduce the number of accidents, while left-turn to road trauma reduction which will be lanes will be extended to reduce queuing of direction in Victoria supported by the government’s new Towards traffic. Zero Road Safety Strategy. The work includes improvements to traffic Both the campaign and the strategy support signalling, upgraded pedestrian facilities and “We realise Towards Zero sets an ambitious efforts to make every journey a safe one by street lighting, new overhead signage and new target, but unless we’re working towards the ensuring Victorians are safer drivers, driving guardrails. highest possible benchmark, Victorians will safer cars, at safer speeds, on safer roads. The project is funded by the 2015-16 Road continue to lose loved ones to road trauma “If we’re not aiming for zero, we are saying Trauma Trust Account and it will take up to six and we can never accept that.” to ourselves that there is an acceptable level months to complete. The words of Victoria’s Minister for of road trauma,” Mr Donnellan said. Tonkin Highway and Guildford Road Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan, on “Road trauma is not about numbers. It’s play a key role in the local road network and 26 August when launching the Transport about our brothers, sisters, mothers, fathers, are strategic routes for local, freight and Accident Commission’s (TAC’s) Towards Zero sons and daughters, and not one of them tourist traffic. Upgrading the intersection will campaign asking Victorians to aim for zero deserves to be killed or seriously injured just significantly improve safety and efficiency for road deaths each year. because they use our roads.” all road users.
Sturt Highway safer – point-to-point safety cameras activated
The Sturt Highway is the fourth stretch of South Australian road made safer with point-to-point safety cameras activated on 14 September. The cameras are located on an 18 kilometre stretch of the Sturt Highway between Kingston on Murray and Lowbank, and apply to traffic travelling in both directions. They were extensively tested before being switched on. “As with cameras already operating on Port Wakefield Road, the Dukes Highway and Victor Harbor Road, this section of the Sturt Highway was chosen based on its high crash
Oct/Nov 2015 | Highway Engineering Australia 79 ROAD SAFETY
rate and the consistent speed limit between the camera sites,” Road Safety Minister, Tony Piccolo, said. “Up to 12,000 motorists use the Sturt Highway each day, with more than 1,000 casualty crashes recorded between 2010 and 2014 resulting in 24 deaths and 115 serious injuries.” Mr Piccolo said the highway was an important passenger and freight link between Adelaide and Sydney, as well as major regions including the SA Riverland. “If we all do the right thing and drive within the speed limit, lives will be saved and serious injuries will be prevented. However as speed Safer Roads Program for WA increases, a driver has less time to react to emergencies and requires a greater distance to stop. “These cameras help deter people from Major road improvement works, valued the Carbunup River. The South Western creeping over the limit and reduce the risk of at $32 million, will be carried out at 19 Highway upgrade involves widening the serious crashes on our roads.” locations across Western Australia as part highway near Greenbushes. The cameras calculate the average speed of the 2015-16 Safer Roads Program. Mr Nalder said since its inception in of a vehicle between two points, as well as the Visiting Gracetown, Margaret River 2005-06, $314 million in allocations to the vehicle’s actual speed at each camera location. and Busselton on 2 September, State Safer Roads Program had funded 235 safety Point-to-point cameras have been Transport Minister, Dean Nalder, said the improvement projects across the state. operating on Dukes Highway and Port program included more than $12 million in The program aims to improve road Wakefield Road since July last year, and on improvements for roads in the south west, safety on major highways and main Victor Harbor Road since June this year. including stretches of Bussell Highway and roads through providing treatments Two more point-to-point cameras, on the the South Western Highway. such as additional overtaking lanes, the South Eastern Freeway and the Northern The Bussell Highway works include reconstruction of sections of road to Expressway, are expected to be switched-on in reconstruction and widening from Marbelup eliminate bends and crests, and the sealing coming months. Road through to Wildwood Road near of shoulders.
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