RIVERBANK DRILLING FOR TANK STREET BRIDGE TO START

The construction of the new Tank Street Bridge will mark another milestone on tomorrow <December 13> when investigative drilling to determine the foundations of the new structure starts in the Brisbane River.

Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten said two bore holes would be drilled into the riverbed adjacent to Kurilpa Point Park in South Brisbane to obtain geotechnical information for the project.

“Drilling is expected to encounter up to 18 metres of water, then 15 metres of alluvium and, finally, 15 metres of rock,” Mr Schwarten said.

“Schneider Drilling will conduct drilling work for this stage of the project.

“The company will take about four days to drill the holes needed to obtain the required geotechnical information for the project.

“The information gathered from this exercise will provide initial design guidance for the company ultimately selected to design and construct the Tank Street Bridge.”

The drilling will take place from an 18-metre-long and 9.3-metre-wide barge, Sea Life One, parked in the Brisbane River.

Mr Schwarten said the drilling investigations would allow negotiations to start between the Department of Public Works and the preferred tenderer to identify foundation requirements and costs.

“Tenders for the construction of the new Tank Street Bridge will close on Friday December 15, and three selected companies are currently participating in a competition to design the bridge,” Mr Schwarten said.

“Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd, John Holland Pty Ltd and JF Hull Holdings Pty Ltd are in the running for the preferred tenderer status.

“The successful company will be announced in February 2007, and construction work is expected to begin by mid 2007,” he said.

The new bridge will provide a pedestrian and cycle link between Tank Street, City, and the Queensland Gallery of Modern Art in South Brisbane.

“It will link the central business district with the most exciting arts infrastructure development in Queensland for more than two decades, including the recently-opened Gallery of Modern Art and State Library of Queensland,” Mr Schwarten said.

Media contact: (07) 3237 1832

Editors note: The barge is expected to be at the mouth of the Brisbane River around 9am on December 13 and in place off Kurilpa Point Park in South Brisbane around 12pm. Drilling is expected to get under way around 2pm.

December 12, 2006