Gateway Upgrade Project well underway
Published Wednesday, 26 September, 2007 at 08:32 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
The Gateway Upgrade Project today (26 September 2007) marks one year since Queensland Motorways and the Leighton Abigroup joint venture formally signed the contract for the project’s construction.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said with cranes and piling rigs dotting the landscape and works visible along the Gateway Upgrade Project corridor from Mt-Gravatt Capalaba Road to Nudgee Road, there was no doubting that Queensland’s largest road and bridge project, costing $1.88 billion, was well underway.
“In addition to construction activities for the second Gateway Bridge, works are particularly visible at Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road, between the Port of Brisbane Motorway and Wynnum Road, and near Nudgee Road,” he said.
Since June 2007, construction teams have been pouring rock into the river to form a causeway that will allow construction vehicle and workers access.
Works in the river will include driving 24 steel tubes, 1.8 metres in diameter, up to 55 metres below the surface. These will then be filled with reinforcement and concrete to form the structural foundation for two main river piers (6 and 7) on the new Gateway Bridge.
Construction on Pier 7 of the Gateway Bridge commenced last week on a purpose-built rock island 120 metres from the northern bank of the Brisbane River.
Foundation works for first main river pier (Pier 6 on the southern bank) began in August.
The duplication of the Gateway Bridge is the highlight of the project, which will mirror the shape and style of the existing bridge.
Queensland Motorways CEO, Phil Mumford said that while the overall project will be completed in 2011, motorists will not have to wait until then to benefit from the project.
“Additional lanes south of the river and a new section of motorway north to Nudgee Road will be opened to motorists in 2009, offering reduced congestion and more efficient travel for motorists much sooner.”
About the Gateway Upgrade Project
The $1.88 billion Gateway Upgrade Project is being delivered by Queensland Motorways on behalf of the State Government. Design and construction is being undertaken by the Leighton Abigroup joint venture. Key features of the Gateway Upgrade Project include:
- widening the Gateway Motorway between Mount Gravatt-Capalaba Road and Wynnum Road from four to six lanes (opening 2009)
- widening the Gateway Motorway between Wynnum Road and Lytton Road from four to eight lanes (two additional lanes southbound by late 2007, all lanes opened by 2009)
- constructing a second Gateway Bridge with six lanes and a shared pedestrian and cycle path (opening six lanes southbound by late 2010)
- constructing a new six-lane deviation from the Gateway Bridges north to a new Airport Interchange and then four lanes over Kedron Brook to Nudgee Road (opening four lanes in 2009, all six lanes by late 2010)
- refurbishing the existing Gateway Bridge (from three to six lanes northbound by mid 2011)
- removing cash tolling and introducing free-flow electronic tolling facilities.
Statistical comparison
|
Gateway Bridge |
Second Gateway Bridge | |
|
COMMENCED |
5 June 1980 |
9 March 2007 |
|
OPENED |
11 January 1986 |
under construction |
|
COST |
Total project cost - $140 million Bridge only - $92 million |
Total project cost - $1.88 billion Bridge only - $350 million (approx) |
|
LENGTH |
1.63 kilometres |
1.63 kilometres |
|
WIDTH |
22 metres – six lanes |
27 metres – six lanes and a 4.5 metre shared pedestrian & cycle way with 4 viewing platforms |
|
HEIGHT |
64.5 metres above river level |
64.5 metres above river level |
|
GRADE |
5.27% |
5.27% |
|
CLEARANCE |
59.2 metres – river level to centre of main span |
59.2 metres – river level to centre of main span |
|
SHIPPING CLEARANCE |
59 metres |
59 metres |
|
MAIN SPAN |
260 metres |
260 metres |
|
CONCRETE |
150,000 tonnes |
157,000 tonnes |
|
REINFORCED STEEL |
9,900 tonnes |
11,600 tonnes |
|
ERECTION TRUSS |
650 tonnes |
1,000 tonnes |
|
CONSTRUCTION METHOD |
Main Span – Cast in-situ balanced cantilever Approaches – Pre-cast segmental span-by-span (joined with concrete stitch pour) |
Main Span – Cast in-situ balanced cantilever Approaches – Match-casting segmental (joined with epoxy) |
Media contact: Minister's office 3227 8819