Published Sunday, 28 September, 2008 at 06:30 AM
Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt
Gateway Upgrade Project turns two
Two years and a billion dollars since the contract was let to start work, the largest bridge and road project in Queensland’s history – the $1.88 billion Gateway Upgrade Project – is rapidly taking shape through Brisbane’s eastern suburbs.
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said today the project had passed $1 billion in expenditure this month, coinciding with the second anniversary of the signing of contract documents on 26 September 2006.
“Construction activity on the project has now reached its peak along the 20-kilometre corridor extending from Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road to Nudgee Road,” Mr Pitt said.
“Since project construction commenced in March 2007, extensive activity has been undertaken on the 12-kilometre upgrade south of the Gateway Bridge, on the duplication of the second Gateway Bridge and also on the seven kilometres of new motorway to the north.
“This project is a significant part of the Bligh Government’s plan to provide the infrastructure needed to build tomorrow’s Queensland today.
“The second Gateway Bridge and associated roadworks will not only help tackle traffic congestion in Brisbane, but also provide extra capacity on a vital economic route.
“Motorists are already benefiting from the upgrades between the Gateway Bridge toll plaza and Wynnum Road, with extra lanes and improved on and off ramps being progressively opened since December 2007.
“In addition, a $3 million time and cost saving has been achieved for the delivery of the second Gateway Bridge following the use of match-casting for construction of the second bridge.”
Mr Pitt said the money spent on the project to date included procurement, land acquisitions and early works, in addition to expenditure on the major construction works.
He said key project achievements to date included:
North of the Brisbane River:
• The construction of all 17 bridges in the northern section of the project are at varying stages of construction with 60 per cent of the super-tee beams (decks) installed.
• Bulk earthworks have been completed with more than 4.4 million tonnes of fill imported to the site.
• Retaining walls are 90 per cent complete and the first section of asphalt is starting to be laid between the Pinkenba rail line and Airtrain.
Second Gateway Bridge:
• Construction of the 1.65-kilometre-long second Gateway Bridge has resulted in significant progress, with five of the ten deck spans completed on the 750-metre northern approach. The remaining concrete deck segments from pier 12 to pier eight (on the northern river bank) will be installed by an 800-tonne launching gantry.
• On the southern river banks, the five deck piers have been constructed in less than five months, and the main piers in the Brisbane River are nearing their full height of 54 metres, making them visible from the existing Gateway Bridge.
South of the Brisbane River:
• Works have been completed on new lanes for southbound traffic from the Port of Brisbane Motorway to Wynnum Road with new bridge structures over Bulimba Creek and the Cleveland rail line, and infilling between the northbound motorway bridges, well advanced.
• Bridges over Wynnum Road and Greendale Way have already been infilled to provide three lanes in each direction with works at the Old Cleveland Road interchange and Lytton Road remaining. Construction has also commenced on a new southbound onramp to the Port of Brisbane Motorway.
• Approximately eight kilometres of fauna exclusion fencing and two of three new fauna underpasses are under construction in the Belmont/Carindale area. A fourth fauna underpass will be provided by retrofitting an existing culvert under the motorway.
“On the northside, the new seven-kilometre section of motorway direct from the Gateway bridges through airport land will open mid next year, providing a much-needed second access to the Brisbane Airport,” Mr Pitt said.
“In mid 2010 we will open the second Gateway Bridge to provide six southbound lanes, followed by approximately six months of works to refurbish the existing Gateway Bridge, with three northbound lanes remaining open.
“While we are now about halfway through the project schedule and have spent $1 billion on the project delivery, there is still much work to be done to complete this vital road and infrastructure project for Queenslanders in mid 2011,” he said.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819
Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said today the project had passed $1 billion in expenditure this month, coinciding with the second anniversary of the signing of contract documents on 26 September 2006.
“Construction activity on the project has now reached its peak along the 20-kilometre corridor extending from Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road to Nudgee Road,” Mr Pitt said.
“Since project construction commenced in March 2007, extensive activity has been undertaken on the 12-kilometre upgrade south of the Gateway Bridge, on the duplication of the second Gateway Bridge and also on the seven kilometres of new motorway to the north.
“This project is a significant part of the Bligh Government’s plan to provide the infrastructure needed to build tomorrow’s Queensland today.
“The second Gateway Bridge and associated roadworks will not only help tackle traffic congestion in Brisbane, but also provide extra capacity on a vital economic route.
“Motorists are already benefiting from the upgrades between the Gateway Bridge toll plaza and Wynnum Road, with extra lanes and improved on and off ramps being progressively opened since December 2007.
“In addition, a $3 million time and cost saving has been achieved for the delivery of the second Gateway Bridge following the use of match-casting for construction of the second bridge.”
Mr Pitt said the money spent on the project to date included procurement, land acquisitions and early works, in addition to expenditure on the major construction works.
He said key project achievements to date included:
North of the Brisbane River:
• The construction of all 17 bridges in the northern section of the project are at varying stages of construction with 60 per cent of the super-tee beams (decks) installed.
• Bulk earthworks have been completed with more than 4.4 million tonnes of fill imported to the site.
• Retaining walls are 90 per cent complete and the first section of asphalt is starting to be laid between the Pinkenba rail line and Airtrain.
Second Gateway Bridge:
• Construction of the 1.65-kilometre-long second Gateway Bridge has resulted in significant progress, with five of the ten deck spans completed on the 750-metre northern approach. The remaining concrete deck segments from pier 12 to pier eight (on the northern river bank) will be installed by an 800-tonne launching gantry.
• On the southern river banks, the five deck piers have been constructed in less than five months, and the main piers in the Brisbane River are nearing their full height of 54 metres, making them visible from the existing Gateway Bridge.
South of the Brisbane River:
• Works have been completed on new lanes for southbound traffic from the Port of Brisbane Motorway to Wynnum Road with new bridge structures over Bulimba Creek and the Cleveland rail line, and infilling between the northbound motorway bridges, well advanced.
• Bridges over Wynnum Road and Greendale Way have already been infilled to provide three lanes in each direction with works at the Old Cleveland Road interchange and Lytton Road remaining. Construction has also commenced on a new southbound onramp to the Port of Brisbane Motorway.
• Approximately eight kilometres of fauna exclusion fencing and two of three new fauna underpasses are under construction in the Belmont/Carindale area. A fourth fauna underpass will be provided by retrofitting an existing culvert under the motorway.
“On the northside, the new seven-kilometre section of motorway direct from the Gateway bridges through airport land will open mid next year, providing a much-needed second access to the Brisbane Airport,” Mr Pitt said.
“In mid 2010 we will open the second Gateway Bridge to provide six southbound lanes, followed by approximately six months of works to refurbish the existing Gateway Bridge, with three northbound lanes remaining open.
“While we are now about halfway through the project schedule and have spent $1 billion on the project delivery, there is still much work to be done to complete this vital road and infrastructure project for Queenslanders in mid 2011,” he said.
Media contact: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819