Concrete convoy converges for massive Gateway pour

A convoy of trucks carrying enough concrete to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools converged on the Gateway Upgrade Project yesterday as part of a massive 15-hour continuous concrete pour.

Premier Anna Bligh said the pour – the largest to be undertaken on the congestion-busting $1.88 billion project – would form a part of a new interchange linking the Gateway Bridges to the new 7km of motorway on the northern end of the project.

Ms Bligh said the new section of motorway would connect with a new Brisbane Airport access road and Nudgee Road.

“The pour of 2300 cubic metres of concrete is the largest for this congestion busting project and took 350 truck loads to deliver,” said the Premier.

“This pour, which formed one of two overpass bridges located directly north of the Gateway Bridge at Eagle Farm, needed considerable preparation.

“This included placement of about 460 tonnes of reinforcement steel and, for the pour itself, substantial logistical planning.

“The project team had to ensure the continuous supply and delivery of 350 truckloads of concrete, split shifts for some 80 workers and various equipment and machinery including four concrete pumps.

Ms Bligh said the concrete pour occurred over 15 hours, from around 4am to 7pm on Saturday and was yet another key milestone in the project’s progress.

“Earlier this year, additional lanes opened on the Gateway Motorway south of the Brisbane River at Murarrie and in September, a third southbound lane over Wynnum Road was opened to traffic,” she said.

“Continuing with our commitment to progressively open finished works, the new 7km of motorway north to Nudgee Road is planned to be opened by mid 2009.

“The Gateway Motorway upgrade between the Gateway Bridge and Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road is also well underway, with all works planned to be completed by late 2009.”

Premier Bligh said the Gateway Bridge duplication was at a peak in terms of construction activity.

“The main river piers are substantially complete, five of the 10 spans on the northern end of the bridge approach are completed and an 800-tonne launching gantry is in position to lift segments to construct the remaining spans that will complete the northern approach to the second Gateway Bridge,” she said.

“The five piers on the southern approach are also well advanced.”

Construction of the second Gateway Bridge is scheduled to be finished in mid 2010, followed by the refurbishment of the existing Gateway Bridge under partial lane closures. Both bridges are expected to be fully operational by early 2011, three months ahead of the original schedule.

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