Highway Engineering Australia V48.3 October 2016

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V48.3

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Editor’s Column

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Special Features

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News

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Cover Feature: Kapsch TrafficCom

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ITS Special Feature

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Publisher and Managing Editor Anthony T Schmidt Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) Mobile: 0414 788 900 Email: ats@epcgroup.com Deputy Editor Rex Pannell Mobile: 0433 300 106 Email: rex@epcgroup.com National Advertising Sales Manager Yuri Mamistvalov Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) Mobile: 0419 339 865 Email: yuri@epcgroup.com Advertising Sales - SA Jodie Chester - G Advertising Mobile: 0439 749 993 Email: jodie@gadvertising.com.au Advertising Sales - WA Licia Salomone - OKeeffe Media Mobile: 0412 080 600 Email: licia@okm.com.au Graphic Design Annette Epifanidis Mobile: 0416 087 412

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CIRCULATION 8,410 Registered by Australia Post Publication No. 100001888

ISSN 0046-7391

October 2016 Volume 48 Number 3

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34 Company Profile: HERE 38 Project Feature: Eastlink Melbourne 41

26

Road Safety

48 Bridges In Focus 50 Major Projects

38

58 AAPA News 62 Asphalt In Focus 68 Project Focus: Brisbane Airport 71

ACA Corrosion Feature

66

About the Cover (L-R) Soren Tellegen, Executive Vice President:Oceania; and Anto Komarica, Head of Customised Solution Management:Oceania with Kapsch TrafficCom with one of the company's new Connected Vehicles.

Using Kapsch TrafficCom V2X technology, Connected Vehicles warn each other of accidents, breakdowns, and other hazards such as poor road conditions and bad weather so that either the drivers themselves or their automatic driver assistance systems can respond.

Turn to Page 16 for the full story.

EDITOR’S COLUMN

Parking access critical for public transport patronage Dear Readers, Even though the very nature of my work tends to preclude me from using public transport most of the time - that, and the fact that I am in the fortunate position of having been able to establish my office directly adjacent to my house - wherever possible (and practical) I do endeavour to utilise public transport, particularly when my schedule incorporates a number of meetings in or near to the CBD of the city in which I happen to be. (A cumbersome and long-winded introductory paragraph, but please, stay with me... there is a point!)

Now, whilst I may not be a regular daily user of public transport, over the course of the year, I do get the opportunity to utilise all modes of public transport (rail, tram, bus, ferry, O-Bahn) across the country. While most offer what I would consider to be a good level of service and amenity, I have noticed one issue that seems to plague a number of the networks, namely: parking availability for commuters.

Unfortunately, in some cities, it's an issue which I believe is now at the point where it is severely limiting some people's access to public transport network. This, of course, not only reduces patronage, but also increases motor vehicle usage, vehicle emissions and congestion across the road network. In other

2 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

words, it is totally counterproductive to the goals of any public transportation network.

Before I continue, I would like to take this opportunity to stress that this editorial is not a 'poor me, I couldn't get a park when I needed one' story - far from it. I'm simply using first-hand experiences and anecdotal evidence to highlight what I believe is a serious short-coming across a number of public transport networks.

As an example, I recently wanted to take the train into the Melbourne CBD for a day of meetings. Rather than driving all the way into town, I decided to park at Greensborough (approximately 22kms from the Melbourne CBD) and commute via train to and from the city. Upon arriving at the Greensborough rail station (which is also a key modal interchange point between bus and train) I found that the clearly undersized car park was 'over-full' and that the only available parking in nearby streets, and other adjacent car parks was limited to 3 hours or less. Considering that a train journey from Greensborough to the Melbourne CBD takes between 38 and 45 minutes, these parking spots are clearly not intended for train travellers.

Needless to say, this lack of parking availability resulted in me driving to the city and back. Unfortunately, this is a story that

I have heard time and again from business colleagues, and friends around the country.

Interestingly, an idea had been floated at one time that people using the commuter car park would have to show an inspector a valid ticket before they can park, but I think that this is largely missing the point (e.g. that parking by non-commuters is not an issue). I believe the problem is a serious lack of parking for commuters.

If we are serious in a our aim of increasing patronage on our public transport networks, we must first ensure that they are a viable and practical alternative to private motor vehicle use. And for that to happen, we must also provide somewhere for commuters to leave their cars. After all, for many (dare I say most) people, public transport cannot be reached easily on foot - especially with our everexpanding cities.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Australia’s freight task to increase by 26 per cent over next decade

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ustralia’s transport sector has recovered after the impact of the Global Financial Crisis and the nation’s freight task is likely to grow by 26 per cent over the next decade, according to new research published by the National Transport Commission.

The Commission (NTC) is the independent statutory body charged with improving the productivity, safety and environmental performance of Australia’s road, rail and intermodal transport system.

Chief Executive, Paul Retter, said the Who Moves What Where report provided useful information to governments and industry about the nature of Australia’s freight and passenger movements.

It would inform those involved in infrastructure, planning and investment, operational improvements and regulatory changes.

“This data has been compiled from more than 150 different sources and for the first time provides an overview of what kinds of freight and passenger movements are likely to occur between now and 2026.

“The Global Financial Crisis slowed the growth of freight and passenger transport movements, but now that our economy is growing faster, we are back on an upward trajectory,” said Mr Retter.

The report forecasts that over the next decade: • domestic freight will increase by 26 per cent (down from 50 per cent during the previous 10 years), and • domestic passenger movements will increase by 19 per cent (up from 8 per cent during the previous 10 years).

It also includes localised data, providing useful state and territory transport forecasts and analysis of related challenges.

4 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

Mr Retter said the project was a good example of the higher-level strategic work the Commission was encouraged to focus on as part of the 2015 review into the NTC. “The next decade will be a crucial time for Australia’s transport sector.

“Not only are we set to experience significant growth in transport movements, we are likely to also see the biggest technological transformation of the way we move people and freight since the car replaced horses.”

Mr Retter said there were some areas where reports like Who moves what where could be improved and the NTC would be releasing a discussion paper in early 2017 with more details on how to address these information gaps.

He said that without complete and comparable information about passenger and freight movements on road and rail, government and industry could not get the best planning and reform outcomes.

The discussion paper will be asking stakeholders to help the NTC identify existing information or reports about: • who’s moving freight and passengers around Australia via road and rail o whether they are an exclusively transport companies or third party contractors

o different types of vehicles used and o number of employees • what and who they’re moving o people - tourism o people - public transport and o what type of products or commodities are being moved • where they’re moving freight and passengers to and from o freight tonne kilometres – how much, how far o passenger kilometres – how many, how far and o origin and destination of travel.

Mr Retter said the Commission’s primary focus was commercial and governmentfunded transportation of goods and people, rather than private light personal use vehicles.

The NTC will also work with stakeholders to identify the current and potential decisions that better transport-use data could inform, as well as opportunities to standardise and improve information gathering, storage, sharing and analysis.

The Commission will use the information to advise ministers if: • existing information is sufficient; • it can improve methods to collect and share data to help industry and government to make transport planning decisions.

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SPECIAL FEATURE

Australians open to fairer, more sustainable road funding system

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ustralia’s first real-world trial of road charging options has found that motorists are open to a different way of paying for the nation’s roads.

Transurban Chief Executive Officer, Scott Charlton, said the first stage of the Melbourne Road Usage Study suggested a user-pays system could work in Australia, providing fair, sustainable and flexible funding for the infrastructure needed to support the growth and liveability of communities.

The 18-month study, led by Transurban and supported by independent research and technology specialists, looked at how people used their cars on Melbourne’s road network under different charging options.

The trial involved a representative sample of Melbourne car owners installing a small GPS device in their vehicles and providing important insights at regular intervals throughout the study period.

More than 1,600 drivers drove 12 million kilometres under a range of charging options.

“Our research clearly found the more information people received about how Australia currently funds its roads, the more positive they became about the need for reform,” Mr Charlton said.

“Getting direct and transparent feedback about how they used the road and the associated costs made participants more willing to consider changing their driving habits, even after only a short period of time.”

Mr Charlton said study participants were also clear about what they wanted to see if a new system was implemented to replace today’s unfair and opaque charges.

Their priorities included: • Transparency – clear information about how much they travelled and what it cost; • Choice – genuine transport options and flexibility around working hours and services to allow them to make changes to how they use roads; • Fairness – an equitable system that was fair for everyone, regardless of where they lived, their income or the car they drove and that funds raised were allocated to transport projects and maintenance.

• Checks and balances – their privacy protected and personal information managed in a secure way.

Changing the way Australia pays for its roads has been talked about for more than

6 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

Scott Charlton CEO Transurban

a decade and is a challenge many other countries are confronting.

The growing popularity of fuel-efficient cars and the arrival of affordable electric vehicles mean that fuel excise, Australia’s main source of road funding, is forecast to diminish.

According to CSIRO modelling, Australia may be looking at a reduction of up to 45 per cent in the revenue it needs to build and maintain its roads by 2050.

Mr Charlton said raising the community’s awareness of Australia’s current situation was an important step in the reform process.

“The research found that 96 per cent of Australians have little or no knowledge of fuel excise as our key source of road funding, let alone the inequity and unsustainability issues associated with it.

“Like everyone living in Australia today, we want road networks to operate as efficiently as possible – if the network is running smoothly so too are our roads.

“We have the opportunity now to design and implement a road charging system that will support our changing demographics and take advantage of the opportunities that technology will offer over the next decade.

“Our real-life trial has shown that technology is not a barrier to the implementation of a new road charging system.”

BACKGROUND TO THE MELBOURNE ROAD USAGE STUDY Transurban’s study has been underway since May 2015.

The study’s objectives included: • gauging motorist’s knowledge and understanding of the current road funding system; • accessing their attitudes towards different user-pays charging options; • understanding motorists’ driving behaviour changes under different charging options; and • proving technology is no longer a barrier to implementing a user-pays system.

The study captured the responses from 1,635 motorists from the Greater Melbourne region for five user-pays charging options and was undertaken in two parts: • Stage 1 tested reactions to three usagebased options – charge per kilometre, charge per trip and a flat rate • Stage 2 tested participants’ response to two congestion-based charging options (cordon area and time-of-day). That stage was being assessed in early October.

To accompany the Melbourne Road Usage Study, Transurban commissioned market research involving more than 2,200 Australians to provide a national perspective on road funding and user-pays charging.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Electric vehicle adoption could drive energy market change

T

he speed and extent of the disruption from electric car uptake in Australia will be determined by the answers to four key questions, according to a paper by global advisory firm, Advisian.

Advisian, with operations across 19 countries, provides advice to clients in the hydrocarbons, infrastructure, minerals and metals, and chemicals sectors.

The paper lists the key questions that will be critical to the uptake of electric vehicles as: • can our infrastructure scale?

• will consumers be able to afford electric cars?

• will recharging stay cheap? and • how will fuel production and refineries respond to electric vehicles?

“These questions point to a complex set of variables which make electric vehicle uptake hard to predict,” said paper co-author and Senior Associate, New Energy, at Advisian, Phil O’Neil.

“While the idea of a great global transition to the new energy future may sound straightforward, countless variables and external influences could take events in directions that we may not have even considered,” Mr O’Neil said.

“In the transition from petrol to electric vehicles, potential confounding factors include questions about electric vehicle uptake, whether alternatives, such as hydrogen, could challenge batteries as an energy carrier, and how to reform our tax system to recover lost petrol-excise revenue.”

Looking at the question of infrastructure scale, Mr O’Neil said poor recharging

8 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

infrastructure in Australia had led to doubts about whether electric vehicles were suitable for this country.

He said, however, the paper concluded that Australians, who were early adopters of petrol vehicles before refuelling infrastructure was widespread, would follow the same pattern with electric vehicles.

“Early electric vehicle adopters will take home-charger cords with them to recharge en route.

“We also expect that electric vehicle charging stations will become common at workplaces and shopping centres as employers and retailers take the opportunity to provide a perk for employees or attract shoppers.”

On affordability, Mr O’Neil said using offpeak residential electricity to charge electric vehicles cost less than filling similar vehicles at the petrol pump, offering a saving of more than A$30 for 500 kilometres of driving.

Electric vehicles also needed less maintenance than petrol or diesel cars, making them cheaper to own in the long term.

“Electric vehicles will become increasingly attractive from an economic perspective.

“But we’re still looking at a couple of decades to change-over from full petrol to full electric, which reflects the normal turnover in the personal car fleet.

“However, the rapid adoption of car sharing and autonomous vehicles has the potential to reduce this period dramatically.”

In relation to the cost of recharging, Mr O’Neil said new players in the production and distribution of transport energy were competing for customers with electric

vehicle manufacturers, pushing down recharging prices for electric vehicles.

According to Mr O’Neil, Tesla was already offering owners of most vehicles in its range free recharging using its Supercharger network. Electricity retailer AGL had announced electric vehicle charging for A$1 per day.

“The convergence of technologies suggests we will also be using our electric cars to store energy from household solar panels for later use or even to sell it on the National Energy Market.

In assessing how fuel producers would respond to electric vehicles, Mr O’Neil said high electric vehicle uptake could reduce demand for lighter fractions, such as petrol.

Demand for heavier fractions, such as diesel and jet fuel, would likely remain unmoved. This changed balance of demand could see a surplus of lighter fractions drive down petrol prices.

“Lower petrol prices could have some impact on electric vehicle uptake,” said Mr O’Neil.

“But it’s not a sure thing. Refineries might instead use key components like naphtha and gas as oil petrochemical feedstocks instead of for petrol production. This is a process of “cracking” molecules to form the building blocks for plastics, resins and chemicals.”

Each of these potential obstacles to large-scale electric vehicle adoption could have major implications for industry and policymakers.

“A thorough understanding of the variables is vital to preparing,” said Mr O’Neil.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Port of Melbourne lease ensures removal of congested level crossings

T

he Victorian Government now has the funds to remove 50 of the state’s most deadly and congested level crossings, and create thousands of jobs following the lease of the Port of Melbourne for more than $9.7 billion.

The lease to the Lonsdale Consortium delivered on the government’s election promise to lease the port.

The consortium – comprising of the Future Fund, QIC, GIP and OMERS – signed a lease of the port’s commercial operations for a term of 50 years.

Treasurer, Tim Pallas, said the signing reflected strong bidder interest and the port’s value as the biggest container and cargo port in the country.

“The strength of this result underlines the continued high performance of the Victorian economy – the fastest growing in the country,” said Mr Pallas.

“Leasing the port reinforces Victoria’s position as the freight and logistics capital of Australia and will make a great port even better.”

Premier, Daniel Andrews, said each member of the consortium was a highly experienced asset owner and would ensure the ongoing operational integrity of the Port of Melbourne.

Mr Andrews said Lonsdale would also bring greater access to capital to ensure the ongoing development of the Port of

10 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

Melbourne, further enhancing Victoria’s reputation as the leading port in Australia.

“This is a $9.7 billion vote of confidence in the Victorian economy.”

“We promised to lease the port, get rid of Victoria’s most deadly and congested level crossings and create thousands of jobs, and that’s exactly what we are doing.”

The State will retain responsibility for the Harbour Master, Station Pier, relevant safety and environmental regulation, waterside emergency management and marine pollution response.

Premier Andrews acknowledged the achievement of the Port of Melbourne lease objectives and the fact the Lonsdale Consortium had committed to significant investment that would continue to improve the port.

He thanked Morgan Stanley and Flagstaff Partners for their role as the state’s financial advisers for the lease transaction.

The Consortium said it was extremely pleased to become the custodian of Australia’s largest container, automotive and general cargo port.

Peter Costello, Chair of the Future Fund Board of Guardians, said: “The Port of Melbourne is a high quality asset and an important link between Australia and its trading partners. We’re delighted to invest in it.”

QIC Global Infrastructure Head, Ross Israel, said: “The Port of Melbourne is core infrastructure - it is a critical and strategic piece of the Victorian and Australian logistics supply chain.

“Leveraging our global port and regulated asset experience, QIC is focused on delivering long term stewardship and improvements to the port and for its users.”

GIP Australia Partner, Russell Smith, said: “As a leading global, independent infrastructure investor, we are looking forward to supporting the future growth of the port by applying industry best practice and utilising our specialist knowledge.

“GIP looks forward to bringing to bear our strong port and rail industry expertise to drive the efficiency and capacity of the port, and focus on the transformational change in the road/rail mix servicing the freight task moving through the port.”

Ralph Berg, Executive Vice President and Global Head of Infrastructure, OMERS Private Markets, said: “We are confident our global expertise in managing similar assets will see the Port of Melbourne continue to operate as Australia’s leading container and multi-cargo port.

“We look forward to working with port users and stakeholders to further improve the productivity of this important asset.”

Members of the Lonsdale Consortium hold significant infrastructure interests across Australia, including stakes in Victorian assets such as Melbourne Airport, Iona Gas Storage Facility and EastLink toll road.

It also brings global and local port ownership experience with involvement in assets such as Port of Brisbane, NSW Ports and Associated British Ports, the UK’s largest port operator.

In addition to the funds made available from the port lease for removing dangerous level crossings, the deal will provide $970 million for investment in regional and rural infrastructure projects.

The proceeds are available for projects and programs that will benefit the agriculture sector, including transport, irrigation, and energy projects, as well as skills development programs and market access campaigns.

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INDUSTRY NEWS

New management structure at AustStab A new management structure is being implemented at AustStab – the advocacy body for Australia’s pavement stabilisation industry.

The Pavement Recycling and Stabilisation Association was established in 1995 by specialist stabilising contractors to raise awareness throughout Australia of the sector.

The main emphasis was to promote the recycling of pavements.

David Berg, AustStab’s President, said the association had, over recent years, experienced a steady growth in membership, greater engagement with collaborative partners and greater acceptance of the pavement stabilisation and recycling industry, in the market.

Mr Berg said in view of the growth, AustStab’s Council had decided to significantly increase the Chief Executive Officer’s hours to meet current needs and to increase administration support hours.

In addition, council elected not to replace the Executive Officer role.

Current CEO, Leah Fisher, chose not to apply for the revised Chief Executive Officer’s role and will move on later in the year.

“Leah decided not to apply because of her family responsibilities and her commitment to deliver on her Health, Safety, Quality and Environmental management role with TOBCO - a growing civil electrical infrastructure business based in Sydney,” Mr Berg said.

“AustStab’s Council has appointed Graham Hennessy to the full time CEO role commencing on 31October.

“Graham is currently the Senior Pavements Engineer for Roads and Maritime Services, and brings more than 30 years’ experience in the fields of geotechnical and pavement investigations, pavement design, road construction, pavement maintenance and pavement construction materials,” said Mr Berg

12 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

Previously Graham worked for: • AECOM as an Associate Director; • Boral Asphalt as the National Technical Manager, and • Roads and Traffic Authority (now Roads and Maritime Services) as a Pavements Geotechnical Officer.

“We would like to thank Leah for her tireless contribution in developing AusStab into the robust association it is today, as we move to the next stage of our growth.

“Our niche sector of pavement construction and the association has benefitted from Leah’s leadership for the last two years as CEO and previous four years as Executive Officer.”

Mr Berg said AustStab would continue to work towards its member-driven Strategic Plan.

“Leah will continue to work with Council, and Graham Hennessy until November to ensure the association continues to deliver on all commitments during the transition and moves smoothly to the new structure.”

EDITORS NOTE: Highway Engineering Australia has had a productive and close relationship with Leah Fisher during her time at AustStab and wishes her well in her future endeavours.

Submissions to inform action on vehicle emissions

Their views will inform the development of draft regulatory impact statements on emissions, fuel efficiency measures and fuel quality standards.

The Australian Government expects to release these impact statements before the end of the year for public comment.

An interdepartmental working group supporting the Ministerial Forum will then report in the first half of 2017 on a draft implementation plan for new measures.

Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Paul Fletcher, and Minister for the Environment and Energy, Josh Frydenberg, said the Ministerial Forum was established to examine options to reduce emissions from motor vehicles and improve air quality in Australia’s cities.

“We are determined to build on the consultations we initiated prior to the last election and deliver emissions reductions in our vehicle fleet,” Mr Fletcher said.

“The government recognises that the vehicle emissions reform agenda raises issues which need to be carefully considered, including for their impact on motorists, the automotive sector and others.”

Mr Frydenberg said vehicles accounted for around 17 per cent of Australia’s emissions and reductions in this area were an important part of the government’s broader strategy.

“The government has committed to reducing Australia's greenhouse gas emissions so they are 26-28 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030,” Mr Frydenberg said.

Multi-million-dollar upgrade for Brisbane’s Central Station

About 80 submissions are being assessed in response to a discussion paper examining ways to reduce the health and environmental impacts from motor vehicle emissions.

The discussion paper was released by the Ministerial Forum on Vehicle Emissions and submissions were lodged by interested parties including vehicle manufacturers, transport operators, consumer groups, fuel companies and health and environment groups.

Brisbane’s flagship station, Central Station, is undergoing a $67 million upgrade over three years.

Central station is a gateway to Brisbane’s Central Business District with up to 140,000 passengers travelling through the station every day.

The historic transport hub, which was built in 1889, hasn’t undergone a large-scale renovation since the 1990s.

The new-look will reinforce the station’s heritage features and also ensure the facility keeps pace with design changes, and delivers modern facilities for passengers.

The investment will support 750 construction jobs across a range of professions including engineering, electrical, rigging, carpentry, concreting and finishing trades.

INDUSTRY NEWS

“Queensland Rail will work closely with its tenants and stakeholders around the station to ensure the impact of the project is managed effectively.”

Initially, the upgrade will focus on Queensland Rail’s “back of house” facilities including offices, communications rooms and first aid areas.

The upgrade will include a new roof and an overhaul of the platforms, as well as new lifts and escalators.

It will make it easier for passengers to access and move around the station, with improvements including less cluttered and more accessible platforms, new information displays and lighting.

The most striking feature will be a new, raised roof which will extend over the Edward Street end of the concourse, with a glass façade that will transform the station and inject the space with more light.

In addition to these works, planning is underway for further improvements, including a proposal for an additional escalator from the concourse to ANZAC Square, to reduce congestion during peak periods.

Platforms will be modernised with new floors, wall and roof coverings, passenger information displays, CCTV and lighting.

A virtual reality render created by pdt. architects will give the community a chance to inspect the Central Station makeover and get a feel for the new design, three years before the upgrade is complete.

The technology will enable the community to experience 360 degree views inside the new-look station and gain a glimpse of how the lighter, brighter and more modern hub will transform the CBD. “To minimise disruption to passengers, most works will be completed during scheduled closures at night and on weekends,” Transport Minister, Stirling Hinchliffe, said.

Queensland Productivity Commission inquiry includes transport Transport is one of the high value industries covered under an inquiry into the manufacturing sector by the Queensland Productivity Commission (QPC).

State Treasurer, Curtis Pitt, said the Productivity Commission had been asked to conduct the inquiry as part of its brief to recommend ways to boost productivity, economic growth, living standards and jobs.

Mr Pitt said the inquiry was due to be completed by August next year.

Manufacturing was estimated to have contributed $20.3 billion to the Queensland economy in 2014-15 and to have accounted for $15.9 billion in international exports.

The Treasurer said it was also a significant contributor to employment, as well as regional and economic growth, and directly employed around 170,000 people in Queensland in the December quarter 2015.

“The inquiry is expected to examine opportunities in high-value advanced manufacturing sectors including transport,

health, mining, and the environment.”

Mr Pitt said the inquiry would complement work being conducted by the Department of State Development on an Advanced Manufacturing 10-year Roadmap and Action Plan.

The Commission’s inquiry into manufacturing will also address the issue of reshoring as promised by the government at the state election.

“The inquiry is expected to assess if and how the government can assist in bringing good, well-paying manufacturing jobs back to Queensland,” Mr Pitt said.

“There have been some reshoring opportunities taken up by manufacturers in the UK, and the QPC inquiry will consider those and others, and see if similar opportunities exist for Queensland.”

Mr Pitt said the government’s policy framework had plans for the future economic development of Queensland for the next three decades.

“There is a lot of talk of the new economy and I know that some workers have concerns about what that means for the so called old economy.

“They may feel that the world is moving on without them. To those workers can I say that the government understands your concerns and that is why we made this election commitment and that is why this investigation by the Commission is so important.”

O-Bahn City Access Project changes face of Adelaide

The alignment of East Terrace near Adelaide’s Rymill Park was changed on 28 August under the ongoing $160 million O-Bahn City Access Project.

Traffic travelling on East Terrace between Grenfell and Hutt streets switched to a new road, to the west of the existing alignment, in preparation for the next stage of the O-Bahn development.

The new alignment moves East Terrace further west between Grenfell and Pirie streets, incorporating 710 square metres of road reserve to Park Lands.

October 2016 | Highway Engineering Australia 13

INDUSTRY NEWS

The fountain in the western corner of Rymill Park was removed before construction of the new alignment and will be reinstated next year during remediation works, which will include tree plantings.

The next stage of the O-Bahn project includes new excavation as part of the $6 million major tunnelling earthworks component, which has been unbundled to maximise the benefit to local South Australian businesses.

The work has been released by the major contractor, McConnell Dowell Australia, under the South Australian Industry Participation Policy, giving local businesses a bigger share of major government projects.

By splitting the earthworks package and awarding components to small-to-medium contractors rather than a single contractor, an additional eight South Australian businesses are now working on this stage.

The eight small-to-medium enterprises that are benefitting from the unbundling of the earthworks package are: • Marzilli Transport; • Page Excavations; • CB&S Civil; • CJP Hire; • ACT Hire; • Envirosweep; • Lucas TCS; and • MK2 Recruitment “Knowing that we will be supplying our services to a government project of this magnitude and duration provides our business with additional stability,” said CB &S Civil Operations Manager, Craig Hill.

‘New generation’ trains for New South Wales.

New trains will begin operating in New South Wales from 2019, transforming intercity travel for customers in Newcastle, the Central Coast, South Coast and the Blue Mountains.

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance, said the trains would offer comfort and convenience that would encourage people out of their cars.

14 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

“For customers travelling on more lengthy trips, these trains will be more spacious, more comfortable and have features never before seen on our long distance services,” Mr Constance said.

The new fleet of trains will include modern CCTV surveillance technology to ensure safety, help points and digital screens. New features will include: • charging stations for mobile devices on each seat; • digital screens and announcements; • two-by-two seating on upper and lower levels; and • dedicated space for luggage, prams, bicycles and wheelchairs.

The new intercity fleet of more than 500 new carriages will be built by RailConnect, a joint venture between the Hyundai Rotem Company, Mitsubishi Electric Australia and UGL Rail.

The tunnel will initially open from five o’clock in the morning until nine o’clock at night to allow construction to continue on the Clarence Street entrance, as well as other finishing touches.

Following the opening of the Clarance Street entry, Wynyard Walk will be open 24 hours.

Phase two of the Wynyard Station upgrade is expected to be completed by mid-2017.

Enhancing heavy vehicle camera monitoring network

Sydney's newest pedestrian tunnel opens to public

Wynyard Walk, Sydney's newest pedestrian tunnel, is open to the public and offers increased convenience and safety for commuters under the city’s Central Business District.

The new 180-metre tunnel means commuters can walk between Wynyard Station and the new jobs precinct at Barangaroo in six minutes.

And the new infrastructure has capacity for 20,000 people to walk through per hour.

New South Wales Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance, said the tunnel was critical in providing the pedestrian link between Barangaroo, the new ferry hub and the light rail project.

“It’s now about six minutes from the station to Barangaroo; you don’t have to cross roads or navigate steep inclines.

“We’ve also just completed the first stage of the Wynyard Station renovation. New lifts, escalators and a lobby are also on the way for Wynyard,” Mr Constance said.

Australia's heavy vehicle camera monitoring network will be upgraded with $2.45 million in Australian Government funding.

The funding boost will allow the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to fast-track the installation of five additional automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras along the nation’s key heavy vehicle corridors and black spots.

The cameras will help reduce pressure on freight operators to shift goods within unrealistic time constraints, while also having the broader benefit of improving safety for all motorists.

The NHVR is currently working with state road transport authorities to identify the new camera sites and is considering the busiest freight routes with the highest traffic volumes to maximise heavy vehicle monitoring capability.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester, said the high-tech monitoring cameras had been shown to be effective and would be operating by July 2017.

“Each camera site costs between $250,000 and $500,000 to establish, depending on what infrastructure, power, communications and security facilities are already in place.

“This is money well spent in terms of detecting risky behaviour and unsafe practice on the roads, and helps narrow our targets for compliance and enforcement efforts.”

Returns to his family quicker and safer.

Kapsch TrafficCom

What’s the difference between managing a road and providing a safe journey?

Highways which are safer, cleaner and more efficient. Managed lanes which address congestion and guarantee journey times. Bridges and tunnels which are more secure. Back office systems which combine real-time operations and payment services.

The difference is Traffic Management from Kapsch TrafficCom.

www.kapsch.net

COVER STORY

BRINGING IT ALL

TOGETHER W

ith a history of innovation and excellence stretching back to 1892 - when the company was producing Morse telegraph devices and telephones - Kapsch has been at the forefront of telephonic and wireless communication for over 120 years.

Kapsch has also been a leading global innovator across all areas of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) technology since its infancy. Indeed, Kapsch TrafficCom - part of the Kapsch Group - has been responsible for the development and Seen as another major 'feather in the cap' for leading traffic control and implementation of numerous ITS linemarking equipment specialists A1 Roadlines, the company's full range of'world firsts', including the world’s first LED Flashing Arrow Signs has just been awarded electronic toll system for multi-lane full Type Approval from NSW Transport Roads & Maritime Services (NSW free-flow traffic, which was installed on RMS). The Type Approvals, which follow on from an extensive testing and Melbourne's CityLink motorway in 1999.

Not surprisingly, this leadership in Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) technology has seen strong demand for Kapsch TrafficCom tolling solutions, with systems now installed and operational in 44 countries across the globe. In fact, Kapsch is ranked #1 on the first worldwide independent ranking of ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) suppliers by PTOLEMUS (2015).

Kapsch TrafficCom continues to lead the way as a provider of ITS systems, bringing together a range of world leading technologies in toll collection, traffic management, safety and security, smart urban mobility and connected cars.

16 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

Whilst the company's core business

"The ITS sector is growing at an

DYNAC® software, that provides integrated

comprises the development, installation

exponential rate," Soren Tellegen said.

management of traffic and operations for

and operation of electronic toll collection

"Everyone and everything is more connected

critical infrastructure around the world.

and traffic management systems, Kapsch

than ever before, and that has resulted in a

DYNAC’s modular design allows for full

TrafficCom's focus on bringing together

staggering growth in demand for ITS and

integration of ATMS and SCADA (Supervisory

complimentary technologies to deliver end-

C-ITS services and solutions."

Control and Data Acquisition), making

to-end solutions, provides its customers with

"With that in mind, in recent years we've

it an ideal solution for collecting traffic

a 'one-stop shop' that encompasses the entire

not only expanded the current core business

and facilities-related data from highways,

value creation chain - from components

of electronic toll collection and traffic

managed lanes, and bridges and tunnels.

and design through to the installation and

management systems from the highways into

This information is delivered to a traffic

operation of systems.

the cities, we've also expand our portfolio

management centre where it is processed for

Not one to 'rest on its laurels', Kapsch

to encompass a range of intelligent mobility

actionable use by road operators, government

TrafficCom's corporate philosophy is one of

solutions, including mobility applications and

authorities, and road users.

continual innovation and improvement - and

services, solutions for connected cars and

it's a philosophy which looks set to keep

multimodal traffic solutions," he said.

the company at the forefront of ITS both in

"We want to contribute to the design of

That's why DYNAC® was chosen to power the Traffic & Facilities Management System of Melbourne's CityLink, the world’s first fully

Australia and globally. Kapsch TrafficCom

future smart cities, and to achieve that, we

electronic toll road. DYNAC® improves road user

Executive Vice President: Oceania, Mr Soren

needed to be sure that we're able to deliver a

safety and experience, provides faster, more

Tellegen, commented:

fully-integrated suite of ITS and C-ITS services

convenient commutes and provides motorists

and solutions," Soren Tellegen added.

with richer travel information services.

on continual innovation and improvement

Advanced Traffic Management

delivered a wide range of systems - from

through Research and Development is not

An integrated traffic and operations

those that provide a complete overview of

only a critical factor in maintaining global

management solution provides the ability

traffic situations to those that aid traffic

leadership in quality and innovation in ITS, it

to respond safely and effectively to traffic

management personnel in making critical

also ensures that we're able to accompany

incidents and emergency situations.

decisions during emergency response

our customers on the transition to next-

Kapsch TrafficCom's portfolio of Advanced

situations. It offers traffic management

generation ITS solutions with innovative

Traffic Management Systems (ATMS) includes

solutions for Highways, Cities, Managed

products and applications."

over 40 systems based on the company's

Lanes, Tunnels and Bridges.

"As a global provider of intelligent transportation systems (ITS), our focus

Kapsch TrafficCom has designed and

October 2016 | Highway Engineering Australia 17

COVER STORY

Kapsch TrafficCom also offers its customers an add-on solution for electronic toll collection consisting of a telematics platform in which the information collected by a toll collection system can be used in traffic management and planning.

C-ITS & V2X Infrastructure Kapsch TrafficCom V2X technology will allow travellers to receive warnings about imminent roadside hazards in real time, access local traffic conditions and routing information as well as improve overall traffic safety. Road operators will have access to an unmatched situational awareness, allowing them to better manage traffic operations and optimize the use of existing infrastructure.

V2X combines two elements: communication between vehicles and the infrastructure (V2I, or Vehicle-toInfrastructure) and communication between vehicles (V2V, or Vehicle-to-Vehicle).

Together, those elements form the basis of Cooperative Intelligent Transportation Systems (C-ITS). Kapsch TrafficCom's product range includes V2X enabled traffic management centres, V2X in-vehicle equipment and V2X roadside units.

To enable this connected environment to become a widespread reality, Kapsch TrafficCom has been working closely with various initiatives and committees involved in setting communications standards for V2X (ETSI, CEN, ISO, IEEE, and SAE). In addition to helping define the technologies and concepts to be included in the standards, Kapsch TrafficCom is also involved in practical implementation of numerous projects in Europe, the United States, and Asia.

Connected Corridors Kapsch TrafficCom's EcoTrafiX (ETX) suite has been developed to accommodate the individual transportation agency's needs, from a simple signal system to an ATMS and more to a complete regional transportation system.

EcoTrafiX Traffic Management brings comprehensive situational management, providing visibility to multiple traffic devices or signal controllers, and enabling highly efficient operations including event management and multi-agency collaboration on connected corridors. Its unique capability to provide intelligence to the control room includes automatic plans, decision support systems, traffic forecasting etc. to shift towards pro-active traffic management.

Looking forward, EcoTrafiX will become the mobility information hub for the City and provides a Smart Mobility brick of a Smart City concept.

18 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

CONNECTED VEHICLES Improving safety, security, and mobility

Using Kapsch TrafficCom V2X technology, Connected Vehicles warn each other of accidents, breakdowns, and other hazards such as poor road conditions and bad weather so that either the drivers themselves or their automatic driver assistance systems can respond. The vehicles also transmit data to the infrastructure, which enables traffic management centres to implement traffic control measures such as dynamically regulated speed limits and alternative route suggestions and distribute information on hazardous situations to the rest of the integrated traffic system.

Thanks to their modular structure, Fluidtime software solutions can be expanded flexibly at any time. Output for the user takes place via all major channels and operating systems, from smartphones to tablets, on the web or via smartwatch.

Connected Next - looks like a tag, but...

Connected Next is the most advanced and sophisticated tolling tag. It combines new services and applications. The tag allows to connect to a smartphone or tablet easily and enables to exchange data with the tag in a secure way, simply by using your mobile device!

This offers new possibilities for remote management, like monitoring the battery status or remote initialization of the tag itself.

Apart from this the road user can also receive information from the tolling system, such as instant tarif information, combined with new MMI concepts like voice messages.

ABOUT KAPSCH TRAFFICCOM With successful projects in 44 countries on all continents, Kapsch TrafficCom is a globally recognised ITS provider

Integrated Mobility Management.

For over a decade Fluidtime has been working on creating tomorrow’s integrated mobility services. As the leading provider of mobility information services in Austria, Fluidtime has extensive know-how regarding all areas of integrated mobility. Fluidtime software solutions are based on tried and tested server products specifically developed for mobility applications.

As part of the Kapsch Group, an Austrian family-owned technology group founded in 1892, Kapsch TrafficCom is headquartered in Vienna, Austria, and has subsidiaries and branches in 30 countries.

It has been listed since 2007 on the Vienna Stock Exchange (KTCG) and generated revenues of EUR 526 million in the fiscal year 2015/16 with over 3,700 employees.

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

Intelligent Transport Systems News and Feature Articles

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

WORLD FIRST DEMONSTRATION

OF C-ITS IN MELBOURNE Melbourne will host a world first demonstration of Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) during the 23rd World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, 10-14 October.

Devices from multiple suppliers will come together to talk to live traffic signals on a major street in the heart of Melbourne to showcase the interoperability of V2V and V2X at live intersections.

Previous trials have included single or proprietary systems, but the Melbourne demonstrations include technology from six different suppliers, each communicating with traffic signals operating on a live road.

World Congress demonstration partners – CO-GISTICS, Cohda Wireless, Kapsch, NXP, Q-Free and Robert Bosch Australia – came together last August to work with Transport Certification Australia (TCA) to achieve this world first.

TCA is the Official Demonstrations Partner for the Congress and Chief Executive Officer, Chris Koniditsiotis, said it wasn’t content to simply coordinate a series of unconnected technology demonstrations.

“Instead, we set ourselves objectives that would surpass expectations,” said Mr Koniditsiotis.

Photo courtesy ITS International “What will make the demonstrations at the World Congress distinctive from previous congresses is the focus on interoperability.

“This focus will allow individual demonstrators to ‘talk to each other’ and the roadside using an open, agreed language.”

Mr Koniditsiotis said TCA had worked closely with VicRoads to organise the demonstrations, which would be showcased in South Melbourne.

VicRoads has equipped seven sets of traffic signals to create a ‘Connected Urban Corridor’ along Clarendon Street – a stone’s throw from the Congress venue.

Delegates attending the Congress will be able to experience firsthand interoperable Vehicle-to-Infrastructure (V2I) applications, by travelling through these intersections in a connected vehicle.

“This is the first time many of these technologies have been tested outside a simulated or tightly controlled environment,” said Mr Koniditsiotis.

“Interoperability doesn’t occur by accident. The collaborative development, testing and application of standards is essential. But making sure they work in the real world is the real test.

“It takes leadership, a shared commitment and – arguably most importantly – an understanding of not just the technology, but of the role people play in its implementation and realisation.”

Mr Koniditsiotis, who’s also an ITS Australia Board Member, said it was rewarding to see the calibre of demonstrators involved in this year’s Congress and to see technology providers working with each other to achieve cooperative outcomes.

“It’s this type of cooperation which will be on display that will deliver the promised outcomes from connected and automated vehicles.

“It’s also a further showcase of how Australia’s ingenuity, in partnership with demonstrators from across the globe, delivers outcomes that lead the world,” Mr Koniditsiotis said.

ITS Australia Chief Executive Officer, Susan Harris, praised the collaboration between TCA, VicRoads and the Congress demonstration partners in pushing the boundaries for such a world leading demonstration of interoperability.

“These technologies have the potential to deliver a step change in road safety outcomes, ease congestion and reduce emissions,” Ms Harris said.

“Australia is amongst world leaders in ITS and it is fitting that Melbourne, the world’s most liveable city, will host a world first demonstration in C-ITS.”

20 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

Delegates who attend demonstrations at Albert Park, home of the Australian Grand Prix, can experience remote parking technology, highly automated vehicles, the latest in V2X communications, shared driverless transportation and state-of-the-art perception systems demonstrating realtime localisation.

The Cohda Wireless demonstration will take V2X to the next level showcasing GPSless positioning for V2X. In environments where GPS is challenging, Cohda Wireless’s technology enables vehicles to position themselves and transmit messages containing GPS coordinates – even if GPS signals are unavailable.

Melbourne Airport, Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and Federation Square are some of the locations where another world first – state-of-the-art communications channel for transport agencies – will demonstrate ubiquitous technology, transmitted to a delegate’s smart phone.

TCA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Koniditsiotis

“What will make the demonstrations at the World Congress distinctive from previous congresses is the focus on interoperability. This focus will allow individual demonstrators to ‘talk to each other’ and the roadside using an open, agreed language.”

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

WORLD ATTENTION

ON MELBOURNE 2016 “It’s the culmination of years of planning and a lot of hard work, and we’re very excited about catching-up with colleagues and friends from senior levels of the global ITS community.”

Susan Harris, ITS Australia Chief Executive Officer, commenting on the long hours of preparation that have gone into staging the 23rd ITS World Congress in Melbourne from 10-14 October – a Congress that is being attended by more than 7,000 delegates.

“The team at ITS Australia, our Congress partners and the sector overall have really gone ‘above and beyond’ to make sure this event is successful.

Everybody involved with staging the event has ensured we’ll put on the best show possible.”

The Congress delegates, from more than 60 countries, have the chance to be involved in four plenary sessions, more than 900 conference sessions, 14 demonstrations, and 17 technical tours.

They also have the opportunity to inspect the world-leading products and services of more than 300 exhibiting organisations in the ITS space.

Ms Harris said Melbourne 2016 would continue the tradition of high quality world congresses and the organising team had drawn on the successes of past host cities to ensure Melbourne would be an experience to remember.

“We’ve come to understand what’s expected of a host city by reviewing past congresses and we’ve had great input from our international affiliates – ITS America, ERTICO, ITS Japan and ITS Asia-Pacific.

“We’ve adapted some of their systems and processes, and tailored them to provide a unique Australian flavour.”

Ms Harris said one facet of the Congress that had caught her imagination was a world first demonstration of Cooperative Intelligent Transport Systems (C-ITS) focusing on interoperability.

Devices from multiple suppliers will come together to talk to live traffic signals along a Connected Urban Corridor on Clarendon Street South Melbourne showcasing the interoperability of V2V and V2X at live intersections.

“This is a great example of collaboration with a team from Roads and Maritime Services working alongside VicRoads to implement this solution into the traffic signals, and World Congress demonstration partners CO-GISTICS, Cohda Wireless, Kapsch, NXP, Q-Free and Robert Bosch Australia coming together from across the globe to work with Transport Certification Australia, the Official Demonstrations Partner for this year's Congress, to achieve a world first.

“The really exciting aspect of this demonstration is that the technology is on the cusp of deployment in Australia.

“The Congress demonstration is a taste of what people could start to see deployed in Australia from next year,” said Ms Harris.

“The really exciting aspect of this demonstration is that the technology is on the cusp of deployment in Australia. It is a taste of what people could start to see deployed in Australia from next year.

“It’s a really exciting opportunity to see the applications that might be applied – life-saving technologies that reduce the amount and extent of road incidents through to uses that improve the flow of traffic and reduce congestion and vehicle emissions.

“There’s nothing like being able to witness technological advancement, rather than reading about it or seeing it on a screen. It’s exciting to be in a vehicle and see how the manufacturers intended their technology would work.

“Executives with responsibility focusing on their city’s infrastructure will be able to obtain first-hand experience of the technology and then assess how it could be applied to their circumstances.”

“The team at ITS Australia, our Congress partners and the sector overall have really gone ‘above and beyond’ to make sure this event is successful.

Everybody involved with staging the event has ensured we’ll put on the best show possible.”

Ms Harris said the urbanisation of Melbourne and Australia’s other capital and major cities meant they were faced with the challenge of combating congestion just like other major centres around the world.

“But our jurisdictional set-up is less complex than many other nations and we have the ability to collaborate across a government and industry level to achieve solutions and make things happen.

“In Australia, we’re into the business of delivering solutions that help to improve the environment and the liveability of cities.”

Ms Harris said a key part of Melbourne’s liveability that made it ideal as a host city was its social setting.

“In addition to our advanced transport technology and centres of excellence, we have world class facilities and attractions. Melbourne is just a beautiful place for delegates to relax while attending the Congress.

“We hope they find the time to experience what the city, regional Victoria and Australia has to offer during their stay.”

October 2016 | Highway Engineering Australia 21

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

MELBOURNE 2016 –

ADVANCES IN ITS THAT ENHANCE LIVEABLE CITIES Melbourne’s achievement in being named the world’s most liveable city for the sixth consecutive year has given added impetus to the 23rd ITS World Congress being staged in the Victorian capital, according to Brian Negus – President of ITS Australia.

The theme of the World Congress from October 10-14 is ITS – Enhancing Liveable Cities and Communities.

Melbourne again topped the list of the Economist Intelligence Unit’s index of liveability which rates 140 of the world's major cities in the categories of healthcare, education, stability, culture, environment and infrastructure.

It scored 97.5 out of 100 and Mr Negus said the performance would reinforce the focus on the role of intelligent transport systems in underpinning the sustainability of cities.

“We’re increasingly seeing that smart solutions in the transport sector can have a drastic influence on improving mobility, safety and the overall liveability of cities around the globe.”

Mr Negus said the transport sector, particularly in the ITS space, shared a strong sense of engagement and there was a willingness to exchange ideas which helped promote the development of sustainable transport systems.

“The sector has been that way for many years. People aren’t protective about what they’re doing – they want to share ideas and concepts, and see them translate into improved liveability.”

Mr Negus said the rapid pace of development in areas including connected and automated vehicles, cooperative ITS, big data analytics, data acquisition and protection, and harmonisation of standards had left governments in catch up mode.

“Governments have been for some time, and are still in catch up mode, in framing regulations to cover those important issues, and we hope they get the formula right.

“We don’t want over-the-top regulations that stifle or suffocate innovation.

“The regulations need to be very much performance-based to enable innovation to occur, while providing adequate protection for the community.

“It’s a delicate balance and the indications are that Federal and State Governments, the National Transport Commission and State road authorities are heading in the right direction, but we’re yet to see the outcome.”

Mr Negus said the pace of advancement highlighted the importance of Melbourne 2016 as a showcase for developments in the ITS sector.

“There are huge advances virtually every week in automated vehicles and in the technology that makes them work, and there are also different themes at play in terms of technology approaches.

“Companies in the sector are trying different approaches – different ideas – and the Congress will enable delegates to assess the progress of development.

“Given that Australia is a ‘technology taker’ as well as an inventor, it will be great to see the approaches in the vehicle fleet area and how the advances are occurring.”

Mr Negus said the ITS Australia Board, office staff and partners had been working extremely hard to ensure the success of the Congress.

“It’s really gratifying and satisfying to see the level of commitment at the local level and the strong support we’ve received from our international ITS colleagues.

“The number of delegates, the calibre of keynote speakers and the quality of papers, demonstrations, technical tours and exhibitions are testimony to the commitment to ensuring the Congress is a success.

“We’re eagerly looking forward to seeing the hard work pay-off and to welcoming all of our ITS colleagues from around the world to Melbourne.”

22 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

“Companies in the sector are trying different approaches – different ideas – and the Congress will enable delegates to assess the progress of development."

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

THE ‘ROAD AHEAD’ FOR VICROADS

AS TECHNOLOGY ADVANCES The increasing use of intelligent transport systems and the move to connected and automated vehicles will see VicRoads play more of a role in educating road users, according to its Deputy Chief Executive, Peter Todd.

Mr Todd said drivers would have to re-evaluate the way they used the road network as the transition to increased levels of transport technology occurred.

“We are starting to have that conversation with the community – it’s about how we use the existing network and how we adapt to the changes that lie ahead.

“At the moment, we are running some of the most efficient freeways in the world with our managed motorway system, but that will change dramatically when automated vehicles interact with the technology incorporated in transport infrastructure.

“The interaction will bring about improvements in road safety. We know about 90 per cent of road trauma is caused by driver error, a factor that will largely be taken out of the equation with the increased use of vehicle-toinfrastructure technology.”

Mr Todd said there would be a mixed fleet on the roads for a number of years, but VicRoads saw real long-term safety benefits with increased levels of technology.

He said the changes that would occur had already triggered discussion about the number of vehicles using the network.

Peter Todd, Deputy Chief Executive of VicRoads

“We can see a very large change in the way people access and use the road network – mobility will be a commodity people buy, rather than them owning their own vehicle.

“If occupancy is about 25 per cent and utilisation is about 10 per cent, it’s a large amount of critical mass sunk into a vehicle that’s not used a lot.”

Mr Todd said future use of the transport network – both freeways and arterial roads – would be impacted by land use planning.

“We know, for example, that many people in Melbourne’s south east corridor need to travel outside their immediate area for work. The challenge is to use our planning tools to enable people to live close to where they’re employed.

“That gives them the opportunity to walk, to cycle, to use public transport as viable options to driving to work. That is really critical.

“At VicRoads, we’re trying to have our workforce operate under 21st century arrangements where our people can work at remote offices. They don’t have to travel as much which improves their lives and, importantly, takes pressure off the transport network.

“We’re trying to set an example of what can be achieved by modifying how we use the transport system to obtain better outcomes for the community.”

Mr Todd said VicRoads was talking with its interstate counterparts on the changing transport landscape.

“A recent meeting of state road authorities discussed what regulations might be needed to regulate and operate a road system with increasing levels of technology.

“The authorities recognise they need to be planning a regulatory response to technological advancement – a response that helps to facilitate innovation and is not prescriptive.

“Any response would have to take into account the critical issue of road safety; we won’t allow anything which impacts on the level of safety.”

Mr Todd said VicRoads would have a significant presence at the ITS World Congress 2016 in Melbourne.

“All our senior leadership team will be involved at the Congress because we view it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to showcase what we’re doing in Victoria, particularly with regard to our freeways.

“We also see it as an opportunity to learn about the latest developments in transport technology in other parts of the world. We’re looking forward to meeting overseas delegates and networking with them.”

“We know, for example, that many people in Melbourne’s south east corridor need to travel outside their immediate area for work. The challenge is to use our planning tools to enable people to live close to where they’re employed.

24 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

iMOVE CRC SHORTLISTED

BY AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT The proposed iMOVE CRC is one of seven applicants shortlisted for funding under the Australian Government’s $653 million Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Program.

The iMOVE bid team plans to establish a co-operative research centre focused on the development of smart transport and mobility in Australia.

It plans to undertake high quality research relating to rapidly evolving technologies in the areas of transport, logistics and connected mobility. A key feature of the CRC program is its emphasis on conducting research through collaboration between parties with complementary skills.

The other shortlisted applicants have proposed research relating to critical issues in areas of agriculture, water security, cyber security and mental health.

They are: • CRC for High Performance Soils; • CRC for Honey Bee Products; • Cyber Security CRC; • Food Agility CRC; • Future Water CRC; and • Innovation for Mental Wealth CRC. iMOVE CRC bid leader, Ian Christensen, said the team was very excited and optimistic about its prospects now it was included in Stage Two of the selection process.

“From the very beginning we received strong interest and support from the ITS community, and we felt we had a good proposition; a good program that would deliver private commercial benefit as well as national productivity benefit.

“Receiving official confirmation that we’ve reached Stage Two has given confidence to the many companies participating in the bid that there is a good case for this particular CRC. “The government’s decision to include us in the shortlist is an acknowledgement that transport, logistics and connected mobility are important issues.”

Mr Christensen said the bid team had also received informal feedback from several departments in Canberra that the government was interested in research that would help to improve national productivity, boost exports of Australian produce, reduce traffic congestion and improve road safety.

“We’re feeling confident the government regards this area of endeavour as very important and now it’s up to us to show government that an iMOVE CRC can make a difference.”

Under Stage Two, the shortlisted applicants submit a business case and are interviewed by a panel from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. The interview panel, in conjunction with the CRC Advisory Committee, will prepare recommendations to the Minister, Greg Hunt.

Applications, which have to be submitted by 20 October, are assessed against selection criteria including the ability to address key problems for industry.

Ian Christensen

They must be industry-led and outcome-focussed, and demonstrate impacts for the CRC participants plus industry and the broader economy.

Mr Christensen said the iMOVE bid team was still talking with participants about the outcomes they were trying to achieve through their participation in the CRC. “That’s very important to us because we want to make sure the commitments we make to the government in our bid match the aspirations of the participants.

“Only if we achieve that match will the CRC be able to successfully deliver to government all the things it aspires to do.

“At the end of the day, there are two major drivers behind the iMOVE proposal. One is to improve the liveability of cities by better management of mobility and the other is to expedite the export of Australian produce through better data and better logistics.

“Every city in Australia is intent on becoming as liveable as possible because, put simply, liveability attracts investment and talent. Every city is keen to maximise its ability to attract talented people and their investment of time, effort and money into building a future.

“Intelligent transport systems are, in effect, a new source of technology by which we can impact liveability. In addition to the introduction of connected and automated vehicles, intelligent transport technologies enable us to improve the flow of traffic, reduce congestion and improve the environment of our communities,” said Mr Christensen.

“Improved traffic flow is important, not only for reducing driver frustration, but also for lifting the effectiveness of our freight industry.

“The freight industry can also benefit from improved data visibility that assists the movement of freight along the whole supply chain, including to overseas destinations.”

Successful CRC applicants can receive funding for up to 10 years. The funding is used to cover the costs of research salaries, student placements, commercialisation and occasionally items of equipment.

Final outcomes of the selection round are expected early next year with funding to commence by mid-2017.

October 2016 | Highway Engineering Australia 25

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

Image courtesy Melbourne Metro Rail Authority

HIGH TECHNOLOGY SIGNALLING FOR METRO TUNNEL

Two consortia have been shortlisted to deliver signalling and communications systems valued at up to $1 billion as part of the Metro Tunnel the largest public transport project in Victoria’s history.

The shortlisted bidders for the Metro Tunnel Rail Systems Alliance (RSA) are: • a consortium comprising CPB Contractors and Bombardier Transportation; and • the MetroConnect consortium comprising John Holland, Siemens and UGL. The successful bidder will install high capacity signaling (HCS) on the new Sunburyto-Pakenham line that will run through the Metro Tunnel. It will be the first roll-out of HCS on an existing network anywhere in Australia.

“The world’s best have been shortlisted to deliver the biggest and most advanced signalling package in Victoria’s history,” Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, said.

“The successful bidder will install next generation signalling, which will allow safer, more frequent and reliable services in-and-out of the city in peak hour.”

26 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

HCS will allow trains to safely run faster and closer together, meaning more trains and less travel time for passengers.

Minister Allan said the advanced technology would mean up to 30 services an hour – with the potential to create the true “turn-up-andgo” two-minute services experienced in some of the biggest cities in the world.

As part of the project, a world-leading Centre of Excellence will be established in Victoria.

“The Centre for Excellence will provide skills, jobs and opportunities to local workers in the growing rail signalling industry,” Minister Allan said.

The announcement of the shortlisted bidders was made shortly after the government announced the single largest order of new trains in Victoria’s history.

The 65 new high-capacity trains will be built in Victoria, by Victorians, and run as a dedicated fleet through the Metro Tunnel utilising the high capacity signalling technology.

Shortlisted bidders for the RSA will be asked to submit a formal proposal by early 2017, with a contract expected to be awarded later that year.

The Metro Tunnel is Australia’s largest and most important public transport project. It will free up space in the City Loop to run more trains, more often, across the network.

“The successful bidder will install next generation signalling, which will allow safer, more frequent and reliable services in-and-out of the city in peak hour.”

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

WORLD-FIRST SOLAR ELECTRIC CARS TO BE BUILT IN BRISBANE A new innovation, design and manufacturing hub in Brisbane will deliver world-first commercial, road registered solar electric cars.

Queensland’s Minister for Energy, Mark Bailey, officially opened Clenergy TeamArrow’s new workshop at suburban Eagle Farm in midSeptember.

At the event, Minister Bailey made public the team’s ambition to have a road-registered, “Cruiser Class” race version of the vehicle on the starting grid of the 2017 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge in Darwin.

“Clenergy TeamArrow is one of the most successful Australian solar racing teams of the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge and I’m excited about this new innovation and design hub here in Brisbane.

“The government is a strong advocate for renewable energy and a cleaner, greener energy future.

“I’m pleased to say that Economic Development Queensland has given the home team a flying start by providing long-term access to the Eagle Farm site and workshop facilities.”

Mr Bailey unveiled the design of the new sleek, hi-tech and aerodynamic vehicle with Clenergy Team Arrow’s Cameron Tuesley.

Mr Tuesley said the team drew inspiration from its extensive experiences crossing Australia’s outback.

“We aim to be the first Australian company to manufacture and sell solar electric vehicles.

“We are proud to be working with energy partners, such as Clenergy and Tritium, to showcase Australian innovation, science and renewable energy technology to the world.

“What better stage to launch than the 2017 Bridgestone World Solar Challenge? The ‘race’ version of our car of the future will also be the first road-registered solar vehicle to compete in the Challenge.”

Bridgestone World Solar Challenge Director, Nathan Cayzer, said event organisers, South Australian Tourism Commission, expected 2017 to be one of the largest, most innovative fields yet, with record-breaking entry numbers already confirmed.

“The Bridgestone World Solar Challenge journey doesn’t end at the finish line – it

continues to innovate. By introducing the Cruiser Class for the first time in 2013, we asked competitors to further push themselves to deliver technology that can be applied to real cars, in real conditions – a goal we are closer to achieving, ”Mr Cayzer said.

Celebrating 30 years in 2017, the Bridgestone World Solar Challenge began in 1987. It is a 3,000 kilometre endurance adventure that occurs once every two years.

It has become the world’s foremost innovation challenge with teams from around the world vying to become the first to deliver sustainable solar powered electric vehicles.

Next year will mark the event’s 14th crossing of Australia.

In 2015, 47 entries from 25 countries were received with 42 teams taking to the start line in Darwin. The event had 1,500 participants and a global audience around 25 million. It generated more than 400 industry partnerships across energy, automotive, engineering, financial, material sciences and ICT sectors.

For team details go to: www.teamarrow.com.au

USING SMART TECHNOLOGY TO OVERCOME CONGESTION A round of grants by the Victorian Government will enable it to work with transport technology and industry partners to launch what Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan, describes as “congestion-busting trials”.

The Intelligent Transport System Transport Technology Grant Program means industry leaders can work with transport bodies to improve traffic management and flow on the state’s road network.

Three projects aim to reduce congestion, improve integration between different forms of transport and provide information to people so they can make alternative transport choices.

That ability will put road users more in charge of their journey.

Intelematics will receive $765,000 over 18 months to use technology to allow vehicles to pass through consecutive waves of green lights.

Road users will be able to make smarter decisions through messages about the state of the traffic ahead via GPS and a smart phone app.

Yarra Trams, in partnership with the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB), will receive $669,000 over 18 months to trial a signalling system to give trams priority at intersections with traffic lights.

28 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

ARRB will partner with Connect East and LaTrobe University, receiving $578,000 over 18 months, on a project to enable roadside infrastructure such as traffic lights and electronic speed signs to communicate with vehicles.

The trials will prepare Victoria for a future with cars containing automated features such as selfparking and assisted steering and acceleration.

“This is about taking a smart approach to managing traffic – looking at new practical ways to

make our road network safer and more efficient,” said Minister Donnellan.

“This funding allows leaders in the industry to develop technologies which ensure more Victorians arrive home safely to their families.”

Funding for the program comes from the $13.3 million Smarter Journeys package announced in the 2015-16 Victorian Budget – the package supports initiatives to reduce congestion across Victoria’s road network.

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

CELEBRATING ITS SUCCESS –

THE 2016 ITS AUSTRALIA NATIONAL AWARDS SHORTLIST Recognising and celebrating the contribution of recent innovations in Intelligent Transport Systems to Australian society, the 2016 ITS Australia National Awards shortlisted entries have been announced.

Now in their 7th year, the ITS Australia National Awards are a celebration of innovation and excellence by the Intelligent Transport System sector.

The awards presentation, on 14 October, has added significance, being incorporated into the 23rd ITS World Congress in Melbourne, 10-14 October.

The presentation is being held in conjunction with the World Congress Board of Directors Closing Dinner.

The awards will be presented by the Victoria’s Treasurer, Tim Pallas, at the iconic home of sport, the MCG. ITS Australia congratulates the 2016 National Awards finalists:

INDUSTRY AWARD

• HERE – Project Description: The HERE Open Location Platform.

• MobileDOCK - Project Description: MobileDOCK Vehicle Management System.

• Transurban - Project Description: Melbourne Road Usage Study.

GOVERNMENT AWARD

• Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (SA) - Project Description: Addinsight Smartphone App and Incident Detection System.

• Roads and Maritime Services, NSW – Project Description: Roads and Maritime Services ITS Maintenance Contracts to DownerMouchel and Lendlease Tyco Joint Venture.

• Roads and Maritime Services, NSW – Project Description: SCATS Spatial Data and Integration (SSDI) Project.

AUTOMATED VEHICLE AWARD (NEW TO 2016, SPONSORED BY ADVI)

• Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (SA) - Project Description: First Southern Hemisphere Driverless Vehicle demonstration and legislation for on-road trials.

• GoGet Carshare - Project Description: Shared Accessible Vehicle.

• Royal Automobile Club of Western Australia (RAC WA) – Project Description: RAC Intellibus: Automated Vehicle Trial.

RESEARCH AWARD

• Department of Transport and Main Roads (QLD) - Project Description: Cost and Causes

of Congestion.

• University of Adelaide - Project Description: Centre for Automotive Safety Research Centre for Automotive Safety Research.

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL AWARD (FOR PROFESSIONALS UNDER THE AGE OF 30)

• Benjamin Hanly, SICE Project Engineer.

• Candice Robinson, AD Engineering Assistant Engineering Manager.

“Well done to all the entries and congratulations to the shortlisted finalists. The standard of entries was exceptional and the judging panel was presented with high quality submissions to consider,” Chair of the ITS Awards Committee, Gino Dompietro said.

“This is a significant time for the Australian ITS industry. ITS Australia membership numbers have increased, a number of ITS initiatives have received support from Federal and State governments, and more than 7,000 international ITS leaders have gathered in Melbourne for the World Congress.

“The ITS Australia National Awards will be an opportunity to showcase the very best in our industry and promote the innovations which make journeys safer, more efficient and more enjoyable,” Mr Dompietro said.

The ITS Australia National Awards are hosted annually by ITS Australia.

ITS WORLD CONGRESS UNIVERSITY STUDENT ESSAY WINNERS Four Australian university students have booked their place at the 23rd World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, in Melbourne, after winning a national competition.

University students were challenged to write essays on vehicle technology and smart cities to win a complimentary pass to the Congress at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre.

The winners have the opportunity to meet with some of the 7,000-plus global ITS leaders attending the event.

Congratulations go to: • Emmanuel Ajadi – Curtin University, Western Australia; • Harry Carpenter – University of Adelaide, South Australia; • Bruno Rota – RMIT University, Victoria; and • Chuka Oham – University of New South Wales.

“Well done to all the students who participated and congratulations to the winners,” ITS Australia CEO, Susan Harris, said.

“The standard of entries was high and we are delighted so many students found time to participate.

“We hope all the entrants take the opportunity to come to the World Congress to learn more about the ITS industry and to grow their networks, and further their careers.

“We are excited by the depth of knowledge and passion these students have for the ITS industry and, judging by these submissions, the industry can rest assured the next crop of ITS professionals will take the industry forward,” Ms Harris said.

In addition to the week-long complimentary pass, winners also receive financial assistance for their travel and accommodation.

They have the opportunity to attend some 900 plenary, executive, special interest and technical discussions, see the latest innovations in vehicle safety, transport and infrastructure technology in the Exhibition Centre, and attend networking sessions.

They will receive their Certificate of Achievement at a special Future Innovators Reception on 11 October, at the ITS Australia Stand in the Exhibition Centre.

The Student Essay competition was a national competition open to all students participating at an Australian University. It is part of an extensive student program of challenges and projects, on display throughout the week at the World Congress.

Visitors will be able to view the student programs on the Open for Public Days, 13 October and 14 October.

October 2016 | Highway Engineering Australia 29

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

TRIAL FOR

‘MINIMUM PASSING DISTANCE’ TECHNOLOGY Technology to enforce the minimum passing distance between cyclists and motorists will be trialled by the Queensland Government.

Main Roads and Road Safety Minister, Mark Bailey, said the government was putting safety first by seeking technology to help better understand compliance with the road rules.

“We want to identify available devices that can measure the passing distance between cyclists and motorists to help keep people safe while sharing the road,” Mr Bailey said.

Tenders relating to implementation of the technology were due to close on 10 October.

Mr Bailey said the passing distance rule was implemented following a successful two-year trial.

The trial required motorists to provide a onemetre distance when passing at 60 kilometresan-hour (km/h) or less and a-metre-and-a-half distance at speeds over 60km/h.

“The one-metre rule was introduced to make motorists more aware of bicycle riders and encourage motorists to leave enough space between their vehicle and the bicycle.

“Centre for Accident Research and Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q) delivered an independent report evaluating the rule and found that 43 per cent of drivers agreed they were more aware of bicycle riders than they were 12-months prior.

“The report also recommended additional measures to assist with implementation.

“We are working with Queensland Police to investigate trial technology to help with accuracy in assessing passing distances.”

Mr Bailey said since the Queensland trial and adoption of the rule, the ACT, New South Wales and South Australia had announced similar road rules, and Victoria was considering them.

“The passing distance is measured from the right-most part of the bicycle or the cyclist and the left-most part of the vehicle, or something sticking out from the vehicle, such as a side mirror.

“To help educate road users about the changes, our Stay Wider of the Rider campaign was run again earlier this year, including the ability for motorists to cross centre lines when overtaking cyclists,” said Minister Bailey.

DEMAND DRIVES QUEENSLAND’S PERSONALISED TRANSPORT FUTURE Transport options within Logan in Brisbane’s south will be expanded as part of new trials to deliver demand-driven, shared-use passenger transport services across Queensland.

The Queensland Government is seeking expressions of interest from companies to deliver Demand Responsive Transport solutions for trials next year.

"Mass transit is not suitable at every location and we need to find ways to offer services that can be responsive to community needs, and grow or adapt with development or population growth," said Minister for Transport, Stirling Hinchliffe.

"Demand Responsive Transport is the next evolution of the booked transport market and involves using trip booking technology, flexible routes and shared rides to meet customer needs.

30 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

"These trials are a great initiative because they will help deliver more flexible on-demand transport services that are tailored to individual travellers’ needs.

"The government is interested in hearing from any company that can provide partial or full service offers, particularly technology opportunities that can play a role in the mobility enabled Queensland,” Minister Hinchliffe said.

"After we have seen what the market can offer for Demand Responsive Transport, the department will start the process to design service trials, beginning with an innovative process to match community need in Logan with market offerings.

"This model of transport currently exists in locations across the state, including the maxi-

taxi-based FlexiLink service in Ipswich, and the zonal mini-bus Kan-go services in Hervey Bay and Toowoomba, but it will be a new concept to many Queenslanders."

Mr Hinchliffe said Demand Responsive Transport was expanding worldwide as people embraced technology-driven transport options.

"Demand Responsive Transport will be a key plank of Queensland’s public transport offering and provide a vital community service into the future.

"These trials will focus on new operating models and technologies associated with delivering flexible mobility services that complement rather than compete with existing mass public transport."

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

ADELAIDE METRO PASSENGERS

TO BENEFIT FROM NEW APP A state-of-the-art public transport smartphone app is being developed to give Adelaide Metro passengers better information for their travels.

The Metro Mate app aims to improve the passenger experience by providing real-time and personalised information, and making it easier for passengers to provide feedback.

South Australian company, The Distillery, is working with the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure to develop the app.

The SA Government sought feedback from the public on the features it considered most important through an online survey which

concluded in mid-September.

The survey asked passengers to rate the importance of potential app features such as: • real-time arrivals based on current location and planned destination; • real-time maps showing locations of buses, trains and trams; • being able to recharge Metrocards; • being able to monitor Metrocard use; • being able to ‘rate a ride’; and • the benefits of the trip such as carbon savings or dollar savings compared to driving.

The features of the Metro Mate app will be

finalised after survey feedback is considered and the app is expected to be launched early next year.

The initiative is being undertaken as part of the SA Government’s Digital First strategy and the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure’s Digital Transformation project.

It follows on the success of DPTI’s AddInsight app, which provides hands-free alerts of approaching traffic delays, giving motorists an opportunity to use an alternative route.

State Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Stephen Mullighan, said the Metro Mate app was one of a number of initiatives the government was investigating to make travel on public transport networks easier and more convenient for all passengers.

“Already the Adelaide Metro website provides plenty of information such as real-time arrivals and network notifications, but we want to improve that service by giving our passengers more detailed and more personalised information,” said Mr Mullighan.

“Providing more detailed information will not only improve the passenger experience for everyone, it will also help to encourage more people to take public transport.

“Together with the other initiatives we are exploring, such as smartphone payments, the government is making it easier and more convenient for South Australians to leave the car at home and jump on board a bus, train or tram.”

TYPE-APPROVAL FOR TELEMATICS IN-VEHICLE UNIT

Telematics provider, BIGmate, has obtained typeapproval for one of its Telematics IVU models from Transport Certification Australia.

TCA Chief Executive Officer, Chris Koniditsiotis, said by putting forward its Telematics IVU for independent assessment and type-approval by TCA, BIGmate could now clearly distinguish its Telematics IVU offering from others in the market.

“BIGmate is responding to a shift in the expectations of purchasers, who are not only better informed about the potential pitfalls of making ill-informed decisions about telematics, but are seeking assurances that the decisions they make will support their needs,” said Mr Koniditsiotis.

“Significantly, the type-approval obtained

by BIGmate is the first granted which involves a telematics provider not already certified by TCA. “This demonstrates how the National Telematics Framework continues to attract requests for type-approval and certification

from TCA, and allows end-users to benefit from a greater level of choice for telematics products and services that have been independently verified by TCA.” TCA type-approves Telematics IVUs on the basis of ‘type’, against the performance-based requirements contained in the Telematics IVU Functional and Technical Specification.

“Purchasers rely on TCA type-approval to ensure conformance with requirements sought by industry sectors, end-users and government are obtained,” Mr Koniditsiotis said.

This means that type-approved Telemaitcs IVUs, as supplied to purchasers and end-users, meet the following requirements ‘out-of-thebox’: • robustness; • accuracy; • reliability; • tamper evidence; • data storage; and • security.

BIGmate Managing Director, Mark Shield, said that obtaining TCA type-approval was an important stepping stone.

“It not only signals our plan to seek typeapproval of Telematics IVUs, but to obtain subsequent endorsement from TCA to support regulatory applications such as the Intelligent Access Program (IAP) – and On-Board Mass (OBM) systems linked to the IAP – as well as the introduction of the Electronic Work Diary (EWD).

“Besides the freight and logistics sector, the benefits of our type-approved Telematics IVU will be made available across a range of industry sectors which BIGmate supports, including mining, insurance and marine, as well as to fleet managers,” Mr Shield said.

A list of all Telematics IVUs type-approved by TCA is available on its website.

“TCA is always available to answer any questions stakeholders may have about typeapproved Telematics IVUs, and the benefits of type-approval,” said Mr Koniditsiotis.

October 2016 | Highway Engineering Australia 31

ITS SPECIAL FEATURE

THE RISING COST OF CONGESTION

IN TIME AND MONEY Lost time, valued at more than $3 billion, is being caused each year by traffic congestion in Australia's busiest cities, according to research conducted by TomTom. The TomTom Traffic Index Report found traffic in Australia's 10 busiest cities was increasing overall travel times, on average, by 25 per cent.

This is extending the time commercial drivers spend on the road by an average of 25 minutes per day across Australia's major metropolitan areas, costing the businesses involved in excess of $7.15 per day or $3.37 billion per year, as a result of wasted labour costs.

The TomTom Traffic Index, produced by TomTom Telematics, measures congestion on the road networks of 295 cities around the world and provides drivers with detailed information on the impact congestion has on their city's travel times.

TomTom Telematics is one of the world's leading telematics solution providers and it services drivers in more than 60 countries.

Christopher Chisman-Duffy, Sales Manager at TomTom Telematics ANZ, said traffic congestion was a fact of life for every driver.

THIS BUS

OR THE NEXT ONE? New Opal data allows bus commuters in New South Wales to see how full their next bus is before it arrives at their stop.

The data gives mobile devices real-time information, such as whether a bus is empty, has seating or is crowded.

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance, said with the information, customers could make the choice to jump on a bus or wait for the next service.

“We know there are busy bus routes across the metro area, so letting customers know how busy their service is will enable them to make commuting choices earlier,” Mr Constance said.

Travel app NextThere is the first to go live with the new feature, showing icons on services to indicate the volume of people travelling on the service.

Users of the apps TripView, Metrarove, Arrivo and TripGo can expect to access the increase in data in future updates.

32 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

“It’s clear that the problem is not going away.

"In fact, traffic congestion in Australia has increased by an average of four per cent over the last eight years, with Sydney being the most congested city in Australia and the 30th most congested city globally.

“There is a clear need to overcome the congestion challenge to recapture those lost hours."

The report found morning peak hours (8-9 o’clock) to be the worst time to travel, increasing overall travel times by an average of 42 per cent.

This is followed by evening peak hours (5-6 o’clock) when travel times increase by 41 per cent.

"Organisations that rely on a mobile workforce know that success depends on optimising the time spent doing billable work,” said Mr Chisman-Duffy.

“Congestion means there is a greater chance the driver will become stuck, wasting billable time, burning fuel, missing targets and potentially disappointing customers.

"Telematics solutions can help businesses to overcome these issues, as they help keep your mobile teams out of traffic jams.

“Not only can they help to ensure drivers receive the best route, based on anticipated congestion spots and collected data from other devices, they can also enable the back office to better plan around congestion.

“By providing a platform that monitors potential traffic problems, fleet managers and planners can operate a smart scheduling and dispatch service, using the best placed driver for each job, every time." Mr Chisman-Duffy said.

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COMPANY PROFILE

DELIVERING THE DATA TO DRIVE ITS While the array of ITS and C-ITS related products, services and systems being developed and implemented around the globe are as varied as they are numerous, they all have one thing in common - they rely on accurate data to operate correctly.

Not surprisingly, in our ever-increasingly connected world, data is, quite literally, everywhere. It’s the lifeblood that flows through our cities, our transportation systems, our communications networks, our homes and our devices to provide us with information and real-time responses to everyday challenges.

But it is worthless without context, and limited in value without scale.

Global leader in maps and traffic, HERE, believe that location provides powerful meaning and unlocks unparalleled possibilities for this data - but it is only by pooling resources that businesses, industries and governments can create the infrastructure needed to support the transportation systems and cities of the future.

HERE has a long history of collecting and creating the world’s most precise map data.

Today, the company is creating a powerful Open Location Platform (OLP) that works across operating systems, OEM platforms and industries to ingest and analyse real-time data. Brent Stafford, Director, Enterprise Sales Asia-Pacific with HERE, exlained:

34 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

"We believe the Open Location Platform has huge potential to harness mobility and other kinds of data to deliver new real-time services that support not only autonomous vehicles, but smart cities and intelligent transportation systems."

"Great things happen when we work together to make the most of the data we generate. By collaborating, we together build scale, which results in services that truly make a difference to people. Our OLP enables this," he added.

Interestingly, while we're all constantly

surrounded by a sea of data, no-one has yet aggregated real-time data from competing vehicle brands - until now that is! HERE's work with SENSORIS is the first solution of its kind at scale. Its Digital Transport Infrastructure (DTI) initiatives are at the forefront of collaboration with governmental agencies and are playing a critical role in moving us closer to a world of autonomous vehicles and true connected mobility spanning all forms of transport.

"There are benefits when every car is eyes on the road, reporting back to others what it sees, not only for the automotive industry, but

COMPANY PROFILE

for governments and municipalities too," Brent Stafford said. "In fact, this data is not only critical for use with things such as automated vehicles, it really does provide the lifeblood for any connected / Smart City initiative."

"Needless to say, we're proud to be able showcase our next generation of responsive location services, enabled by our OLP ecosystem, at the ITS World Congress in Melbourne," he added.

State-of-the-Art Technology on Show The ITS World Congress in Melbourne, HERE will be demonstrating products that are the core of the next generation of mobility, transportation and infrastructure services and that form the heart of smart cities.

HERE will demo the HD Live Map which lets automated vehicles precisely locate themselves on the road. The system gives them a dynamic view of the path ahead and mimics human driving conditions.

HERE's leading Real-Time Traffic service will be demonstrated showing how it ingests, processes and analyses commercial vehicle probe data combined with rich sensor data to accurately inform drivers of traffic build up areas, live incident information, road closures (including detection and validation), hard-breaking events and more.

Traffic Analytics uses over a trillion GPS data points to identify patterns and road network performance for robust analysis to help enterprise and government customers make informed decisions on future traffic flow management.

HERE will also showcase Reality Lens, a system capable of combining high-quality, panoramic street-level views and high-precision LiDAR data to help urban planners map, measure and model the city environment without having to send workers into the field to gather data. This is now live in APAC and being applied to great use with the Philippines Roads Board. ITS delegates will be able to view this in addition to other cities around the world including Melbourne.

Its DTI initiative, first announced at ITS Bordeaux last year, continues to leverage HERE's location technology to help governments achieve their Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) goals . HERE will be sharing news of its latest C-ITS pilots with governmental transportations agencies in Europe and the US. HERE will also use the ITS World Congress as a platform to show its next-generation automotive products. A first-of-its-kind program, it is designed to pool vehicular sensor data from various OEMs that promises to transform the face of digital road services forever. This is a pioneering concept in collaborative datasharing, with far-reaching consequences for the automotive industry and beyond.

There will also be an area showing the revamped HERE WeGo app. Repositioned as a multi-modal urban transportation companion, the HERE WeGo app includes car, public transit, cycling and pedestrian options, plus new options ride sharing and taxi information.

Importantly, HERE's location cloud platform offers a way to integrate and make sense of diverse mobility data at scale and

with high quality. By sharing and contributing data the motoring industry can deliver truly compelling services to its customers.

HERE has also developed an ITS mobile app specifically for the ITS World Congress.

The app allows delegates to plan the fastest route from their hotel to an exact plenary room or exhibitor booth and travel to that destination with real-time step-by-step navigation.

It is the first app to combine multimodal journey planning with both outdoor, indoor and specific event maps which are seamlessly integrated.

ABOUT HERE A global leader in maps and traffic, HERE is owned by a consortia of BMW, Daimler and Audi.

Working with a focus on data and software rather than hardware solutions, HERE builds highdefinition (HD) maps and combines them with cloud technology to deliver bespoke solutions for businesses, consumers and a number of global and local enterprise partners.

HERE has created maps for 196 countries with more than half navigation 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 centres across the globe.

October 2016 | Highway Engineering Australia 35

The Product: • The SMART CUSHION SCI100 is a standalone speed dependent crash attenuator that DOES NOT need to be attached to a longitudinal barrier • The SMART CUSHION SCI100 is tested to both NCHRP350 TL3 and MASH TL3 • The SMART CUSHION SCI100 is an all steel unit with heavy duty galvanised frame designed for 20 years service life • The SMART CUSHION SCI100 can be used both as a temporary (work zone) and as a permanent crash cushion • Clean and efficient energy absorption • Rapid redeployment

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PROJECT FEATURE

EastLink is a 39 kilometre tollway in Melbourne's east that connects the Eastern, Monash, Frankston and Peninsula Link freeways.

It is the safest freeway in Melbourne, and bypasses 45 sets of traffic lights with a speed limit of 100 kilometres an hour (km/h) - 80km/h in the tunnels section. EastLink is privately owned and operated.

EastLink's construction began in March 2005 and included the boring of twin 1.6 kilometre tunnels under the environmentally sensitive Mullum Mullum reserve, which contains 35 sites of biological significance.

The road opened on 29 June 2008 and tolling commenced on 27 July 2008.

TRIPS Average daily traffic on EastLink now exceeds 240,000 vehicles, amounting to more than 87 million trips a year. That’s a 77 per cent increase in traffic compared to when EastLink tolling first started eight years ago, and traffic volumes are continuing to grow at a faster rate than surrounding arterial roads.

38 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

SAFETY EastLink used the latest safety-in-design principles which introduced extensive safety infrastructure and processes to ensure high levels of safety for road users and workers.

It has a manned 24/7 Traffic Control Room with multiple sensor and camera feeds for monitoring operations along its entire length.

Incident Response vehicles are on constant patrol and are dispatched to attend incidents to make accident scenes safe and initiate rapid clean-up to prevent secondary incidents from occurring.

The twin tunnels are equipped with video surveillance, automatic incident detection, fire detection and deluge systems, overheight vehicle detectors, automatic barriers, lane control, and variable speed limits; making them amongst the safest in Australia.

Along the whole motorway, variable message signs display safety messages and inform drivers of incidents ahead or changed driving conditions.

EastLink’s Incident Response crews are required to respond to all incidents within 10 minutes of the incident being detected. In

fact, an EastLink incident response team will typically arrive on site within five minutes on average.

EastLink is Melbourne’s safest freeway due to its design and operations. EastLink has a casualty crash rate of just 2.6 motor vehicle accidents resulting in injury per 100 million vehicle kilometres travelled, which is lower than Melbourne’s other urban freeways.

With 240,000 vehicles using the road each day, minor incidents do occur. Each year, EastLink’s Incident Management team responds to nearly 5,000 incidents including occurrences of abandoned vehicles (almost 300), debris (more than 1,700 reports), pedestrians and cyclists using the road (100), flat tyres (almost 700), and vehicles out of fuel (around 450). Typically there are around 240 breakdowns per month on EastLink, rising to 300 during the summer months.

PROJECT FEATURE

TOLLING AND ACCOUNTS EastLink has the cheapest tolls in Australia, with car tolls ranging from just 33 cents for a single section to a maximum $6.04. EastLink is the only tollway in Australia to offer a weekend discount, which reduces car tolls by 20 per cent.

It has 13 toll points with two gantries at each location housing tag and video sensors.

Control units synchronise the gantry sensors and process vehicle data. Toll points collect the data required to calculate a toll charge, while the actual trip construction, charge calculation and debiting of customers’ accounts is performed by a central tolling system.

Vehicles passing a toll point are classified according to their vehicle class, i.e. motorcycle, car, light or heavy commercial vehicle. When a vehicle tag is detected, a series of checks is performed. Images of a vehicle’s front and rear licence plates are captured for verification.

Each time a vehicle passes a toll point, a transaction record is created, combining vehicle, tag and image details. On average, more than a-million transaction records are created each day – more than any other tollway in Australia.

In total, EastLink customers have approximately 440,000 accounts, with 800 new accounts opened each week. The majority of these accounts are opened online, although customers can also call EastLink’s Melbourne-based call centre to open an account. In the last three years, the proportion of EastLink customers with accounts using automatic payment has increased by 38 per cent.

Most customer vehicles registered on EastLink accounts use a tag, with approximately 790,000 tags currently on issue. For customers wanting to use EastLink without opening an account, trip passes are available online and at 3,000 retailers across the country. More than 270,000 trip pass sales were recorded in the last year. With the introduction of a smartphone website, online sales have increased from 43-to-76 per cent of all trip pass purchases.

Customers who do not have an account or do not purchase a trip pass have their vehicles identified through image processing of number plates, cross-referenced with Victorian and interstate vehicle registration databases so that toll invoices can be sent to vehicle owners.

EastLink is just one toll road amongst the Australian network of toll roads whose operators collaborate to allow tag and account interoperability. It does not matter which road a customer travels on, the toll

price will be charged to their home account automatically. Australia is one of the few countries in the world to have achieved this level of nationwide tolling integration.

SUSTAINABILITY EastLink adopts sustainable practices in all that it does, implementing wholeof-life requirements for maintaining and enhancing the quality of assets. It aims to protect and enhance the environments in which it operates and manages a landscape and wetland area that is greater than the renowned 480 hectares of parks and gardens within the City of Melbourne.

EastLink established around 60 constructed wetlands, water retention basins and bioretention strips along its length, representing a degree of wetland provision unparalleled for a roadway project of this magnitude in Australia. The wetlands function as new aquatic habitats within the road corridor, connecting to existing waterways, drainages and creek channels, and creating a safe ecosystem for frogs, water birds, insects and small mammals.

EastLink is unique in Australia in that it has been designed for the capture and treatment of all road surface water run-off along its 39 kilometres and the wetlands have been designed to process this water before it is safely released into the waterways nearby.

A key responsibility for the business is the maintenance and improvement of the EastLink landscape and urban design.

Initially, more than $50 million was invested in a modern and sustainable design for landscaping with approximately 3.6 million native trees and shrubs planted. Each year, nearly 40,000 new and replacement plants and 500 cubic metres of mulch are used in landscape maintenance projects. EastLink has its own plant nursery that grows a variety of native species for this purpose.

In addition to landscaping, EastLink invested $26 million to build the 35km EastLink Trail for cyclists, runners and pedestrians. Along its length, the EastLink

Trail connects with many other trails, open spaces, parks and reserves, and a number of creatively designed pedestrian bridges make it easy and safe to cross from one side of EastLink to the other.

EastLink also invested $5 million to create a sculpture park along its length. Four major artworks by prominent Australian artists are strategically located on the roadside with eight smaller artworks along the EastLink Trail.

AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES EastLink will participate in the 23rd World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems being held in Melbourne during October 2016.

In addition to being a sponsor of the event, EastLink will host: • technical tours, including a drive on EastLink, technical presentations at the EastLink Operations Centre, and a tour of the Traffic Control Room and maintenance facilities; • a workshop examining the certification of roads for use by all levels of autonomous vehicles; and • a special interest session in regard to the evolving of smart roads.

EastLink is a keen supporter of new technology and the World Congress will be an outstanding opportunity for transport stakeholders to gather and explore the opportunities available to deliver advanced solutions for evolving travel demands. The theme of the World Congress is Enhancing Liveable Cities and Communities, and so it is fitting that it is being hosted in the world’s most liveable city.

EastLink is also a partner of ARRB’s Australian Driverless Vehicle Initiative, which aims to address the necessary elements needed for the effective introduction of autonomous vehicles into Australia.

Currently this includes the development of appropriate legislation, regulation and policy at a national level. Already, a driverless vehicle trial has been held in Adelaide with more demonstrations planned during the World Congress.

October 2016 | Highway Engineering Australia 39

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Introducing Ezy-Guard 4

INGAL EZY-GUARD 4 GUARDRAIL SYSTEM ASBAP APPROVAL The team at Ingal Civil Products is proud to announce the approval of the Ezy-Guard 4 guardrail system by the Australian Safety Barrier Approval Panel (ASBAP).

It is the first W-Beam guardrail system approved to NCHRP-350 Test Level 4 and MASH TL3. This is the containment and redirection of an 8,000 kilogram (kg) truck impacting 80 kilometres-an-hour (km/h) at 15° and a 2,270kg utility impacting at 100km/h.

Product designers and engineers are constantly looking at ways to improve safety systems and Ezy-Guard 4 represents a major increase in containment for a W-Beam barrier. Every new, innovative guardrail system undergoes a strenuous process of development and crash-testing to ensure it safely prevents an errant vehicle from the potentially fatal consequences of running off the road.

Ezy-Guard offers improved impact energy absorption mechanisms through the innovative design of the Z profile post. This means a system with fewer components than the more traditional guardrail barriers, resulting in less steel and less transportation costs. The system also offers rapid installation when compared to other barrier systems with a quickly driven 875 millimetres (mm) of post in ground without concrete being required.

With a system width of just 200mm, Ezy-Guard 4 is significantly narrower than traditional guardrail barriers that incorporate the use of blocking pieces. It conserves valuable formation width and allows a greater recovery zone to be provided for errant vehicles.

As with the earlier versions of the Ezy-Guard range, motorcyclist protection has been factored into the design with the top of the post shielded by the rail and the rounded corners of the Z-Post; this mitigates a serious snag point for vulnerable road users such as motorcyclists.

For more information on the Ezy-Guard family of products, contact your local Ingal Civil office.

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Push for new national speed limit in local streets

Introducing a nationwide speed limit of 40 kilometres an hour (km/h) in local street will save lives and create more liveable communities, according to researchers from Queensland University of Technology.

The case for an Australia-wide local street speed is being led by Marina Alexander and Dr Mark King from QUT’s Centre for Accident Research & Road Safety – Queensland (CARRS-Q).

It was presented at the 2016 Australasian Road Safety Conference held in Canberra from September 6-8.

Ms Alexander said because there was a default speed limit of 50km/h in built-up areas, unless otherwise signed, this had become the default speed limit for local streets as well as for other roads in builtup areas, such as collector roads and some arterials “We say 50km/h is too high for local streets, which is why we are seeing 40km/h zones around schools and shopping areas introduced all over the country as local governments respond to public demand for lower speeds,” Ms Alexander said.

“Many countries in Europe have introduced 30km/h for local streets and these countries lead the world in road safety outcomes.”

42 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

Ms Alexander said local streets were typically characterised by their mix of traffic, which included vulnerable or unprotected road users such as pedestrians, cyclists and people on motorised mobility scooters.

“The latest Queensland road crash statistics show a disturbing trend of increased fatalities and serious injuries for pedestrians and cyclists,” Ms Alexander said.

“If a person in a motor vehicle is involved in a road crash at 50km/h they have a 10 per cent or less chance of being killed. Those are pretty good odds.

“However, if an unprotected person, such as a cyclist or pedestrian is involved, their chances of being killed rise to between 50 and 80 per cent. Those odds are very bad.

“Safer vehicles and safer streets are key elements to increasing road safety for motorists, but the effect is marginal for vulnerable people who do not necessarily benefit from technical improvements in vehicles or road infrastructure.”

Ms Alexander said while a difference of 10km/h had the potential to save lives, it did not necessarily mean slower trips.

“Research has demonstrated in most urban trips under 20 minutes, higher speeds make little difference to travel time and, in some cases, lower speeds could reduce travel time due to improvements in traffic flow.

“From a safety perspective, there are huge gains we can make.

“It’s physics. Higher impact speeds lead to the exertion of greater force, and a higher magnitude of injury for an unprotected person.

“Slower speeds produce less kinetic energy resulting in fewer serious injuries.

“In addition, slower speeds allow for longer reaction times, greater braking distance and a decrease in the likelihood of crashing.”

Ms Alexander said speed limit changes in the late 1990s in Queensland, NSW and Victoria from 60km/h to 50km/h saw a reduction in road deaths of 15 per cent.

“It’s time to continue this downward trend.

“More people are choosing to walk, cycle or use alternative forms of transport instead of driving. This positive change brings with it new demands on the road network.

“We argue that lowering the speed limit is fundamental to achieving safer local streets for all people.”

The 2016 Australasian Road Safety Conference drew together experts from across the globe to share the latest in research, programs and developments with the aim of reducing injuries and deaths on the roads.

Ann Williamson recognised with Australasian Road Safety Award

From left: Mr Lauhlan McIntosh AM, Professor Ann Williamson FACRS, and Minister Darren Chester.

Leading road safety advocate – Ann Williamson, Director, Transport and Road Safety (TARS) Research Centre at the University of New South Wales – has been awarded the prestigious 2016 Australian College of Road Safety Fellowship.

Professor Williamson received the Fellowship on 7 September at the ACRS Award Ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra.

The ceremony took place in front of 550 of Australasia’s foremost road safety professionals and advocates, and is deserved recognition of Professor Williamson’s profound commitment to the reduction of road trauma.

The award was presented by Darren Chester, Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, and ACRS President, Mr Lauchlan McIntosh, during the 2016 Australasian Road Safety Conference (ARSC2016).

In detailing the award, Mr McIntosh, said: “Professor Williamson continues to be an outstanding advocate for road safety both in our region and internationally.

"Professor Williamson has contributed enormously to excellence in road safety research and to providing a strong evidence base for effective road safety interventions.

“Her dedication to developing and sharing road safety knowledge has been shown through her tireless efforts to work collaboratively in the field with various injury prevention and accident research centres, and researchers who work in the field of road safety.”

Professor Williamson was the founding Director of the Injury Risk Management Research Centre and the Transport and Road Safety Research Centre, and is Australia’s

ROAD SAFETY

leading expert on driver fatigue and heavy vehicle safety.

The Professor’s personal commitment has seen her contribute her own time to various road safety and injury prevention committees and to State and Federal Parliamentary road safety inquiries.

She regularly engages with media on a range of road safety topics as an independent expert voice to help reduce road trauma.

Professor Williamson has also contributed greatly to the development of the field through teaching, including PhD supervision.

“It is an honour to be awarded the ACRS Fellowship and I look forward to continuing to support the great work of the College as we aim to halve road deaths and injuries by 2020,” Professor Williamson said.

With the 2016 award, Professor Williamson joins an elite group of eminent road safety professionals who have all been bestowed the honour of an ACRS Fellowship.

The College first instituted the award of Fellow in 1991 to enable colleagues to nominate a person recognised by their peers as outstanding in terms of their contributions to road safety.

Updated driver medical standards

Australians, their doctors and other health professionals now have better guidance on whether they are safe to drive.

The improved guidance is in the form of updated medical guidelines contained the latest edition of Assessing Fitness to Drive for commercial and private vehicle drivers.

Assessing Fitness to Drive is a joint publication of the National Transport Commission (NTC) and Austroads, and includes standards for private and commercial

drivers of heavy vehicles, light vehicles and motor bikes.

Chief Executive of the NTC, Paul Retter said the new edition would give health professionals the best available information to help them discuss driving with their patients and assess their patients’ ability to drive safely.

“We have worked closely with health professionals, driver licensing authorities and consumer health groups to update the guidelines.

“This has resulted in some changes to the licensing criteria to account for developments in medical understanding and practice,” Mr Retter said.

“The updates also include clearer guidance for health professionals to support consistent assessment and decision making.

“This includes new features such as flow charts to guide assessment of conditions such as epilepsy and dementia, a questionnaire to assist assessment of drivers with diabetes and more detailed information about determining and supporting functional driver capacity.”

Nick Koukoulas, Chief Executive of Austroads, said doctors and other health

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professionals use Assessing Fitness to Drive to advise driver licensing authorities about how their patients’ health and medical conditions might affect their ability to drive.

The driver licensing authority considers this advice in its decision about an individual’s licence status.

“Importantly, the new edition also includes links to information resources to assist health professionals in having conversations with their patients about driving,” said Mr Koukoulas.

“This includes a number of excellent resources developed by Alzheimer’s Australia.

“The new edition came into effect on 1 October 2016, from which date all assessments conducted for the purpose of driver licensing should be undertaken according to the updated edition."

Austroads is responsible for publication and distribution of Assessing Fitness to Drive, and hosts the electronic version on its website.

A summary of the changes in the new edition and other support materials are also available from the website.

Drivers or health professionals with any enquiries about how the new standards may affect them should contact the relevant driver licensing authority in their state or territory.

Mr Petroccitto said the group would directly assist the NHVR deliver the strategies outlined in the five-year Setting the Agenda – Strategy for a Safer, Productive and more Compliant Heavy Vehicle Industry. The group would consist of technical experts from across the heavy vehicle industry.

“We will be working with industry to develop partnerships that will achieve a number of joint safety initiatives,” he said.

“This includes an increase in industry capability through the delivery of consistent and quality safety management systems, performance standards and effective risk management processes.

“The strategies also seek to engage with manufacturers to support and encourage voluntary uptake of safety technology before a potential regulatory response.

“We’ll be forming the Technical Working Group soon with significant input from associations like Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia, Australian Trucking Association and other subject matter experts.”

A high level technical forum is being established by the National Heavy Vehicle Regulator to deliver safety outcomes for Australia’s heavy vehicle industry.

NHVR Chief Executive Officer, Sal Petroccitto, detailed the forum’s work at a Heavy Vehicle Industry Australia meeting in Perth in late August.

“Technology plays a vital role in vehicle safety and advances in safety systems need to be managed at the operational as well as regulatory level,” Mr Petroccitto said.

“This group will assist the NHVR accelerate deployment of safety technologies and systems quickly and effectively.

“We are positioning ourselves to be at the forefront of providing technical guidance to industry.”

A recently released study has provided insight into the common behaviours of drink drivers involved in fatal crashes in South Australia, with the findings informing strategies to reduce drink driving behaviour.

In the first study of its kind in the state, the Centre for Automotive Safety Research (CASR) compared 284 fatal crashes that took place between 2008 and 2010 using coroner’s reports.

The research was funded by the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) and the Motor Accident Commission (MAC).

It revealed the following insights about crashes involving a drink driver and a fatality: • 34 per cent of fatal crashes involved a driver or rider with an illegal blood alcohol level; • 44 per cent had at least one prior alcohol

Forming strategies to counter drink driving NHVR technical forum to in SA improve safety

44 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

offence – the majority within the past five years; • one-in-four also tested positively for drugs; • 23 per cent were reported to be experiencing a psychological problem prior to the crash; • nearly 50 per cent had one or more passengers in the car – of those 80 per cent were accompanied by at least one intoxicated passenger; • 66 per cent had previously had at least one license disqualification; • the greatest proportion of drivers were aged 25-to-34 years old; and • 44 per cent were not wearing seatbelts.

Drivers were most commonly within the first five kilometres or five minutes of their journey and the majority were travelling home from a social event.

The majority (62 per cent) were from regional areas, with 30 per cent at a person’s home, and 20 per cent at a licensed venue, prior to the accident.

“The insights within this report are incredibly valuable to informing the work of the South Australian Police, DPTI and MAC, who work together to change community behaviour when it comes to drink driving,” Road Safety Minister, Peter Malinauskas, said.

“It is concerning that nearly half of the fatalities were attributed to people who had previously been caught drink driving. Clearly for some, the message still isn’t sinking in and previous fines or loss of licenses haven’t been adequate deterrents.

“Penalties for drink and drug driving are an area that I am currently working with DPTI and MAC to review, with the objective of bringing down the rate of repeat drug and drink drivers.”

The report praised the results of the MAC’s ‘Matemorphosis’ campaign with the message of “mates looking after mates” which specifically targeted male drink driving in regional areas.

The Matemorphosis’ campaign resulted in a 14 per cent increase in drivers saying they would avoid drink driving by planning ahead.

“MAC specifically designed the Matemorphosis campaign, which ran between 2011 and 2014, to target young male driver behaviour in rural areas, with the underlying message of mates looking after mates,” Commission Acting General Manager Road Safety, Megan Cree, said.

“The current campaign, Bromance, targets seatbelts, speed and drink driving, and is also predicated on mates looking out for each other on the roads.

“Market research showed that 92 per cent of males avoid drink driving ‘all of the time’, a statistically significant improvement that has steadily improved from the pre-Bromance campaign launch levels of 84 per cent in 2015.”

Super High Visibility Road Marking Deploying additional police to combat road deaths Funding that will enable additional police to be deployed for road safety enforcement has been approved by the Victorian Government in response to the state’s worst start to the year for road fatalities since 2008.

A meeting of the government’s Ministerial Council for Road Safety approved 1,000 additional police shifts over the next four months, with the resources being used to target high-risk driving behaviours.

The Transport Accident Commission will provide funding for the extra shifts under a new $12 million Enhanced Enforcement Program over the next three years.

The Ministerial Council agreed to fast track money from the program, enabling Police Command to offer extra shifts to members on their days off between now and Christmas, without diverting resources from other areas of policing.

Victorians can expect to see more marked police cars patrolling the state’s roads and highways, targeting speed and drink driving, especially on rural roads, where the majority of the deaths have occurred.

Speed accounts for about a-third of all road fatalities and about one-in-five drivers killed have an illegal blood alcohol content.

The enhanced police presence will be backed by TAC public education and community engagement activities, reminding Victorians that police will be out in large numbers to protect them on the roads.

Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan, said road safety agencies had been working with the government “around the clock” to find ways to stop 2016 becoming our worst year on the roads in nearly a decade.

“We know that enforcement and public education are the two areas where we can have an immediate impact on the way people use our roads.

“The significant investments we’re making in these areas will make Victorians think twice before putting their own lives or the lives of others at risk.”

In a complementary road safety initiative, the Transport Accident Commission’s Green Man Grants program will challenge 18-to-25-yearolds to come up with a campaign to reduce the high number of young people who die on the state’s roads.

Successful entrants will receive up to $50,000 to develop their idea further with the help of an industry mentor.

Up to 10 entrants’ ideas will be selected, with each to receive a $5,000 cash prize after the completion of the project.

In the five years to the end of 2015, 22 per cent of drivers killed in Victoria were aged 18 to 25, despite that age group representing just 13 per cent of Victorian licence holders.

The deadline for applying for Green Man Grants was 6 October – details available at www.greenmangrants.com.au.

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Funding for safer roads in Victoria’s south west Image courtesy of Smart Start Interlocks Australia

Offending WA motorists to face alcohol interlock West Australians are on notice that if they drink and drive they are likely to have to install an alcohol interlock device to their vehicles.

Alcohol is a factor in about 25 per cent of fatal crashes and 10 per cent of serious injury crashes on WA roads and an alcohol interlock device will cost the offender about $1,600.

The warning – from Road Safety Minister, Liza Harvey – is in advance of laws relating to the interlock which come into effect on 24 October.

"A campaign will make it crystal clear that WA will now include alcohol interlocks as part of the penalties for drink driving," Ms Harvey said.

"The campaign highlights the new laws and also the impact these devices have on a person's freedom when they have to blow into an alcohol interlock every time they get into their vehicle."

The devices will be fitted to vehicles once drivers have served their drink driving penalty and will remain in place for at least six months.

The scheme will capture first time offenders convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol – a blood alcohol content (BAC) of or above 0.15 per cent.

It will also apply to repeat drink drivers who have been convicted of two or more drink driving offences (BAC of or above 0.05 per cent or 0.02 per cent for P-platers) within a five-year period.

"As part of our commitment to address the root cause of drink driving, offenders who breach the scheme will also have to undergo alcohol assessment and treatment counselling," Ms Harvey said.

"The offender will be responsible for the cost of installing the alcohol interlock system. Once the driver blows 0.02 or less, the vehicle will start; however, they may be required to re-test during the journey."

The alcohol interlock scheme is sourced through the Road Trauma Trust Account which is funded by speed and red light camera fines.

More than $40 million is being invested by the Victorian Government in road safety upgrades and resurfacing in the state’s south west.

The government has allocated $44 million to fund works to rehabilitate sections of unsafe and deteriorating roads to make them smoother and more resistant to further damage.

More than 240 kilometres of road will undergo resurfacing works including Foxhow Road, Portland-Casterton Road and Hamilton-Port Fairy Road.

As well as the Bellarine, Princes, Glenelg, Henty and Hamilton Highways, many other roads are set for important resurfacing works across the next 12 months, including: • Cobden-Warrnambool Road – six kilometres; • Casterton-Apsley Road – two kilometres; • Condah-Coleraine Road – six kilometres; and • Warrnambool-Caramut Road – one kilometre.

In addition, major road reconstructions totalling about 30 kilometres are also planned for some of the key arterial roads and the Great Ocean Road, Friend in Hand Road, Darlington Road and Rokewood-Skipton Road.

While interim measures, such as asphalt patching works over the winter period, will ensure roads can continue to operate safely in the short-term, the works will ensure their ongoing, safe operation into the future.

“We have listened to the community to help identify roads and highways that need attention,” said Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan “We want to create safer journeys for everyone and this program will ensure the roads that need our attention the most will receive it.”

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Black Spot initiatives in Tasmania and the ACT Funding allocated through the national Black Spot Program will be used to upgrade 33 dangerous locations in Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory.

The Black Spot Program targets road locations where crashes are occurring, reducing the risk of crashes through funding measures such as traffic signals and roundabouts.

In Tasmania, $4.2 million in funding will be spent on 29 Black Spot projects at sites where 69 injury crashes have been recorded, while in the ACT, $2.4 million will be used to finance four projects at sites where one fatal and 23 injury crashes have occurred.

The panel which recommended the Tasmanian sites comprised representatives from the Tasmania Police, Tasmanian Motorcycle Council, Bicycle Network Tasmania, the Royal Automobile Club of Tasmania, the Tasmanian Transport Association and state and local governments.

In the ACT’s case, the panel included representatives from the NRMA, National Capital Authority, Pedal Power, ACT Motorcycle Riders Association, Australasian College of Road Safety, Transport Canberra and the ACT Government.

The Australian Government has committed $500 million to the Black Spot Program from 2014-15 to 2018-19, including an additional $200 million over two years from 2015-16 to improve road safety across the nation.

Safety upgrade for SA’s Mallee and Upper South East More than $1.5 million will be spent on safety and maintenance improvements on more than 40 kilometres of arterial roads in South Australia’s Mallee and Upper South East regions.

More than 17 kilometres of the Dukes Highway between Bordertown and the Victorian border will be treated for undulation, improving the ride quality of the major national highway.

Another 3.5 kilometres between Keith and Bordertown will be resealed.

Further south, road surface improvements are planned for the Ngarkat Highway with resealing in two locations near Pinnaroo, totalling 3.6 kilometres.

Shoulder sealing is planned for four kilometres of the Naracoorte Road between Naracoorte and Bordertown.

“Projects which improve road surface quality and shoulder sealing are important to make our roads safer by reducing the risk of crashes,” said Transport and Infrastructure Minister, Stephen Mullighan.

“These projects can also improve the ride quality, leading to less vehicle wear and tear, and making the journey more pleasant.

“This is especially important in regional areas where heavy freight loads are transported on arterial roads and people generally travel longer distances,” Mr Mullighan said.

The projects are in addition to more than $2.6 million spent on Mallee and Upper South East roads last year, as well as the $2.3 million invested in the Karoonda Highway which was completed in October 2015.

In the 2015-16 SA Budget, the government allocated an extra $110 million dollars for more than 185 critical road projects over four years, with more than $70 million for country areas.

Together with ongoing funding, the state’s roads are benefiting from more than half-a-billion dollars of investment, with almost two thirds allocated for regional areas.

Improving road safety in Adelaide’s south

An $11.2 million project to improve traffic flow and safety along a key transport link in Adelaide’s outer south is open for tender submissions.

Main South Road between Old Coach Road and Malpas Road, Aldinga is used by nearly 18,000 drivers each day.

Through the upgrade the South Australian Government aims to reduce the number and severity of vehicle accidents. The project is being funded by the Motor Accident Commission with safety improvements to include: • a roundabout at the junction of Port Road and Main South Road; • a two-metre wide traffic median with wire rope safety barrier between Port Road and Malpas Road; • repositioning of the northbound overtaking lane on Main South Road near Malpas Road; and • road widening and resurfacing.

The funding follows the release of the Department of Planning Transport and Infrastructure’s Road Management Plan which identifies a number of opportunities to improve road safety. The plan is the result of extensive consultation with the community and stakeholders.

Between 2005 and 2014, there were 50 recorded casualty crashes on the section of Main South Road between Old Coach Road and Malpas Road, resulting in three fatal, five serious injury and 42 minor injury crashes.

Of the 50 accidents, 78 per cent occurred at four junctions: Malpas Road, Little Road, Port Road and Old Coach Road.

“With the population growth of Aldinga and surrounding areas growing steadily, the number of people using this section of Main South Road has increased and is likely to increase further in the coming years,” said Road Safety Minister, Peter Malinauskas.

“This is an important and necessary infrastructure investment with the dual benefit of boosting safety for road users and improving traffic flow.”

October 2016 | Highway Engineering Australia 47

BRIDGES IN FOCUS

Safeguarding Sandy Gully Bridge against flooding Work started in the last week of September on a $57 million project to replace the Sandy Gully Bridge on the Bruce Highway north of Bowen.

The project also incorporates upgrading approaches to the bridge.

The upgrade will deliver a bridge and approaches capable of remaining open in all but a one-in-50-year flood.

“Replacing this bridge and improving its flood immunity will help keep the highway open for all traffic, including heavy vehicles and other motorists accessing the Port of Abbot Point,” said Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester.

“Making this section of the highway safer and more reliable will also benefit the rest of the state by keeping our freight trucks moving, instead of being held up by flooded sections.”

Minister Assisting the Premier on North Queensland, Coralee O'Rourke, said the project, which will upgrade 3.7 kilometres of the Bruce Highway, was integral to supporting the North Queensland economy.

“These works will benefit the local economy, including our horticultural and tourism industries, by providing more reliable

access between Bowen and Townsville, particularly during wet weather,” Mrs O'Rourke said.

“This section of highway forms an important link, and these upgrades will help to improve freight efficiency, not only across the state, but also interstate and nationally.”

Mackay-based Vassallo Constructions is undertaking the works and construction is expected to be completed by March 2018.

The Australian Government will provide $46 million to the Sandy Gully Bridge Upgrade, with the Queensland Government providing $11 million.

Central West rail bridge upgrades The Queensland Government is evaluating tenders for work on the third stage of a program to replace, repair and upgrade ageing timber rail bridges on the state’s Central West line.

The work, valued at nearly $9 million, involves replacing up to 18 bridges and 69 bridge piers with more durable structures to increase the reliability of the line.

Minister for Transport, Stirling Hinchliffe, said some of the timber bridges were more than 100 years old, had passed their design life and were in need of replacement or upgrade.

“By replacing or upgrading the bridges with steel and concrete structures, we will not only improve their reliability, but also minimise the time and cost spent on maintenance.”

The project is expected to be completed

by June 2018.

48 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

Minister for Agriculture, Leanne Donaldson, said the upgrade was part of an ongoing initiative to improve rail bridges in the Central West region and it would support industries like agriculture, resources and tourism.

“In 2013, we embarked on stage one of the Central West Bridge Replacement program, which saw 49 timber bridges either

replaced or repaired,” Ms Donaldson said.

“Stage two, which was completed last year, saw a further 23 bridges replaced or upgraded between Clermont, Emerald and Winton.

“Upon completion of stage three, the government will have invested more than $47 million in upgrading Central West line bridges.”

The Road to Relevant Research

New bridge to help ease interchange congestion A six-lane bridge is being built over the Bruce Highway as part of a major upgrade of the Boundary Road interchange at Narangba on the northern outskirts of Brisbane.

The Australian Government has committed up to $80.3 million to deliver the project while the Queensland Government has allocated $20.1 million.

The existing Boundary Road bridge carries approximately 20,000 vehicles every day – around 11,500 of which travel eastbound and 8,500 westbound.

Peak-hour congestion is a problem with so many vehicles using the two-lane structure to cross, enter or exit the Bruce Highway.

Major construction work started in May and the project is scheduled for completion by mid-2018. Benefits of the upgrade include: • a new 6-lane bridge over the highway to increase capacity and ease congestion; • longer on-and-off ramps to improve safety for motorists entering and exiting the highway; • improved bridge clearance to avoid the need for high loads detouring on other roads; • a new shared user path increasing safety for pedestrians and cyclists; and • the upgraded interchange will accommodate future 8-laning of the Bruce Highway.

The new bridge is being built north of the existing overpass to help reduce disruptions to Boundary Road traffic. BMD Constructions is undertaking the project.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester, said the new structure would transform the interchange by enabling cars, commercial vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians to more quickly and safely negotiate the intersection.

“With more than 100 jobs being supported over the life of the project, the upgrade will also provide a welcome boost to the local economy.”

Queensland Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety, Mark Bailey, said the upgrade would help meet the traffic needs of a rapidly-growing area of Brisbane.

“Substantially increasing the interchange's capacity will make it easier for local residents, commuters and businesses to access the Bruce Highway as well as the residential and retail precincts in the Narangba and North Lakes area.”

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October 2016 | Highway Engineering Australia 49

MAJOR PROJECTS

‘Significant changes’ contained in final EIS for Western Sydney Airport

The Western Sydney Airport Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been finalised and contains significant changes from the draft EIS. Those changes reflect government decisions made in response to submissions received on the draft EIS which was released in October 2015, particularly in relation to flight paths and noise impacts of aircraft.

The EIS is a comprehensive assessment of the airport site at Badgerys Creek and the surrounding region, comprising more than 700 field studies and 19 technical reports. It sets out ways to protect the environmental value of the airport site and the surrounding Western Sydney region.

Minister for Urban Infrastructure, Paul Fletcher, said the final EIS was a milestone towards a Western Sydney Airport commencing operations in the mid-2020s; a critical project which would provide jobs and growth for the region and ensure long-term aviation needs are met.

“The Government has carefully considered the submissions received on the draft EIS and the final statement contains significant changes from the draft to reflect government decisions made in response to submissions,” Minister Fletcher said.

“First, the final EIS states there will not be a single merge point over Blaxland.

“Secondly, it sets out broader principles in relation to flight paths for a Western Sydney Airport, including particularly that there will not be a single merge point over any residential community.

“Thirdly, the statement sets out an important preferred option for ‘head-to-head operations’ during evening hours (11 pm to 6 am), as a means of minimising the number of homes affected by aircraft noise at night.”

Head-to-head operations would, according to Mr Fletcher, involve flights both taking off to, and landing from, the southwest of the airport in circumstances where it is safe to do so.

“There is more detailed work to do to analyse weather patterns and assess safety considerations, but indications are that this operating mode could be available greater than 80 per cent of the time.

“The flight paths set out in both the draft and final EIS are only indicative,” said the Minister.

50 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

“They were prepared for the specific purpose of determining whether safe operation of a second major airport in the Sydney Basin is possible and for allowing an assessment of the environmental impact of Western Sydney Airport, using a credible and representative set of operational parameters.”

The EIS also sets out the process by which final flight paths will be determined and that process will be subject to the policy decisions the government has taken; for example, that there will not be a merge point over any single residential community.

It is a multi-year process which will involve significant public consultation and advice from expert bodies such as Airservices Australia and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

Mr Fletcher said it was important the proposed airport development maximised the benefits and minimised the impacts on the community and the environment.

“There are already extensive aircraft movements over the Blue Mountains – around 230 a-day or a quarter of Sydney Airport's daily traffic. After five years of operations, Western Sydney Airport is projected to represent just over 30 per cent of all flights over the Blue Mountains.”

The government will establish a Forum on Western Sydney Airport (FoWSA); a community and stakeholder reference group to ensure community views are taken into account, particularly in relation to the airspace design process. The membership will include representatives from the aviation industry, community, state and local government bodies, and local tourism bodies and business groups.

The final EIS will be considered by Environment and Energy Minister, Josh Frydenberg, who will determine whether to approve it and what environmental conditions, if any, to impose.

Construction of the proposed Western Sydney Airport will generate $1.9 billion for the local economy, with a further $400 million across the rest of Sydney. It is expected to commence operations in the mid2020s as a full-service, 21st century airport handling domestic and international passengers, and air freight.

TSRC viaduct under construction

Image courtesy of Queensland Treasury

Work is underway on the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing viaduct – an 800 metre-long road bridge that will extend from the Lockyer Valley and cut through the Toowoomba Range at Mount Kynoch.

MAJOR PROJECTS

Mount Kynoch is a suburb of Toowoomba, a city in the Darling Downs region of Queensland, 125 kilometres west of Brisbane.

The viaduct is a critical design feature of the $1.6 billion Toowoomba Second Range Crossing (TSRC) project which will provide a safer, faster link in the National Land Transport Network. The project involves constructing a bypass route to the north of Toowoomba, approximately 41 kilometres in length, running from the Warrego Highway at Helidon in the east, to the Gore Highway at Athol in the west.

Acting Queensland Main Roads Minister, Leeanne Enoch, said the TSRC would deliver long-term benefits to Queensland and also support an estimated 1,800 direct and indirect jobs in the Toowoomba region.

“The viaduct will improve safety and productivity for heavy vehicles by eliminating the need to negotiate up to 18 sets of traffic lights in Toowoomba, saving them up to 40 minutes each way.

“It is an impressive piece of infrastructure that will support the growth of this part of Queensland well into the 21st century.”

When completed, the viaduct will also allow the TSRC to pass over the heritage-listed railway line at its western end without having any impact on rail operations. The TSRC project is due to be completed and operational by late 2018.

The Australian Government is providing more than $1.1 billion to the project, with the remainder funded by the Queensland Government.

Evolution Rail to build Melbourne’s new high capacity trains

Image courtesy of www.railwaypro.com

The Evolution Rail consortium, comprising Downer Rail, CRRC and Plenary, is the preferred consortium to build Melbourne’s 65 new High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT).

The project will create 1,100 highly-skilled local jobs and represents Victoria’s single largest order of trains to be built in the state.

The decision follows a 12-month global tender process, with three competing consortia, each of which included a world-class mix of international and local manufacturers.

In announcing the deal on 12 September, Premier, Daniel Andrews; Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan; and Minister for Industry and Employment, Wade Noonan said it further cemented Victoria’s reputation as a global hub of rolling stock manufacturing.

“This is every train we need to boost services in Melbourne’s south east and run the turn-up-and-go services we’ll deliver by building the Metro Tunnel,” Minister Allan said.

“These new high capacity trains will do the heavy lifting on the Cranbourne-Pakenham lines, ahead of the opening of the Metro Tunnel, enabling more passengers to travel during the busiest parts of the day.”

All of the trains will be built in Victoria, with 60 per cent local content, surpassing the government’s promise of 50 per cent local content.

The trains will be manufactured with a strong industry participation plan that includes 15 per cent Victorian apprentices, trainees and cadets, as well as workers from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Partnerships with Toyota, Chisholm Institute and Swinburne University will help transition automotive manufacturing workers on to the project.

To build the trains, Downer’s Newport manufacturing facility will undergo a $16 million upgrade, CRRC will establish a new regional headquarters in Melbourne, and Australia’s only bogie manufacturer will be established.

A new maintenance and stabling depot in Pakenham East will be built with 87 per cent local content and provide 100 new long-term jobs for the community.

The lead members of the consortium, Downer EDI, and CRRC – the world’s largest train manufacturer – have a proven track record of delivering trains in Australia and around the world, including Sydney, Hong Kong, Beijing, Chicago and Boston.

The new HCMTs will be longer than existing trains, with 20 per cent more space to reduce overcrowding.

The first train will be delivered and in testing by November 2018, boosting capacity on the level-crossing free Cranbourne-Pakenham Line from 2019, with all 65 trains rolling out as a dedicated fleet in time for the opening of the Metro Tunnel in 2026.

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MAJOR PROJECTS

Nine new six-car trains will also be ordered from Alstom to meet demand on the network prior to the roll-out of HCMTs, securing work at Alstom’s Ballarat workshop until at least 2019.

Bombardier in Dandenong is currently delivering Victoria’s VLocity Regional Trains and Melbourne’s E-Class trams.

The Government is also developing a business case for a Next Generation Regional Train, a major diesel train contract expected to go to market by 2018 to deliver hundreds of new regional carriages for the V/Line network.

IA’s Infrastructure Priority List expanded Australia’s Infrastructure Australia has updated its Infrastructure Priority List following the positive assessment of four business cases.

The Infrastructure Priority List identifies nationally significant projects and initiatives in every state and territory – it is continually updated as the Infrastructure Australia Board receives and assesses new business cases from project proponents.

Infrastructure Australia Chief Executive, Philip Davies, said the Board had positively assessed business cases for: • Bruce Highway Upgrade, Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway (Queensland); • M1 Pacific Motorway-Gateway Motorway Merge Upgrade (southbound lanes) (Queensland); • Eyre Infrastructure Project (Iron Road) (South Australia); and • North-South Corridor (Darlington Upgrade Project) (South Australia).

“Infrastructure Australia is currently assessing a record number of business cases as Australian governments and industry embrace the need to better align project proposals with an identified infrastructure need,” Mr Davies said.

“Assessing a project for inclusion on the Infrastructure Priority List follows a rigorous process. This enables us to give decision makers the information they need to invest in the best infrastructure projects for our growing communities.

“Our assessment process involves investigating the individual costs and benefits of a proposed project to determine whether it has the potential to meet an identified infrastructure need. We also assess the project's strategic fit, deliverability and economic, social and environmental impacts.

Mr Davies said adding these projects to the Priority List as priority projects demonstrated that each of the projects was a sound investment that addressed an issue of national significance.

“Upgrading the Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway section of the Bruce Highway will ease congestion and improve road safety in a section of the highway that is vital in connecting regional centres and enabling significant freight movement within and between regions.

“The Gateway Motorway Merge upgrade will provide additional capacity for the Pacific Motorway between Tugun and Brisbane. This is the busiest road corridor in south east Queensland which sees an average of 78,500 vehicles travelling southbound per day.

“The Eyre Infrastructure Project has been added to the Infrastructure Priority List as a priority project. It addresses the need for additional high-capacity port and rail infrastructure on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula to enable mineral resources exports.

“The Board also positively assessed the South Australian Government's proposal to upgrade a 3.3 kilometre section of Adelaide's North-South Corridor, between South Road and the

52 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

Southern Expressway, as part of a broader $2.5 billion upgrade between Gawler and Noarlunga,” Mr Davies said.

The updated Infrastructure Priority List is now available at www. infrastructureaustralia.gov.au.

Major railway contract keeps furnaces firing at Arrium steel mill

The Arrium steelworks at Whyalla in South Australia have started supplying tens-of-thousands of tonnes of steel for a major upgrade of part of the state’s rail network.

The first train carrying the steel rail departed the steelworks on 8 September to replace old rail on the line from Adelaide to Tarcoola with heavier, stronger steel.

The Australian Government is fully funding the re-railing project.

The steel rail is being provided under a contract between the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) and the administrators of Arrium, KordaMentha, for about 73,000 tonnes of steel.

ARTC Chief Executive, John Fullerton, said the corporation had been busily finalising a careful, staged roll-out plan for the project, but had a focus on delivering early orders of steel.

"The existing rail between Adelaide and Tarcoola has been nearing its end-of-life and the new rail delivered by this contract will allow rail operators to carry heavier wagons of freight at faster speeds," Mr Fullerton said.

"This means ongoing benefits from this project for Australian businesses and ultimately, consumers."

Federal Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science, Greg Hunt, said the government was committed to supporting South Australia’s steel sector and the workers at Arrium.

"In addition to using Arrium’s steel for the railway, we are supporting the industry by using Australian steel across our naval shipbuilding program and by strengthening Australia’s anti-dumping system," Mr Hunt said.

"And earlier this year the government approved a $49.2 million loan to Arrium which will be used to purchase equipment for the company’s iron ore operations near Whyalla.

"We want to set the right business environment to ensure Australian firms like Arrium can grow, prosper and be globally competitive."

Federal Member for Grey, Rowan Ramsey, saw the first order of steel shipped from Arrium’s steelworks.

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MAJOR PROJECTS

"The contract helps secure an order of steel worth tens of millions of dollars, providing added volume through the Whyalla Steelworks and creating up to 130 direct and indirect local jobs on the re-railing project," Mr Ramsey said.

"By supporting the Whyalla steelworks we are also supporting thousands of local jobs in Whyalla and the Eyre Peninsula.

“This project is a direct injection into the local economy while also securing our state’s strategic manufacturing capability."

Monash Freeway upgrade getting started

New ways to minimise traffic disruption are being deployed as work is undertaken to upgrade Melbourne’s Monash Freeway.

The project is being undertaken to overcome bottlenecks which create congestion for the 200,000 motorists who use the freeway every day.

Motorists started seeing works on the freeway’s shoulders in mid-September to make the road smoother and allow extra space to reduce the number of traffic disruptions during construction.

Those works included some lane closures at night so workers could safely conduct works and not interrupt the peak periods.

Providing extra space on the freeway allows the current number of lanes to remain open during peak times when more disruptive work begins. Construction times will be staged to avoid major disruption to motorists.

In mid-to-late October, concrete barriers will be installed down the centre median on both sides of the Monash to ensure motorists’ and workers’ safety.

The majority of works to strengthen and widen bridges, build the extra lanes and install the final safety barriers will be done behind these concrete barriers.

The upgrade will see more than 30 kilometres of extra lanes while minimising the impact of construction on motorists.

It will address major bottlenecks by adding a lane in each direction between EastLink and Clyde Road in Berwick, and smart technology and ramp upgrades will improve traffic flow and increase safety for motorists.

Victoria’s Minister for Roads and Road Safety, Luke Donnellan, said the project would create more than 400 jobs during construction, as part of the government’s transport infrastructure pipeline that is creating 15,000 jobs across Melbourne.

54 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

“Widening the Monash Freeway will make the journey faster, more reliable and safer for all motorists.

“We’re working to minimise traffic disruptions, with the majority of works being undertaken at night or in the centre median; however, we do suggest you allow extra travel time when planning your journey.”

Motorists will be notified of any works expected to impact their travel time.

Contractors shortlisted for Chandler Highway improvements Four construction companies have been shortlisted for a $110 million upgrade of Melbourne’s Chandler Highway.

BMD, CPB Contractors, Laing O’Rourke and Seymour Whyte have been selected by the Victorian Government to submit tenders for the upgrade - the successful contractor is expected to be announced before the end of the year.

Minister for Roads, Luke Donnellan, said each of the companies demonstrated innovative design and an understanding of the specific needs of the project, and would refine their design over coming months.

Minister Donnellan said 44,000 motorists would benefit from the upgrade, which would involve widening the highway to six lanes and constructing a new bridge over the Yarra River.

The intersection at Heidelberg Rd will be upgraded and safety will be boosted by installing traffic lights at Yarra Boulevard.

“We’re fixing the bottlenecks along the Chandler Highway which was recently nominated as the third worst spot for traffic congestion in Victoria, in the RACV’s annual Redspot survey.”

The 125-year-old Chandler Highway Bridge will be converted to a shared user path for cyclists and pedestrians, while cyclists will also be able to cross the highway via a new underpass near Yarra Boulevard.

The upgrade will provide a reliable journey for thousands of drivers every day. Construction will commence in early 2017 and be completed in mid-2018.

MAJOR PROJECTS

Private sector interest in Inland Rail

Business case for north Queensland rail project

The private sector has been invited by the Australian Government to register its interest in the design, construction, delivery and financing of the Inland Rail project.

The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) said the 1,700 kilometre freight rail line would complete the spine of the national freight rail network, providing a road competitive service that would see freight delivered from Melbourne to Brisbane, via regional Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, in less than 24 hours Private sector involvement in the delivery of Inland Rail will be in partnership with ARTC, which is seeking expressions of interest for technical engineering and environmental approval services for the project.

Finance Minister, Mathias Cormann, said the Corporation would undertake robust wide-ranging public consultation and engagement throughout the market testing process.

“This is the crucial next phase in ensuring Inland Rail is construction ready.

“The Inland Rail project has the potential to deliver real benefits to our farmers, primary producers and manufacturers,” said Senator Cormann.

“The project will provide a high performance and direct interstate rail corridor between Melbourne and Brisbane, enabling freight operators to avoid the congested Sydney network and get goods to market quickly.”

The Australian Government has committed $3 million for the development of a business case for the Townsville Eastern Access Rail Corridor project.

“The development of an in-depth business case, which will consider the feasibility and the cost estimate, is a key stage in realising this important project,” said Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Darren Chester.

“The Federal Government's funding commitment is conditional on the Queensland Government matching the commitment. It is part of the Coalition's $150 million commitment made by the Prime Minister in May this year.

“I have written to my counterpart in Queensland, Stirling Hinchliffe, to confirm my approval for the first stage of the project under the National Land Transport Act 2014.

Minister Chester said the project would provide a new eight kilometre rail freight line connecting the North Coast rail line and the Mount Isa to Townsville rail line to the Port of Townsville.

“It will transform Townsville's city centre by redirecting significant quantities of freight travelling by rail to the Port of Townsville away from the CBD. “Positive discussions between Australian Government and Queensland officials to settle appropriate governance arrangements are currently underway.

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MAJOR PROJECTS

“Once the business case is complete, the project will be assessed

by Infrastructure Australia, as part of the approval process for projects receiving over $100 million in Australian Government funding.”

Changing the face of Melbourne’s rail corridor

Carnegie station is scheduled to undergo works as part of the Victorian State Government's rail upgrades program.

Major construction is underway to remove nine dangerous and congested level crossings between Caulfield and Dandenong on Melbourne busy Pakenham-Cranbourne line.

The project also involves work at Murrumbeena and Carnegie stations and the initial steps in laying the foundations for the sections of new, elevated rail line along the corridor Over coming months, two piling rigs – each weighing 140 tonnes with masts up to 30 metres high – will install more than 1,000 piles in the ground along the corridor in preparation for the arrival of gantry cranes.

The gantry cranes will install 2,500 locally-manufactured segments of the elevated line by moving back and forth in the air. This will allow for fewer disruptions to commuters with trains being able to keep running underneath.

Murrumbeena and Carnegie stations closed for four weeks to ensure the preparatory works took place safely.

The temporary closure was designed to minimise later disruption for local commuters, traders and residents over the project’s construction.

The stations reopened in time for the first train on 26 September after the construction of temporary stations. The temporary stations will remain open while construction is underway; new stations will be completed in 2018.

Victoria’s Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, said the nine level crossings were dangerous and caused congestion on local roads, and stopped more trains running on the city’s busiest line.

“Local residents will see some short term construction impacts but will see new stations for commuters, open spaces for everyone to enjoy and less congestion on our roads.”

Major works to improve Warrego Highway Work has been completed on widening around six kilometres of the Warrego Highway between Toowoomba and Oakey in Queensland under the $635 million Warrego Highway Upgrade Program.

56 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

The program is jointly funded with the Australian Government contributing up to $508 million and the Queensland Government contributing up to $127 million.

Widening the highway from two to four lanes between Toowoomba and Oakey provides the additional capacity required to handle the expected continuing increase in traffic volumes west of Toowoomba to Charlton.

The section of the highway carries more than 15,000 vehicles each day, which is set to increase to 30,000 over the next 20 years.

Queensland’s Treasurer, Curtis Pitt, said the Warrego Highway Upgrade Program would keep the state moving and contribute to economic growth.

“Connecting communities and meeting the needs of our growing state is central to our productivity and efficiency, especially as the Warrego Highway is a vital connection between the rich agricultural lands and resource regions of Western Queensland through to the Port of Brisbane.

“This upgrade provides an improved level of service as traffic numbers grow on the highway west of Toowoomba to Charlton.”

The Warrego Highway Upgrade Program involves 15 projects designed to upgrade the highway between Toowoomba and Miles by mid-2019.

Work is underway on designing the second stage of the Toowoomba to Oakey upgrade, which will include lane duplications between Charlton and Kingsthorpe.

Major construction works on Stage 2 are expected to start early in 2017.

Last of Mitchell Freeway overpasses installed The third and final bridge beam installation associated with the $236 million extension of Perth’s Mitchell Freeway is complete, creating a new traffic interchange at Burns Beach Road.

The 24 concrete beams - the heaviest weighing up to 90 tonnes and the longest measuring 24.5 metres - were being lifted and positioned for a traffic bridge over Burns Beach Road.

Several steel and concrete segments were also installed to form a new pedestrian bridge.

Road closures were put in place and train services were closed between Joondalup and Butler to allow the safe installation of the freeway overpass and the bridge.

The Mitchell Freeway extension project involves extending the freeway by six kilometres from Burns Beach Road to Hester Avenue – it is running on budget and ahead of schedule, and is expected to be completed in 2017.

The freeway extension follows the recent completion of the $78.83 million Reid Highway upgrade which will significantly improve safety, vehicle capacity and connectivity.

Drivers now have uninterrupted travel along Reid Highway over Malaga Drive and reduced congestion with the recent opening of a second traffic bridge over the Mitchell Freeway in Hamersley and Carine.

The completion of more than 4.2 kilometres of two-lane dual carriageways westbound and eastbound between Erindale Road and Marmion Avenue will also improve traffic flows and travel times.

The Australian and WA Government-funded Reid Highway upgrade removed the Malaga Drive intersection from Western Australia's Black Spot list.

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NATIONAL MODEL SPECIFICATION FOR EME2 ASPHALT A model specification for EME2 high modulus asphalt is in the final stages of development and will be published by the Australian Asphalt and Pavement Association (AAPA) as part of an initiative to implement a harmonised national specification for the material.

The specification is based on the outcomes of a three-year Austroads’ project to transfer EME2 to Australia – the project saw close collaboration between various state road agencies, ARRB and AAPA. The work supports the continued move towards a unified performance-based mix and pavement design for asphalt in Australia.

EME2 is the latest iteration of EME technology which was developed in France over 30 years ago and is now used in heavy duty pavements for high traffic roads in a number of European countries, the United Kingdom and South Africa.

“AAPA is in the process of developing a model specification which can be used as a template by any road agency in Australia,” said Erik Denneman, AAPA’s Director Technology and Leadership.

“Road agencies will develop slightly different specifications for EME2 because they have to fit within their respective operating frameworks, but the basic technology is the same,” Dr Denneman said.

“AAPA is pushing towards a harmonised delivery of EME2 and that’s why it’s publishing a model specification which has all the standard property limits for EME2 mixes set using Australian test methods for workability, wheel tracking, flexural stiffness, fatigue, and moisture sensitivity.

“I will be travelling around the country with Dr Laszlo Petho from ARRB in late November and early December to talk with stakeholders about EME2 material specification and to provide detailed guidance on pavement design.

“We will also be joined by industry practitioners with first-hand experience to discuss the ins-and-outs of EME2 mix production and placement. The plan is to hand out the model specification at that time.”

The tour will take the form of “Tech Talks” and “Knowledge Series” breakfasts in the major capital cities.

“AAPA’s aim is to increase the knowledge base around EME2.

58 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

Some people in the industry are aware of it, but we want to widen that awareness especially within the road agencies. Consultants are important too because they are specifiers of materials for many major contracts.

“The material specifications for EME2 are mature, the technology transfer is complete and there are guidelines on how to design pavements with it. The role of AAPA is really to entrench the technology.”

Dr Denneman said the name EME was derived from the French enrobés à module élevé, which translates to “high modulus asphalt”.

He said EME2 mixes were produced using a hard paving grade bitumen applied at a high binder content of approximately six per cent.

“Compared to conventional asphalt bases which contain unmodified binders, high modulus asphalt is characterised by high stiffness, high durability and superior resistance to permanent deformation.

“Using EME2 technology offers the prospect of reduced asphalt thickness for heavy duty pavements and lower construction and maintenance costs – a key benefit is that the thickness of the base layer can be reduced by 20-25 per cent.

“That means a lot fewer natural resources like aggregate are needed.

“Under appropriate design conditions, a major road with a base layer comprising EME2 can be constructed as a perpetual pavement.

“In terms of design philosophy that is something we need to target because road users don’t like being confronted by road works. We want to build pavements where we only have to replace the surface layer every so often – we don’t want to be rebuilding them.

“A perpetual pavement brings significant environmental and economic benefits.”

Dr Denneman said the use of EME2 in base layers was already being included in contracts for major roads in Australia, particularly in Queensland.

“But we still need to reinforce knowledge and recognition of EME2 in projects across the country.”

AAPA NEWS

ERIK DENNEMAN, DIRECTOR TECHNOLOGY AND LEADERSHIP AT AAPA One of the most respected figures in the flexible pavement industry in Australia, Erik Denneman, joined the Australian Asphalt Pavement Association (AAPA) in July as Director of Technology and Leadership.

Before taking on the position at AAPA, Dr Denneman (PhD, CPEng, RPEQ), led the ARRB Group’s Pavement Technology and Asset Management team in Brisbane.

Dr Denneman – the author of a number of internationally recognised publications – has worked in the Netherlands, South Africa, the United States, and since 2012 in Australia.

Supporting industry in the implementation of innovative pavement solutions for AAPA, Dr Denneman specialises in performance-based design and specification of bituminous materials, and the development of advanced pavement design models for these materials.

He will be leading much of AAPA’s national campaign agenda in 2017 and beyond, with a focus on: • EME2; • crumbed rubber; • the AAPA International Knowledge Transfer program; • Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP); • Foam; • Perpetual Pavements; • Airport pavement engineering; • local government engagement; • asphalt mixed design; and • safety.

AAPA’s EME2 campaign will be at the forefront in 2017. EME2 promises cost savings and sustainability dividends delivered by a 20-25 per cent reduction in pavement thickness, as well as the ability to incorporate smart technologies and deliver significant competitive advantages.

EME2 is a mature technology with specifications available that fit within the Austroads pavement design system. Dr Denneman will be leading an initiative to increase awareness and adoption of EME2 across Australia.

He will also be leading AAPA’s crumb rubber awareness campaign.

As the most recycled product in the world, asphalt is an obvious choice for recycling tyre rubber.

It is a high value application for scrap tyres and represents another example of high quality international technology transfer into Australia.

Another AAPA priority for 2017 is Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP).

Dr Denneman will be leading this campaign, focusing on the cost and sustainability benefits of RAP. Well managed, RAP can be used in high percentages in new asphalt. Under Dr Denneman’s leadership, AAPA will set the best practice standard for the use of RAP in Australia.

In the course of these campaigns, Dr Denneman will be leading AAPA’s engagement with a wide range of key stakeholders including state road agencies, local government, industry, consultants, Sustainability Victoria; the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection in Queensland and the public.

October 2016 | Highway Engineering Australia 59

AAPA NEWS

AAPA’S 2016 INTERNATIONAL KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER EUROPE TOUR Every two years, AAPA organises an International Knowledge Transfer (IKT) Tour, to inform the Australian flexible pavements industry about the latest developments in technology and practical application in other parts of the world.

At the same time, the tour provides an opportunity to showcase technology developed in Australia to an international audience.

In 2016, 20 IKT delegates representing road agencies, binder suppliers, asphalt producers, contractors and consultants toured Europe.

They visited government road agencies, suppliers, manufacturers and research bodies in the United Kingdom, France and Germany. The delegates also attended the 8th RILEM conference in the French city of Nantes and the 2016 Eurasphalt and Eurobitume (E&E) congress in Prague, Czech Republic.

The IKT gained useful information and insights about issues including: • how the wider use of RAP is being delivered; • how warm and cold mix asphalts are being incorporated into projects; • perpetual pavement design; and • the relationship between performance-based contracts, mix design and innovation.

The group learnt about global bitumen supply challenges and how this may impact the Australian market. Europe also has an interesting approach to harmonising traffic management practices and RAP stockpile management.

Five major knowledge transfer themes emerged from the 2016 IKT Europe Tour: • smart roads, including the Solar roads concept; • sustainability, recycling and innovation; • advances in plant, equipment, safety and efficiency; • implementing innovative, next-generation surfacings; and • asset management and stewardship arrangements

SOLAR ROADS Colas Group’s “Wattway” solar road drew a lot of interest from IKT delegates. Colas and the French National Solar Energy Institute have been working for 10 years on developing resilient, efficient, cost-effective solar panels capable of being incorporated into road pavements.

The joint efforts have produced a solar tile thinner than a dollar coin and measuring 1.26 square metres, that can provide as much as 116 watts of power.

This was a very exciting development and, already, Colas and AAPA have been in talks with a number of Australian local councils about pilot solar roads projects.

60 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

SUSTAINABILITY, RECYCLING AND INNOVATION The IKT group engaged with a number of interesting sustainability technologies and initiatives while in Europe. From cold mix asphalt technology in France, to “self-healing asphalt” and the management of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) in the UK, Europe provided new innovative sustainability initiatives.

The group was also interested in daily testing of the aggregate grading and binder properties to allow proper management of the resource as specified in Europe.

French research organisation, IFFSTAR, has a major focus on what happens if asphalt is recycled multiple times. There was also an interesting paper at the E&E conference about the reuse of RAP by separating it into components.

ADVANCES IN PLANT, EQUIPMENT, SAFETY AND EFFICIENCY Another highlight was the use of smart software in the process control for asphalt, capturing the journey of the material from production at the plant to compaction in the field.

IMPLEMENTING INNOVATIVE, NEXT GENERATION SURFACINGS The group was introduced to a number of “next generation” surfacings, including the “Ultigrip” skid-resistant asphalt, and cold applied ultra-thin asphalt surfacings.

ASSET MANAGEMENT AND STEWARDSHIP ARRANGEMENTS Highways England’s approach to asset management was considered highly relevant to Australia. The organisation hopes to establish a range of contractual arrangements tailored to the type of work required on any given project.

Four new types of contract are being developed: maintenance and incident response; design; specialist services; and capital project delivery including emergency repairs. The IKT group considered contractual innovation to be a key takeaway from the Europe Tour.

The IKT’s objective is to help bring the best of international flexible pavements technology to Australia and that’s why the IKT experience did not end when the delegation returned home.

AAPA Director, Technology and Leadership, Dr Erik Denneman, gave presentations on the outcomes of IKT at the 2016 AAPA National Workshop Series across Australia in July and August.

Following the workshops series, the learnings from IKT Europe will be further shared with AAPA members via the AAPA Knowledge Series Breakfasts and AAPA Tech Talks to be held in coming months.

For more details and to register your interest, visit www.aapa.asn.au

Nationwide courses October/November 2016 Please book your place or register an EOI for the following training courses at aapa.asn.au/training:

Working Safely with Bituminous Materials

Asphalt Placement and Compaction

Kempsey (Colas affliated companies) Roma (open to all) November

Gladstone | 19th October Brisbane | 24th November

Details: This course provides essential instruction on safety for ALL personnel involved in storing, handling, working near, or supervising the use of, hot bituminous materials and asphalt.

Details: This course is designed to Introduce the basic principles and field construction practices, learn how to achieve a satisfactory and consistent quality of asphalt and understand how to provide a smooth riding pavement surface.

Sprayed Sealing Selection and Design

Pavement Maintenance Practices

Sydney | 16th & 17th November Brisbane | 22nd & 23rd November Bega | October/November

Gladstone | 20th October

Details: This course focuses on sprayed treatments, their uses, strengths, weaknesses and surface defect corrections.

Details: The course leads you through the reasons, processes and procedures for effective road maintenance.

COMING

SOON

NEW Course:

For all enquiries please contact the AAPA Head Office on (03) 8416 4500 or email: trainingcentre@aapa.asn.au

aapa.asn.au/training

Sprayed Sealing Field Procedures This is an introduction to the basic principles and field construction practices required to achieve a high standard of sprayed work.

ASPHALT IN FOCUS

I-10 REHABILITATION PROJECT EARNS FLORIDA CONTRACTOR A BONUS AND AWARD

By Jeff Winke The Florida section of US-Interstate I-10 had been in planning for some time before actual work began. Indeed, there were no completed sections of I-10 until 1961 when the approximately 37-mile (59.5km) Sanderson to Jacksonville stretch was first finished.

In the years since, section by section have been constructed, culminating in the complete stretch of I-10 in Florida that spans the top of the state 362-miles (583km) from the western reaches of the panhandle to downtown Jacksonville, where it is punctuated with an “End I-10” sign.

The interstate stretches west well beyond the Florida border making I-10 one of three coast-to-coast interstates, along with I-80 and I-90.

In 2015, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) awarded the complete rehab of an eight-mile section of I-10 falling between Tallahassee and Monticello, Florida. The traffic load has steadily increased over the years.

“We won the bid and were responsible for full-depth milling and paving,” stated Ensworth Blyden, estimator / project manager with Peavy and Son Construction Co., Havana, Fla. “The road was in pretty bad shape since it had last been worked on, a good 12-to-15 years ago."

Established in 1963, Peavy and Son Construction has 100-plus employees, annual revenues of approximately US$20 million and specializes in site prep excavation and grading, and milling and asphalt paving. The contractor assigned a crew of five to work on the I-10 project.

Peavy and Son Construction had a 120-day deadline to complete the project. In addition to the poor road condition, the contractor had the challenge of working on a well-traveled road with hills, curves and elevations.

“We also discovered before we started milling that the road had irregularities in its width of as much as six inches,” Blyden said. “The previous contractor kept it tight on the inside road edge but the outside shoulder edge wandered.”

Blyden checked with FDOT to see if they should follow the existing road irregularities or correct them and provide a consistent finished edge.

FDOT opted for the corrected road width.

Peavy and Son Construction used its highway-class Roadtec RX-900e cold planer to mill a full 31/4-inch (82.5mm) depth. The company owns two other smaller milling machines but as Blyden remarked: “The RX-900e, with its 950hp engine and heavy-duty construction, was the logical choice for tackling the rough surface and width irregularities.”

A total of 189,000 square yards (158,000m2) of milled material was trucked out with most being converted to RAP (Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement).

Three lifts of hot-mix asphalt (HMA) were placed using a Roadtec RP-190e rubber-tired paver designed for highway work. The paver is equipped with a Carlson EZIV Rear Mount Screed and a MOBA-Matic II

62 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

grade and slope control system, which adjusts the height and slope of the paver screed and adjusts the paving output of the machine to prevent paving too little or too much material, thus increasing the paving quality and planarity.

Two lifts of structural asphalt were placed with a finishing friction course on top. The first structural asphalt course was 5,000 tons of Traffic Level B HMA with no polymers. Then, 28,000 tons of Traffic Level D HMA with polymers was placed. A final 8,000 tons of FC-5 open-graded friction course HMA provided the final traffic surface.

HMA traffic levels are graded A through E based on the design life of the pavement where Level A equals low traffic and Level E equals high traffic. The grading is based on the rate of pavement deterioration from the estimated number of 18,000 pound (18 kip) equivalent single-axle loads (ESALs). For any time period, ESALs on the most heavily traveled lane of the road are estimated using: • total traffic for a time period; • percentages of single unit trucks and combination trucks on the road; • an 18-kip equivalent load factor; and • a lane-load adjustment factor.

Choosing the right HMA is designed to ensure the longest life of a road before maintenance is required.

“At each step we have the equipment and crew to give us maximum control for the best results,” said Blyden. “Plus, we use a MTV (Material Transfer Vehicle) to ensure that our paver is receiving HMA that is thoroughly mixed and at the right temperature.”

Peavy and Son Construction has its own Astec HMA production plant, which is located approximately 20 miles from the job site. The company relied on its Roadtec MTV-1000 material transfer vehicle, which is designed for transferring while re-blending paving material to allow for continuous in-line paving.

“We finished the I-10 rehab project before the 120 day deadline and are very happy with the results,” Blyden stated. “FDOT conducted laser profile measurements and the road’s smoothness and rideability were dead on.”

In terms of quality of smoothness, the finished road received an average IRI (International Roughness Index) score of 32, which is well below the max rating of 48 assigned by the state. The quality of the road earned a 3% bonus plus additional incentive pay.

The contractor and its FDOT inspector weren’t the only ones pleased with the quality of the completed road. The road won a prestigious award.

The Peavy and Son Construction I-10 work received FDOT’s “Smoothest Pavement of the Year Award” in the Limited Access Roadway category for 2014. Annually FDOT considers all the roadwork completed in the entire state for the year and awards a winner and a runner up based on finished quality for two categories of roads, Primary Roadway and Limited Access Roadway.

“We’re very happy to win the 2015 FDOT Smoothest Pavement of the Year Award for projects completed in 2014 - it’s nice to be recognized,” Blyden said. “I’m proud of our crew. The road is not only a comfortable ride; it’s a gorgeous piece of workmanship.”

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ASPHALT IN FOCUS

“The energy figures we get out of the plant are very good and better than expected,” Mr Byrne said. “We can really fine-tune a lot of the plant settings to minimise energy consumption.”

“The features have made a big difference.

We’re producing a quality product, which our customers are extremely pleased about.

“We’re getting good numbers in terms of fuel through the burner and energy consumption. The plant itself has been running extremely well, and the noise and odour are not issues – not in the least. In addition, the local support from Ammann Australia has been exceptional.”

UNIBATCH ANSWERS ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS Darryl Byrne has been involved in the purchase of multiple asphalt plants during his career. He knows a purchase decision is not made lightly – especially when environmental regulators and residents are keeping a close watch.

“We didn’t rush the decision,” said Mr Byrne, General Manager of Roadworx, an Australian provider of road maintenance services with headquarters in Sydney. “It took us years to do our research.”

The efforts paid off. Roadworx commissioned, in November 2015, a new Ammann ABA UniBatch Asphalt-Mixing Plant at Wollongong, about an hour south of Sydney. Roadworx for more than 20 years has prided itself on delivering infrastructure solutions to councils, government departments and public and private companies.

The UniBatch plant provides all the environmental features Roadworx needed, including an ability to use recycled asphalt (RAP) and options that significantly reduce noise and odour.

Mr Byrne and colleagues from Roadworx made several trips to Europe, visiting sites where Ammann plants were operating.

“It was helpful to see them,” he said.

“It’s one thing to look at a brochure, but it’s important to actually walk around and see the plants working.”

What the group saw with the UniBatch, and its predecessors, was a plant that could be productive and meet the needs of customers. “The quality of the mix is first class,” Mr Byrne said.

64 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

But customers weren’t the only concern.

The plant was being located in an area where residents were concerned about the environment.

“Australia is quite onerous when it comes to environmental standards,” Mr Byrne said. In addition, another operational plant was nearby, built by another manufacturer. Surrounding residents expressed conerns about the combined air and noise emissions from having two plants in close proximity.

Roadworx had an answer to every question asked by the residents and authorities. “We had to make sure we did everything we could to minimise the impact,” said Mr Byrne.

“We put most of the optional features we could on the UniBatch plant.”

Noise mitigation systems were utilised, including installation of an Ammapax Stack Silencer. Additional cladding helped further reduce noise and also created an appealing look.

“We monitor the noise and the levels are very, very good.

Odour was another challenge. “We put the blue smoke extraction system in place throughout the plant. The system routes any smoke and odour through the baghouse for filtration.

“Odour is extremely minimal on the site,” Mr Byrne said. “Even the bitumen tank farm does not have any odour.”

Another environmental plus was the use of the as1 EcoView system, proprietary Ammann operating software that monitors the energy consumption of the plant, including fuel and electricity. This software makes the investment more efficient and also reduces emissions.

Image: © www.fotopizza.com

A SOUND INVESTMENT FOR ANY REGION ENVIRONMENTAL QUESTIONS? UNIBATCH HAS THE ANSWERS. In today’s market you need a productive, cost-effective asphalt plant. You also need to prove to the community that you comply with or exceed the latest environmental requirements.

The Ammann ABA UniBatch Asphalt-Mixing Plant helps you do both. It leverages Ammann’s cutting-edge technology to deliver exceptional output of high quality mixes. It also answers key environmental concerns through standard offerings and options that include: • Multiple noise mitigation systems • Fume extraction systems

• Full cladding to improve safety and provide aesthetic appeal

• Energy-saving software that reduces emissions and operating costs

• Most importantly, designed to Australian Standards

ABA UniBatch: the solution for happy business owner and communities.

Ammann Australia, 5 / 29 Business Drive, Narangba, 4504 Queensland Phone + 61 7 3293 1111, Fax + 61 7 3293 2222, info.aau@ammann-group.com For additional product information and services please visit : www.ammann - group.com PMP-1289-00-EN | © Ammann Group

ASPHALT IN FOCUS

TECHNOLOGY DRIVES

NEW RM500B ROTARY MIXER MACHINE FEATURES IMPROVED COMFORT AND SUPERIOR MIX QUALITY The new Cat® RM500B Rotary Mixer features many technology improvements that increase productivity and deliver superior mix quality on jobsites.

Other RM500B enhancements focus on operator comfort and ease of use. Intuitive fingertip controls and a climate-controlled, comfortable cab help keep operators alert throughout the shift.

Rotor options and a robust propel system also improve productivity while enabling superior mix quality.

Operator Comfort and Control A well-appointed cab provides a quiet, uncluttered work environment. Everything is within easy reach and view, enabling the

66 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

operator to focus on work and maximise productivity.

• The RM500B has excellent visibility, with a sliding cab and rotating seat that provides an unimpeded view of the cutting path on either side of the machine.

• Standard front and rear remote cameras enhance the view, as does an optional remote camera focused on the mixing chamber’s rear door to help the operator assess mix quality.

• The fingertip controls and the control console with LCD touchscreen display make operation easier.

• Backlit buttons on control keys provide easy identification.

• Precise hand-wheel steering enables manoeuvrability.

® CAT C15 ACERT™ ENGINE

FRONT STEER

READY FOR ANY

APPLICATION Three rotor choices, and three rotor speeds, powered by a sturdy drive system provide the means to perform a multitude of applications.

The four steering modes and electronically controlled full-time, all-wheel drive make the RM500B ready to work on virtually any jobsite.

Applications include: • Full-depth reclamation; • Soil stabilization; • Surface mining; • Agriculture; • Bio-remediation; • Haul roads; • Aggregate sizing; and • Raw materials mixing Call us to learn how the RM500B can help make your jobsites more productive.

REAR STEER

CRAB STEER

In regions without emissions standards, the RM500B is powered by a Cat C15 ACERT engine, a turbocharged 6-cylinder diesel that provides 403kW (540hp) of gross power. ACERT Technology utilises an electronic controller to precisely deliver multiple injections of fuel. They are combined with a refined air management system to generate fewer emissions and optimise fuel combustion, while achieving levels equivalent to Tier 3 and Stage IIIA standards.

Cooling System A robust cooling system provides cool intake air to maximise fuel efficiency and minimise emissions. An on-demand, variable-speed fan draws ambient air from a separate compartment in front of the engine through the cooling package. The exhaust air exits from the front of the machine, maintaining a cool engine compartment.

The cooling fan is reversible and automatically performs periodic reverse cycles to expel accumulated dust and clean the heat exchanger. This helps the system cool more efficiently and ensures that the engine is working optimally. A sensor prevents accidental overheating during a reverse cycle.

Power to Perform

Easy to Service

Cat engines deliver smooth power with fewer emissions. In the United States, Canada and Europe, the RM500B is equipped with a Cat C15 ACERT™ engine – a turbocharged, 6-cylinder diesel that provides 407kW (546hp) of gross power. The engine is designed to meet US EPA Tier 4 Final and EU Stage IV emissions standards. Every Tier 4 Final/Stage IV Cat engine with ACERT Technology is equipped with a combination of proven electronic, fuel, air and aftertreatment components.

RM500B features such as ground-level access to maintenance items help keep costs low and ensure that maintenance schedules are followed. New technology with a user-friendly interface makes the advanced systems even easier for operators to understand and utilise.

• Visual indicators help monitor fuel, water, hydraulic oil and coolant levels.

• Ground-level access makes it easy to reach the engine oil dipstick, engine oil filter and S•O•SSM oil sampling ports.

COORDINATED STEER

• An LCD touchscreen includes an airrestriction indicator that alerts the operator to performance issues.

• Large doors and removable panels provide unrestricted access to critical components.

• A reversing cooling fan ejects dust from the cooling package to maintain optimum system performance.

• Cat batteries do not need maintenance.

• Oil sampling and pressure testing ports reduce risk of spillage and contamination.

• Grouped drain ports simplify drainage and reduce spillage.

• Optional Product Link™ maximises fleet tracking and maintenance.

• A storage bin holds a supply of replacement bits.

Enhanced Propel System Standard electronically controlled all-wheel drive and four steering modes maximise traction and mobility, even in poor underfoot conditions. The four steering modes – front steer, rear steer, crab steer and coordinated steer – provide the ability to change the steering characteristics for excellent manoeuvrability.

The RM500B is hydrostatically driven and features four independent pumps and drive motors that provide a dedicated flow to each wheel motor. Sensors adjust hydraulic flow to balance traction, reduce wheel spin and ensure productivity in even the most extreme conditions.

Propel is controlled with an electronic joystick on the operator’s console. Six thumb buttons enable the operator to conveniently adjust the rear chamber door trim, adjust the rotor depth, and establish a rotor depth set-point.

Contact us for more information about the new RM500B Rotary Mixer.

October 2016 | Highway Engineering Australia 67

PROJECT FOCUS

BRISBANE AIRPORT NPR Brisbane Airport’s New Parallel Runway (NPR) is ambitious, not only due to the sheer size of the project, but also due to the poor ground conditions of the site, the high value environments within which works are taking place and in the types of operations it has been designed to accommodate. With the $1.4 billion NPR on track to be opened and commissioned in 2020, the new runway will effectively double the capacity of Brisbane Airport, helping to drive Queensland’s economy into the future.

The NPR is the largest aviation construction project in Australia and continues to meet the engineering challenges of every stage of its development with innovation and precision. The new runway has required the reclamation of 360ha of land, and will be comprised of a 3.3km runway and 12km of taxiways linking into the existing airfield and facilities.

Though it is not unique to construct an additional runway, Brisbane Airport is striving to achieve the status of the first capital city airport in Australia to implement simultaneous opposite direction operations on parallel runways as its predominant mode of operation. This will maximise flights over Moreton Bay away from residential areas of Brisbane while also effectively doubling the capacity of the airport.

A parallel runway has been depicted in Airport Master Plans for the past three decades, though it was not until 2007 that Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) received the appropriate government and state approvals to proceed to final planning and design, and ultimately to construction.

“It is a fulfilling experience to be delivering such an important infrastructure project designed to meet the aviation needs for the next generation for ‘Queensland’s Premier Gateway – Brisbane Airport’,” says Paul Coughlan, Project Director.

The poor strength soils of the site meant the project was best delivered in two distinct phases, each consisting of a number of works contracts: Phase 1: Ground Improvement Works • Early Enabling Civil Works • Dredge and Reclamation Works Phase 2: Airfield Pavement Construction • Seawall and Site Access

68 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

• Dryandra Road Underpass • Airfield Pavement Construction.

BAC has chosen to deliver this project as a series of Construct Only contracts with each of the contracts representing a discreet package of works. Each package possesses a varying level of innovation within its design and construction.

“The first major engineering challenge of the NPR project was the low-lying nature of the site and the very soft in-situ soils.

Situated within the floodplain of the old Brisbane River Delta, the underlying ground layers for large portions of the site are the consistency of toothpaste to depths of up to 35 metres,” explains Mr Coughlan.

The soft soil geotechnical solution has included the engineered placement of 11million cubic metres of sand dredged from Moreton Bay, working in combination with

wick drains installed to a matrix of differing densities across the site to consolidate the ground and flood and climate-proof the site.

These works, in addition to the early enabling civil works (clearing, site access and major new drainage) undertaken by BMD, commenced in September 2012 and were formally completed in June 2015, comprised NPR Phase 1.

BAC and Jan De Nul (JDN) Following an international competitive tender process, BAC selected Belgian dredge contractor Jan De Nul Australia (JDN) and its Jumbo class dredge, the Charles Darwin, to undertake the Dredging and Reclamation Works for Phase 1.

The sand was taken from the government approved footprint at Middle Banks, Moreton Bay, vacuumed up from the seabed and

PROJECT FOCUS

deposited within the jumbo hopper (30,000 cubic metre capacity) of the Charles Darwin, and sailed to a purpose-constructed mooring in the Brisbane River near Luggage Point.

The sand was fluidised at the mooring and pumped, without booster, under the power of the 15,000kW on-board pumps, up to 9km through a 1m diameter steel pipe to the runway site as a sand/water slurry. The pipeline had been constructed in the months preceding the dredge’s arrival from the river across the Luggage Point Waste Water Treatment Plant site, through the existing operational airport, under the smaller cross runway and into the NPR site.

The sand/water mixture flowed onto the fully contained (by 5m high perimeter bund) runway site. All the sand was placed hydraulically by adding and realigning lengths of steel pipe during the pump-out process to direct the sand where it was to be placed.

Large volumes of excess water were channelled to tailwater holding ponds before being discharged as clean water back to Moreton Bay, via the Kedron Brook Floodway. The works, undertaken in and around some of South East Queensland’s most highly valued marine environments, were performed utilising international best practice environmental monitoring and management standards.

“JDN was able to achieve full compliance with the regulatory water quality limits at both the Moreton Bay borrow location and the discharge at Kedron Brook Floodway” advised Amandine Schneider, Senior Environment Co-ordinator.

State of the art water quality monitoring and telemetry were employed to provide 24/7 real time monitoring data at Moreton Bay, Kedron Brook Floodway and at the discharge point within the site. The benefits

of real time monitoring and inbuilt alarms that sounded should water quality approach upper limits were put to maximum effect to ensure discharge waters were always within regulatory guidelines.

Sand & Wick Drains – Perfect Partners The consolidation process, in the absence of extra surcharge load and wick drains, has been estimated to take from 10-to-15 years to achieve the desired settlement. With the engineered ground improvements the site will now take up to four years (2015-2018) for the softest portions to achieve a suitable level of settlement.

The wick drain installation for the NPR is Australia’s largest ever wick drain project.

330,000 individual wick drains measuring a total of 8 million linear meters were driven vertically into the sand platforms by wick rigs up to 50m high. Expediting consolidation is achieved by the weight of the sand pressing the water from the foundation soils in a capillary-like action through the wicks to the surface for discharge.

The action of extracting the water from the soil interstices is what effectively strengthens the soil profile to create an appropriate base on which to construct Brisbane’s New Parallel Runway.

Current Project Status The consolidation of the runway foundation is progressing well in accordance with predictions. The softest parts of the site have settled more than 2 metres since sand placement was completed in December 2014.

Since the completion of Phase 1, the NPR team has been working on the Phase 2 Design works. Jacobs Engineering Consultants were contracted as the NPR designers for the final design of the Airfield Infrastructure, Dryandra Road Underpass and the Seawall and Site Access.

Given BAC’s procurement strategy is for Construct Only contracts, it is essential that the documentation for the works, drawings, specifications etc are prepared with 100% accuracy prior to release.

Next steps BAC will deliver Phase 2 in three major contracts: 1. Seawall and Site Access; 2. Dryandra Road Underpass; and the 3. Airfield Works.

To date, the seawall and site access contract has been awarded to Hall Contracting with commencement of works imminent. The tenders for the Dryandra Road and Airfield Works have been released to Australian-based companies (closed tender process) with their award targeted for early and mid-2017 respectively.

October 2016 | Highway Engineering Australia 69

ACA CORROSION FEATURE

PROTECTING TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE National governments and municipal councils around the world - as well as industrial and mining companies - have invested billions of dollars into transport equipment and infrastructure. This includes thousands of kilometres of drains, culverts, tunnels and bridges associated with roadways, all of which vary in size, shape, and degree of complexity.

Corrosion continues to impose a massive cost on all industries. Effective corrosion management strategies can help reduce this cost, which has been estimated to be more than three per cent - or multiple billions of dollars - of global GDP each year. In addition to being an economic threat to industry and the wider community, corrosion can also be a physical threat to infrastructure and personal safety.

Aging or damaged infrastructure presents many challenges for the effective management of these assets. Some transport infrastructure was built in the 1950s and designed in

accordance with lower standards than are currently prescribed. Some is still in place well beyond its intended service life and other infrastructure has suffered damage as a result of storms or accidents or, because of the lack of active maintenance programs, has deteriorated to the extent that there is now doubt as to its continued structural integrity.

One particular type of infrastructure that has become an issue in Australia and New Zealand is the strength and durability of road bridges in remote areas. Many of these concrete structures were built to accommodate much smaller and lighter vehicles; the road trains of the Australian Outback can weigh up to 150 tonnes and the recently announced four-trailer versions weighing more than 200 tonnes.

Without effective monitoring and control of corrosion in the concrete of these types of bridges, it is possible that they will suffer catastrophic failure as trucks pass over them,

resulting in unbudgeted capital expenditure to replace the bridge, in addition to the on-costs of damaged vehicles and potential injury or death of drivers.

The Australasian Corrosion Association (ACA)'s Corrosion & Prevention 2016 conference in Auckland in November will feature several seminars on corrosion prevention and remediation in the civil infrastructure and related industry sectors.

The latest advances in corrosion management processes and technology will be presented as part of the various technical streams during C&P2016. Other topics covered at the conference include advances in sensing and monitoring; asset management; cathodic protection; concrete corrosion and repair; corrosion mechanisms, modelling and prediction; materials selection and design, and protective coatings.

For registrations or to download the full conference program, please visit: www.acaconference.com.au

ABOUT THE AUSTRALASIAN CORROSION ASSOCIATION The Australasian Corrosion Association Incorporated (ACA) is a not-for-profit, industry association, established in 1955 to service the needs of Australian and New Zealand companies, organisations and individuals involved in the fight against corrosion. The vision of the ACA is to reduce the impact of corrosion.

For further information, please visit the web site: www.corrosion.com.au

October 2016 | Highway Engineering Australia 71

ACA CORROSION FEATURE

C&P2016 TO SHOWCASE CORROSION PREVENTION ADVANCES Corrosion is a continuing challenge to industries and governments around the world. It has been estimated that more than three per cent of global GDP each year is spent on corrosion mitigation and repair, making it vital that the latest technologies and practices are applied to managing this insidious threat.

To support and promote all efforts to minimise the impact of corrosion, the Australasian Corrosion Association (ACA) will present Corrosion & Prevention 2016 Conference in Auckland, New Zealand in November.

Industry experts will deliver six plenary addresses - including the PF Thompson Lecture - and 83 presentations across four technical

72 Highway Engineering Australia | October 2016

streams, in addition to seven forums. Staged in Auckland's Sky City Convention Centre between 13-16 November 2016, C&P2016 will bring together leading researchers and industry practitioners who combat corrosion on a daily basis. More than 450 delegates are expected to attend the conference and extensive exhibition of key industry suppliers.

The diverse technical streams will showcase the latest developments in corrosion prevention, management and mitigation. The broad themes of the technical seminars are coatings, concrete and asset management, the oil and gas and offshore industry, and research. Topics covered will range from fundamental corrosion science

to hands-on application including advances in sensing and monitoring; asset management; cathodic protection; concrete corrosion and repair; corrosion mechanisms, modelling and prediction; materials selection and design, and protective coatings.

Dr Patricia Shaw, Better Buildings Research Team Leader at BRANZ, will deliver the PF Thompson Memorial Lecture in 2016 covering the corrosion of polymeric materials. The lecture commemorates the work of corrosion science pioneer, P F Thompson, and has been delivered every year at the ACA's annual conference since 1951.

As in past years, CandP2016 will give delegates many opportunities to network with colleagues and peers, in addition to being a source for the latest information concerning corrosion prevention, control and repair.

This conference will be of value to people working in a wide range of industries, including construction, oil and gas, mining, cultural and historical materials preservation, power generation, maritime, asset management, food processing, and defence.

Places are still available for the conference.

For registrations and to download a full Conference Program, please visit: www.acaconference.com.au

PROUDLY PRESENTED BY:

MAJOR SPONSOR:

MEDIA PARTNER:

www.acaconference.com.au

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