NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE
CLEARING THE AIR AUSTRAL PRECAST DELIVERS PRECAST SOLUTION FOR SYDNEY’S M5 EXHAUST VENT BUILDING Project: Exhaust Vent Building for West Connnex M5 Motorway tunnel Precaster: Austral Precast Location: Arncliffe, NSW Client: WestConnex Delivery Authority on behalf of NSW Roads and Maritime Services Builder: CPB Contractors, Dragados and Samsung Joint Venture Engineer: Aurecon A new section of the M5 Motorway tunnel is set to more than double the capacity of the M5 East Motorway corridor. Located in Arncliffe in Sydney’s inner-south, the 9-kilometre-long twin tunnel between Kingsgrove and St Peters started construction in July 2016 and will open to commuters in 2020.
46 Highway Engineering Australia | Feb/Mar 2020
The new tunnel has been designed to be taller and wider than the previous tunnel, increasing safety for travellers. Importantly, the tunnel is equipped with efficient and modern ventilation systems, meeting strict global air quality standards within and outside of the tunnel.
VENTILATION AND EMERGENCY SMOKE EXTRACTION KEY TO TUNNEL SAFETY
Ventilation and emergency extraction of smoke is an essential element of any tunnel system. In the case of the M5 Arncliffe, this is achieved through an exhaust vent building and supply vent building that operate continually in conjunction with one another.
