The latest in rail projects around Australia

Contracts in brief

Keep up to date with the latest contracts, EOIs, and tenders announced this month

CREDIT: HALL CONTRACTING

Hall Contracting has been awarded the early works construction contract for the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade.

QUEENSLAND Beerburrum to Nambour contract awarded

SUNSHINE Coast company Hall Contracting has been awarded the early works construction contract for the jointly funded Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade.

Deputy Prime Minister and infrastructure minister Barnaby Joyce said the project was a reminder of the federal government’s record nationwide $110 billion infrastructure investment.

“Investing in B2N is also about creating jobs and supporting the Sunshine Coast and Queensland’s economic recovery,” he said.

“It’s the first time in history that the Federal Government is funding this stretch of rail, where we’re contributing 70 per cent. We’re also funding 80 per cent of the Bruce Highway upgrades. The Sunshine Coast deserves this level of support.”

Works would start early next year on the upgrade, one of several projects planned to improve the freight and passenger connection between Brisbane and Cairns.

At Landsborough, an additional park ‘n’ ride facility with about 300 parking spaces will be built on the eastern side of the station, removing the need for people to drive across the level crossing to park.

Landsborough Station will also benefit from the construction of a new bus interchange.

Stage one will also realign a onekilometre section of Steve Irwin Way between Nursery Road and Moffatt Road, allowing duplication of the rail line and smoothing of the curves through this section.

The early works will pave the way for the major construction works to deliver rail duplication between Beerburrum and Beerwah, three new road-over-rail bridges and expansion of the park ‘n’ ride facility at Beerburrum.

Early works are expected to start in early 2022 and be completed by 2023, weather and construction conditions permitting.

Stage one construction is expected to be completed by 2025, weather and construction conditions permitting.

The Australian and Queensland governments have committed $550.8 million towards the B2N project, with the Australian government providing $390 million and the Queensland government providing $160.8 million.

WESTERN AUSTRALIA Roads over rail at Port Hedland

Port Hedland road and rail improvements are underway, with the first contract awarded for two ‘road-over-rail’ bridge projects and Stage 1 works beginning.

The contract has been awarded for the $31.48 million project at Buttweld Road to the Highway Construction-Albem Operations Joint Venture.

Highway Construction is a quality accredited mid-tier construction company with strong design and construct experience in urban and regional areas in Australia.

Over the past three decades the company has successfully delivered more than 40 major projects for the WA State Government Road Authority, Main Roads WA, making it by number of projects the most frequently awarded supplier of transportation infrastructure in the state.

It enjoys a long-term partnership with Queensland bridge construction specialist, Albem Operations.

Stage 1 of the Port Hedland projects will be fully funded by BHP and delivered by the Western Australian Government through Main Roads WA, and Stage 2 is funded by BHP, Federal Government and the Western Australian Government

The bridge at Buttweld Road is part of an estimated $68 million package of works split into three phases: 1. Construction of a 34-metre-long bridge over BHP’s rail line south of Buttweld

Road bridge (Stage 1). 2. Closure of Powell Road and construction of traffic roundabouts at the Dalton and

Hamilton roads intersections, with the roundabouts to be built either side of the rail line and complement the ‘road-overrail’ bridges by removing access over the rail crossing (Stage 1). 3. Construction of a 31-metre-long ‘roadover-rail’ bridge on the Port Hedland

Airport Deviation at the Nelson Point main level crossing on Great Northern

Highway (Stage 2).

Main Roads will manage the works with total funding for the road-over-rail projects provided by BHP ($45.26 million), the Federal Government ($18.2 million) and the Western Australian Government ($4.54 million).

WA Premier, Mark McGowan, said the three rail crossings carry a total of 6000 vehicles per day, and providing bridges not only removed the risk of accidents, but eliminated the need for people to wait in their vehicles while long freight trains pass by.

BHP Western Australia Iron Ore asset president Brandon Craig said the funding package would improve safety at level rail crossings and provide jobs to the local community while allowing travel around Port Hedland to become more efficient.