NEWS
TOOWOOMBA SECOND RANGE CROSSING OPENING DATE SET The Toowoomba Second Range Crossing, a $1.6 billion infrastructure investment project, officially opened on 8 September 2019. The upgrade aims to transform the national freight network in the Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley regions in Queensland. The project involves building four lanes from the Warrego Highway east interchange to the west interchange, along with grade separated intersections and connections on various parts of the road. It also includes an around 30-metre deep cutting at the top of the range to ensure all vehicles can pass through and an 800-metre-long viaduct over the existing Queensland rail lines, as well as the construction of arch bridges to continue the New England highway over the cutting. The project was delivered by Nexus Infrastructure, a consortium comprising of Transfield Services, Plenary Group, Cintra Infraestructuras Internacional S.A., Acciona Concesiones S.L., Acciona Infrastructure Australia and Ferrovial Agroman Australia. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional
The crossing will take pressure of local roads.
Development Michael McCormack said the project would significantly reduce travel times across the range and deliver a safer, more efficient connection to ports and markets. “Connecting the Warrego Highway at Helidon Spa in the east to the Gore Highway at Athol in the west, the new Toowoomba Second Range Crossing will form a vital strategic link within Australia’s national freight network and Toowoomba’s emerging intermodal network,” Mr. McCormack said. Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the project
would make life easier for residents of Toowoomba and Lockyer Valley areas. “With trucks being redirected away from Toowoomba’s central business district, pressure will be taken off local roads,” Mr. Bailey said. “The opening of the crossing in September will be the moment that the decades of dedication and hard work from so many people to see this road built is finally achieved.” To celebrate the opening of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing a community day was held on 7 September and a marathon was run on 8 September.
SYDNEY METRO REUSES SANDSTONE
Sydney Metro will reuse 100 per cent of the crushed rock produced.
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ROADS SEPTEMBER 2019
Excavated sandstone from Sydney Metro tunnels will be reused to build the new Western Sydney International Airport, as both infrastructure projects begin to take shape. More than 500,000 tonnes of sandstone will be transported from Metro tunnelling sites to the Western Sydney International Airport site. Western Sydney Airport Chief Executive Officer Graham Millett said more than 148,000 tonnes of sandstone had already been transported. “This high-quality sandstone will be used as a high-strength foundation to support the construction of the runway, taxiways and roads on site,” Mr. Millett said. “This is a great example of how we can
make the most of Sydney’s infrastructure boom, to not only save taxpayer funds but also cut down on waste.” Mr. Millett said Western Sydney International Airport is committed to sustainability, efficiency, reusing resources and reducing carbon emissions. “Building the airport is one of the biggest earthmoving challenges in Australian history, but we’ve already moved more than 1 million cubic metres of earth across the 1780-hectare site,” Mr. Millett said. Sydney Metro aims to reuse 100 per cent of the crushed rock produced during the excavation of the 15.5-kilometre twin tunnels between Chatswood and Marrickville.
