Roads & Infrastructure December 2020 by Prime Creative Media

DECEMBER 2020

& INFRASTRUCTURE

BUILDING WITH DATA InEight’s Rob Bryant on successful delivery of infrastructure works

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SADDLE RAIL CREEK Road upgrades to improve flood immunity CONTRACTS IN BRIEF Australia’s major contract awards of 2020

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DECEMBER 2020 CONTENTS

& INFRASTRUCTURE COVER STORY

14 Building with data As the pipeline of major works grows, InEight’s software is ready to help businesses with successful delivery to boost the economy.

PROJECT REPORT

18 Saddle Rail Creek Bridge As part of $12.3 million of construction works, the Saddle Rail Creek Bridge and the surrounding 11.7 kilometres of road are being upgraded in the Northern Territory to improve flood immunity.

AAPA

22 A new journey AAPA CEO Carlos Rial details the organisation’s name change, its achievements in 2020 and what it’s hoping to accomplish in 2021. 25 AAPA member profile Mark Waller, CEO 4M Waste, explains how roads and waste are becoming increasingly connected through the circular economy.

ISCA

27 Return on investment ISCA reports on an independent study that found the IS Rating Scheme delivers a return on investment both financially and socially.

ROADS REVIEW

28 Roads column Roads & Infrastructure is debuting it’s new column, each month we will be asking industry leaders to answer one question. This month’s question is: ‘What is one thing to watch out for in 2021?’

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

31 South Australia glass trial ResourceCo details its work with the Adelaide Waste Management Authority on a trial for the use of glass waste in construction materials.

Saddle Rail Creek Bridge is being built to improve flood immunity, see page 18.

32 Recycling recap We wrap up a four week webinar series, hosted by the Australian Road Research Board and Ecologiq, detailing ways to use common waste materials in infrastructure construction.

ASPHALT IN ACTION

34 A year with SAMI SAMI Bitumen, General Manager Sebastien Chatard details some of SAMI’s 2020 achievements and previews exciting developments ahead.

TECHNOLOGY AND EQUIPMENT

36 Shaking up paving CEA is introducing the Dynapac MF2500CS feeder with IMIX to Australia, we find out how the IMIX technology works to improve the finished product. 38 A foundation for aviation Wirtgen’s WR240 soil stabiliser and cold recycler has been used by Roadwork Industries to prepare foundations for a major aircraft storage facility in Alice Springs after COVID-19 restricted the aviation industry.

SAFETY

40 Driving safety With an expected increase of local road

safety projects in 2021, Innov8 details its process for innovation and continuous improvement for development of products that keep road workers and the public safe. 42 Understanding the lift George Grasso, Global Chief Services Officer at Underwriting Agencies of Australia explains the importance of understanding what you are lifting as a crane hire company.

CONTRACTS AND TENDERS

44 Contracts in brief Roads & Infrastructure provides an update on some of the biggest infrastructure contracts and tenders in 2020.

ARRB THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

46 Safer road infrastructure In 2021, ARRB is set to produce a new best practice guide to help local government build and manage safer road infrastructure. Roads & Infrastructure find out what this entails.

REGULARS 04 Editor’s note 06 News

roadsonline.com.au

& INFRASTRUCTURE PUBLISHER Christine Clancy christine.clancy@primecreative.com.au MANAGING EDITOR Melanie Stark melanie.stark@primecreative.com.au EDITOR Lauren Jones lauren.jones@primecreative.com.au

STRONG FOUNDATIONS BUSHFIRES, A PANDEMIC, SUPPLY CHAIN DISRUPTIONS and border closures were just some of the challenges faced by Australia’s infrastructure industry in 2020. With a multitude of hurdles in the way, the industry continued to work and progress. This year saw milestones on many major projects across the nation, record investment in the infrastructure pipeline and important developments in the circular economy. As lockdowns forced many to work from home, infrastructure construction continued with COVID safe practices to protect the community and prepare it for the future. The global economy took a hit and infrastructure was hailed as an important economic boost to bring Australia back from recession. More than $7.5 billion in infrastructure funding followed, and that was just from the Federal Government. However, while faced with challenges not seen so far this century, the construction sector continued to innovate. We’ve seen trials for crumb rubber, increased percentages of recycled crushed glass and the use of plastic and other recycled materials in asphalt and infrastructure applications. The industry is also working towards the adoption of technology such as digital twins and artificial intelligence for transparent and realistic project budgets, timelines and execution. To reflect this, the theme for the December issue of Roads & Infrastructure is ‘a year in review’ as we take a look at some of the industry’s achievements. This includes some of the largest contracts and tenders awarded across the country this year which are detailed on page 44. In this edition we also launch our new monthly column, the Roads Review, asking industry leaders one question and feature their answers. We kick off by asking what the industry should look out for in 2021 on page 28. With 2020 nearly in the rear-view mirror, it’s exciting to think of what the infrastructure industry might achieve in 2021. Until then, wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year. Enjoy reading and we’ll be back in February with more of the best from the infrastructure sector.

DESIGN PRODUCTION MANAGER Michelle Weston michelle.weston@primecreative.com.au ART DIRECTOR Blake Storey DESIGN Kerry Pert, Madeline McCarty BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Brad Marshall brad.marshall@primecreative.com.au CLIENT SUCCESS MANAGER Justine Nardone justine.nardone@primecreative.com.au

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Lauren Jones Editor, Roads & Infrastructure Magazine

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

Roads & Infrastructure Australia is owned and published by Prime Creative Media. All material in Roads & Infrastructure Australia is copyright and no part may be reproduced or copied in any form or by any means (graphic, electronic or mechanical including information and retrieval systems) without the written permission of the publisher. The Editor welcomes contributions but reserves the right to accept or reject any material. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information, Prime Creative Media will not accept responsibility for errors or omissions or for any consequences arising from reliance on information published. The opinions expressed in Roads & Infrastructure Australia are not necessarily the opinions of, or endorsed by the publisher unless otherwise stated.

NEWS

CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AWARDED FOR $700M METRONET TRAIN LINE The contract for construction of the METRONET Morley-Ellenbrook Line in Western Australia has been awarded to the MELconnx Consortium. Laing O’Rourke Australia Construction are behind the MELconnx Consortium. Construction will include building the 21 kilometre rail line, connecting the growing northeastern suburbs to the wider rail network. This project will be the most significant expansion of the METRONET rail network since 2007. More than 6500 local jobs are expected to be created and it is estimated by completion in 2031 the line will take more than 10,000 car trips off the roads daily. The contract includes construction of the rail line as well as building five new stations at Morley, Noranda, Malaga, Whiteman Park and Ellenbrook, with a future station to be developed at Bennett Springs East. Early works have already started, with the New Bayswater Station – the site where the Morley-Ellenbrook Line will spur off the Midland Line – and the Tonkin Highway Gap project. As part of the Tonkin Gap Project, works include civil and structural works between Bayswater and Malaga to allow rail access in and out of the Tonkin Highway and to prepare

The Morley-Ellenbrook Line will connect the eastern suburbs to the wider rail network.

the corridor for rail to be laid. The direct costs of the Morley-Ellenbrook Line enabling works on those two projects is estimated at $233 million. The total project budget for the main contract, including contingency, escalation and ancillary costs, is estimated to come in at $1.1 billion. It’s expected all main construction work will be completed in 2023-24. Premier Mark McGowan said he was pleased the main construction contract has now been awarded. “Now more than ever, big infrastructure projects like METRONET’s MorleyEllenbrook Line are imperative to WA’s COVID-19 economic recovery as they create a pipeline of work and supporting

thousands of jobs,” he said. Western Australian Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the population of Perth’s north-eastern suburbs was expected to double by 2031 and it was vital the Government planned and delivered key infrastructure now. “The community have been waiting a long time for their railway – we promised it in 2017 and when we were lucky enough to be elected to Government we immediately began planning the project,” she said. “ The line is anticipated to provide passengers travelling from Ellenbrook Station a seamless 30-minute journey to the CBD without transferring trains. This project is jointly funded by the Federal and State Governments.

TRACKLESS TRAM ONE STEP CLOSER TO REALITY IN WESTERN AUSTRALIA The Federal Government has committed $2 million to the development of a business case for Western Australia’s first trackless tram. Running between Scarborough Beach and Glendalough, the initial proposal will see the tram extend for seven kilometres from the beach to the city centre, with connections through to the Perth CBD and the existing heavy rail network at Glendalough Station. Work on the business case is expected to start in the coming months. Trackless trams operate on existing roadways, without tracks, making them easier and less expensive to incorporate into traditional transport systems. Minister for Population, Cities and Urban 6

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the trackless tram technology had the potential to be expanded into public transport systems across the country. “This is ground breaking technology that has the potential to be rolled out across our cities,” Tudge said. “Being a fraction of the cost of traditional rail solutions it could enable a massive expansion of public transport, it is very exciting.” City of Stirling Mayor, Mark Irwin, said work towards the trackless tram system is partly underway with the route already having been zoned for light rail years ahead of other localities in Western Australia. “Long-term, comprehensive Local

Government planning is already approved, and land holders along the route have already ceded the road reserve land required to widen Scarborough Beach Road and deliver the rapid-transit lanes required for the trackless tram system,” Irwin said “This has meant we were the first local government in Western Australia ready to receive these Federal funds, and we look forward to proving up this concept in order to take the City forward into a new decade of prosperity.” Trackless trams are hoped to reduce congestion taking cars off the road and relieving car parking issues at the Scarborough Foreshore Precinct, while also reducing carbon emissions.

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NEWS

TONKIN GAP ALLIANCE BEGINS WORKS ON THE $400M MAJOR ROAD AND RAIL PROJECT

Rita Saffioti said these works will create thousands of local jobs.

Construction on the Tonkin Highway is expected to ramp up over the coming months. Groundworks are now underway on the northern section of the project. Crews are also working on enabling works for the Morley-Ellenbrook line, which will run in the median of the Tonkin Highway and underneath the Reid Highway and Tonkin Highway interchange. When constructed trains will run from the new Bayswater station through two underpasses with dive structures that are being constructed which will allow trains to enter the highway and exit before the new Malaga Station. New road and bus bridges will be built at Broun Avenue, including a bus interchange station, to provide access to the future Morley Station. Work on the southern end of the Tonkin Gap project will also begin shortly and will fix one of Perth’s most congested

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

roads, Tonkin Highway between Morley and Redcliffe, which carries more than 120,000 vehicles daily. Construction will include widening parts of the highway to provide new lanes in each direction, four new bridges and a new Principal Shared path on the western side of the highway. It’s expected to save 17,000 road users who use this section of Tonkin Highway up to six minutes during morning peak and up to 11 minutes during afternoon peak. Works on this project have been fast tracked to support WA’s COVID-19 economic recovery. The Tonkin Gap project is being delivered by the Tonkin Gap alliance, comprised of BMD, Georgiou Group, WA Limestone, BG&E and GHD, with contract cost estimated to be $400 million. Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the

Tonkin Highway Gap and Morley-Ellenbrook rail line would truly be a jobs bonanza for WA with thousands of local jobs created across both projects. “It’s crucial that we support the WA economy as we come out the other side of COVID and fast-tracking projects like the Tonkin Highway Gap is part of our plan.” Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the start of the Morley-Ellenbrook Line enabling works was a significant step in delivering on the McGowan Government’s election commitment. “Just weeks ago we signed the main construction contract for the MorleyEllenbrook line,” she said. “These works will create thousands of local jobs and opportunities for local businesses.” The full Tonkin Gap project is expected to be complete in late 2023.

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ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA TO PRESENT INFRASTRUCTURE ROADMAP TO DEPUTY PM Engineers Australia (EA) will present the Deputy Prime Minister with member based recommendations for an evidence based infrastructure roadmap in April 2021. Based on Engineers Australia’s submission to the 2019 Australian Infrastructure Audit, the organisation was approached by Infrastructure Australia (IA) to assist them in the development of their 2021 plan for Australia’s infrastructure needs. The 2019 submission made a number of recommendations around future policy decisions but most importantly noted that these decisions need to be underpinned by qualified technical experts. Jonathan Russell, EA National Manager for Policy and Advocacy, said it is crucial for technical experts to be incorporated at all project stages, from planning through to maintenance and beyond. “Fully understanding the technical requirements and considering the whole of life, financial and non-financial costs and benefits achieves better value from procurement. We were pleased that IA took on board this fundamental recommendation.” EA Division General Managers put the call out to members to participate in online workshops and were overwhelmed with members’ willingness to lend their valuable expertise and time.

The roadmap for Deputy Prime Minister, Michael McCormack, will be based on member recommendations.

Over 120 members offered to provide their multi-disciplinary engineering expertise to workshops across infrastructure sectors such as: Industry, Innovation and Productivity; Sustainability and Resilience; Place; Water; Waste, Energy, Transport; Social Infrastructure, and; Telecommunications & Digital.

Recommendations from each roundtable will be compiled and fed into a final report. Engineers Australia’s lead for infrastructure policy, Sybilla Grady, said this is just one of many examples of how Engineers Australia members make a difference in the everyday lives of Australians.

NORTH-SOUTH CORRIDOR TECHNICAL INVESTIGATIONS PROGRESS Ground investigation works are progressing on the final section of the North-South Corridor project in South Australia. This section of works will transform the 10.5 kilometre stretch of road between River Torrens to Darlington over the next decade. Design of the upgrade will include a combination of tunnels and surface level motorway. Due to the location of the final section, it is the most complex to design and deliver as it is situated close to unique heritage assets. Minister for Infrastructure 10

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

and Transport, Corey Wingard, said the locations selected for the ground investigation and engineering survey works do not necessarily correspond to areas that will be impacted by the project in the final design. “Ground investigation works commenced with one drill rig in August this year, and have progressed to four concurrently operating rigs now in action,” Wingard said. “A fifth rig is due to commence in the coming weeks and Phase Two of these

works are due to commence in March 2021.” Boreholes of approximately 10 centimetres in diameter, at depths of between 30 to 100 metres, have been drilled at 36 locations. The total depth drilled equates to more than 1.4 kilometres. By the end of January 2021, nearly 5,000 tests are expected to have been carried out across 200 testing locations. The samples from these tests will be examined in local laboratories. Results will help to determine the depth and route the tunnels may take.

NEWS

LOCAL COMPANY AWARDED $30M UPGRADE TO SOUTH COAST HIGHWAY IN WA The contract for the third stage of the $30 million upgrade to the South Coast Highway in WA has been awarded to a local contractor. Western Australian company Ertech will undertake the works in Kojaneerup. The project will include road reconstruction, the construction of two passing lanes and road widening works. Works have so far been completed in a staged approach with: • Stage One completed in June 2019: Mead Road section – widening the pavement from seven to 11 metres between Kilarney Road and Monty’s Leap Win ery, and construction of a

westbound passing lane approximately 2.5 kilometres west of Kalgan River Bridge; and • Stage Two completed in April 2020: Kalgan section – widening the pavement from seven to 11 metres between Monty’s Leap Winery and the Kalgan River Bridge. Construction of Stage Three is set to begin in November and be completed in May 2021. Upon completion the upgrade is expected to have supported 150 direct and indirect jobs. Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said improvements along South Coast Highway are taking shape, creating local jobs and

opportunities for local businesses. “As well as upgrading South Coast Highway, we have also started works on the long awaited Albany Highway as well as $13 million being spent to upgrade sections of Albany Highway,” she said. Albany MLA Peter Watson said the construction of the passing lanes will benefit many commuters, given the area experiences a mix of tourist traffic and heavy vehicles. “Completion of the third stage – and the overall program, will provide safer travelling opportunities, and improve transport efficiencies for everyone in our Great Southern Region,” he said.

Local company Ertech will undertake the South Coast Highway works. roadsonline.com.au

VICTORIA’S FIRST $69M GREEN ROOF PARK AND RIDE FACILITY FAST TRACKED start on the facility next year and will be complete by 2022. The Bulleen Park Ride facility will then be finished before major works begin on the North East Link. Local sporting clubs are also preparing for $68

million in upgrades as part of the North East Link works. Locals are invited to provide feedback on the Urban Design and Landscape Plan for the new facility, though the Victoria’s Big Build website. Image credit: Victoria’s Big Build

The green roof Bulleen Park Ride facility has been fast-tracked by four years, it will be Victoria’s first green roof park and ride precinct. The facility will be built as part of the North East Link, the green roof will feature grass and plant areas for commuters to enjoy. Walking and cycling paths along the roof will connect to Koonung Creek Trail. It will include multi-level parking for 370 cars, additional quick drop-off and pick-u parking bays, bike storage, myki machines and toilets. The design and layout of the park and rides will aim to see passengers get on buses quicker and reduce queue times. Car park technology will show the number of car parks available on each level. Construction is expected to create 300 jobs and once complete, buses will cut commute times along an upgraded Eastern Freeway by up to 30 per cent. Works are expected to

Artists impression of the future Bulleen Park Ride facility.

JOINT VENTURE IS PREFERRED PROPONENT FOR $215M MITCHELL FREEWAY EXTENSION The Mitchell Extension Joint Venture (JV) has been named as the preferred proponent to build the $215 million Mitchell Freeway extension. Companies BMD Construction and Georgiou Group are part of the JV. Works on the project are expected to create 1200 local jobs. The JV will extend the Mitchell Freeway 5.6 kilometres from Hester Avenue in Clarkson to Romeo Road. Early works are set to start in 2021.

Works include extending the freeway 5.6 kilometres.

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said this was just one of the major infrastructure projects the the WA Government had fasttracked as part of the road out of COVID-19. “This is one of eleven major road projects, in our Building for Tomorrow infrastructure program, where we have fast tracked to get works underway and workers on the ground as soon as possible,” she said. “Along with the METRONET Yanchep Rail

Extension and other major road projects, such as the Wanneroo Road and Joondalup Drive Interchange we are delivering key infrastructure for the northern suburbs.” Saffioti said the project will also optimise the performance of the Mitchell Freeway southbound from Hester Avenue to Perth by introducing the same smart technology that is used on the Kwinana Freeway. Federal Member for Pearce Christian Porter said the extension would provide more opportunities for local residents heading in and out of the City. “The northern suburbs are booming and the population growth is only going to continue over the next decade,” he said. “It’s vital we deliver these much needed infrastructure upgrades now. I, along with my community, have been calling out for this extension so it’s fantastic to see the project taking shape.” The project is jointly funded by the Federal and Western Australia Governments each contributing 50 per cent of the total cost.

NEWS

TECH GIANT AUTODESK LAUNCHES GLOBAL CONSTRUCTION TENDER PLATFORM IN AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND Autodesk announced the international expansion of BuildingConnected, a construction management solution that centralises and streamlines the tendering process, and encompasses the Autodesk Construction Cloud builders network, a crowdsourced network of construction professionals. Owners and general contractors use BuildingConnected to discover trade partners and identify the right subcontractor for the job, and to solicit and compare tenders from one central location. The BuildingConnected solution is now available in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Ireland. BuildingConnected empowers preconstruction teams to: • Quickly solicit bids with customisable templates and accurately compare those bids in a side-by-side “apples-to-apples” fashion • Track against internal budgets with realtime cost updates • Easily collaborate with other estimators on the team, and follow communications

and bid versions • Export bids and summary sheets for transparent collaboration with owners • Gain valuable insight into historical bid data and reports to optimise for future projects Tomy Praveen, Managing Director, Asia Pacific Operations, Autodesk Construction Solutions, said much like the impact of social media, BuildingConnected will better connect construction businesses to best use their time so that they can work more collaboratively, efficiently and have the opportunity to influence their services through our crowdsourcing network. “BuildingConnected will enable construction businesses in Australia and New Zealand operating in single or multiple states and locations to discover and engage with leading subcontractors. With this connected network, they will be able to benchmark pricing and better deliver projects on time and to budget,” said Mr Praveen. Locally, BuildingConnected has tradespeople and subcontractors across

Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and New Zealand. Customers already using the platform include Serneke Australia and WZW Construction. Mark Swann, Construction Manager, Serneke Australia, WA, said information silos and communication breakdowns have unfortunately become an accepted part of the tendering process. “BuildingConnected gives us back a tremendous amount of time from chasing emails and updating addendums to tenders. We can now immediately track and follow up with subcontractors, all from one location where we have access to the most up-todate information for seamless and efficient tender management.” Estimators and bid coordinators can use the solution’s network of subcontractors and bid management capabilities to find, qualify and invite subcontractors to bid on a job, and then use its advanced bid comparison features to view bid packages from one place with access to the real-time status of bids and project costs.

PREFERRED PROPONENT FOR $52M COOLGARDIEESPERANCE HIGHWAY ANNOUNCED The Western Australian Government has announced the preferred proponent for the 25 kilometre section of CoolgardieEsperance Highway works. Highway Construction will perform the upgrade between the Goldfields Highway intersection and Widgiemooltha, known as Emu Rocks South, supporting approximately 90 jobs. Upgrades are expected to boost road safety and regional jobs in the area. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Australian Government was funding shovel-ready regional projects to get money flowing into jobs and businesses as soon as possible. “Our focus is on getting people back into work quickly, which is why we have

committed $1.5 billion to prioritise shovelready projects and targeted road safety works that can boost the economy and support jobs immediately,” the Deputy Prime Minister said. Western Australian Minister for Transport and Planning Rita Saffioti said the project formed part of the McGowan Government’s $80 million investment to upgrade road infrastructure and support local jobs in the Goldfields-Esperance region. “Over 290,000 vehicles use this remote stretch of road every year, of which nearly 35 per cent are heavy vehicles,” Saffioti said. “This critical upgrade will significantly improve safety for locals, tourists and freight operators alike.” Federal Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson

said works included constructing passing lanes north of Widgiemooltha, upgrading intersections at Goldfields Highway and Kingswood Street, and widening and sealing road shoulders. “The Coolgardie-Esperance Highway at Emu Rocks forms part of the Perth-Adelaide route on the National Land Transport Network,” Wilson said. Works on the project will also include replacement and extension of culverts and installation of signage, line marking and audio tactile edge and centre lines. Construction is expected to be complete by April 2022. The $52 million project is jointly funded with the Federal Government committing $41.6 million and the Western Australian Government $10.4 million. roadsonline.com.au

BUILDING ON DATA TO

SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT MANAGEMENT IS GOING TO BE A CRUCIAL CONSIDERATION IN THE ROLL OUT OF THE $7.5 BILLION DOLLAR TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE PIPELINE. INEIGHTâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S PROJECT MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE IS POSITIONED TO ASSIST BUSINESSES TAKING ON THESE PROJECTS IN SUCCESSFUL DELIVERY OF INFRASTRUCTURE WORKS.

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

COVER STORY

As a pipeline of major projects progresses across Australia project management is going to be a crucial consideration.

n response to the government’s $7.5 billion investment in transport infrastructure, Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said infrastructure helps to create jobs and get people where they want to go sooner or safer. He said these commitments, made in the Budget, will help to get the economy moving. The COVID-19 pandemic plunged Australia into its first recession in nearly 30 years. In the budget release in late October the government revealed its plans for recovery, with transport infrastructure a central pillar of the plan. With large pipelines of investment at a national and state level, the construction industry will rise to the challenge of

“FOR RISK MITIGATION AND EVENTUALLY RETURN ON INVESTMENT, A PROJECT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM HELPS PLANNING TEAMS TO ADDRESS THE RISKS THAT SOMETIMES AREN’T IDENTIFIED UNTIL THEY BECOME BLOW-OUTS LATER IN THE PROJECT.” delivering transport projects to generate return on investment in a timely manner. Rob Bryant, Executive Vice President of APAC at InEight, says there are going to be increased expectations for the spending of stimulus funding. “Having accountability for the funding that is being spent and managing the relationships between state or council bodies is going to be essential to ensure the projects are effective as a stimulus,” Bryant says. As the planning for these projects begins,

technology can be considered as a tool to streamline project management at each stage of the job. “For risk mitigation and eventually return on investment, a project management system helps planning teams to address the risks that sometimes aren’t identified until they become blow-outs later in the project,” Bryant says. When manually planning projects, budgets and designs are built with contingency plans. Technology can work to give owners roadsonline.com.au

With InEight’s technology all information uploaded is live and reviews can take place at any time.

and contractors a realistic view of how the budgeting and schedule might play out. “Technology can often detect or present factors that could be considered foreseeable, but are often overlooked because of an optimistic view of the project schedule or pressure to bring it in under budget,” he says. “The trick there is for owners and contractors to start with the end in mind and consider what the use of technology can do through the life-cycle to add value to the asset at the end.” Applying artificial intelligence to a project schedule can give managers the chance to preview factors that will have influence on the budget. Owners can also track how the works are going in relation to project deadlines, so if a section of the project is running behind this can be identified early. “As the project moves through to execution what we are seeing is more live data coming through so project teams have a much clearer visibility of what is achieved on any given day and that mitigates risk in the execution phase, seeing that data live enables fast decision making and reduces risk,” Bryant says. “Early indication of issues also allows for an open and transparent dialogue with all stakeholders.” For example, by using InEight Document during the project execution contractors can demonstrate their progress against specifications set out in the design phase and clearly indicate the completion of different packages of work. “Then when there are multiple contractors the technology ensures there is no compromise on security and intellectual 16

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

property. All of the packages of work can be accessed by the owner but there is no risk of contractors gaining access to critical commercial or engineering information.” Bryant says. “It provides one secure location for information to be shared and allows project owners to manage the relationship of multiple contractors.” This can also work across borders and regions, which has been a particularly important consideration for Australia in 2020.

then sometimes new drawings or surveying is required,” Bryant says. “Document management technology is a good idea for both contractors and owners. The owner doesn’t have to be dependent on the contractor for the handover and the contractor can save time compiling it.” The introduction of technology and more complex or innovative infrastructure builds is increasing the amount of documentation required on every project. “We are seeing that particularly

“IT PROVIDES ONE SECURE LOCATION FOR INFORMATION TO BE SHARED AND ALLOWS PROJECT OWNERS TO MANAGE THE RELATIONSHIP OF MULTIPLE CONTRACTORS.”

“Major projects draw on expertise from across the world and with a project management solution experts can access drawings live at any given day or time,” Bryant says With InEight’s technology, all information uploaded is live and reviews can take place with stakeholders outside of working hours. This means designs or other documents can be approved by international experts overnight and be ready for the next day. Moving into the handover phase, the time savings that are made possible by having files and plans stored in on place and sorted with metadata into the most relevant or recent versions can be significant. “On a large project that spans over many years it can take 12 to 18 months to compile all of the information and even

government project owners are recognising the value of project management software and digital twins as it comes into play at handover and during operation,” Bryant says. Once an asset moves into operation the owner has a complete package of information about the asset and how it was built, which they can access on a handheld device from anywhere in the world. “In 2021 local road authorities and councils are going to be working on a number of projects at one time and will be managing those simultaneously, working with local contractors these technological solutions can help to ensure these projects deliver the best return on investment.” InEight’s project management solutions can be implemented at all phases of a company’s digital transformation to ensure that when projects and expectations get bigger, companies can rise to the challenge.

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The Saddle Rail Creek upgrades are intented to improve the social and economic outcomes for the people in the West Daily region.

SADDLE RAIL CREEK

CONSTRUCTION WITH ANNUAL FLOOD CLOSURES OF UP TO FOUR MONTHS, THE $12.3 MILLION UPGRADE OF PORT KEATS ROAD OVER SADDLE RAIL CREEK IS CLASSIFIED IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND NORTHERN TERRITORY GOVERNMENT’S ROADS OF STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE PROGRAM. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE REPORTS.

adeye is one of Australia’s largest remote Indigenous communities located about a five hour drive from Darwin in the Northern Territory. Connecting the Wadeye community and the Kardu Dimin people to the wider Northern Territory is Port Keats Road. Due to flooding in the area during wet season the community can only be reached by road during the dry season. During the wet season West Daly Regional Council advises access by light aircraft or coastal barge. The Federal and Northern Territory Government’s are partnering under the Roads of Strategic Importance Program to fund the road corridor upgrades, starting with 11.7 kilometres of Port Keats Road, including the construction of a bridge over 18

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

Saddle Rail Creek. A new bridge will span 45 metres long over Saddle Rail Creek including 11.7 kilometres of a new two-lane sealed road with raised embankments, four floodways and five culvert crossings. Improving flood immunity will be a crucial benefit of this road upgrade and which aims to reduce annual flood closures of four months down to just three to five days. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said at the announcement of the project’s contractor, this project is all part of the Federal Government’s Roads of Strategic Importance Program - getting Australians to where they need to be sooner and safer. “Many key industries will benefit from

these upgrades to Port Keats Road and Saddle Rail Creek. This important corridor will support primary producers by providing more reliable links throughout the region,” he said. Northern Territory Government Minister for Infrastructure, Planning and Logistics Eva Lawler said the upgrades will allow up to 2000 Territorians who live in Wadeye (Port Keats), one of Australia’s largest communities, to have year round road access. “These upgrades to Ports Keats Road will improve an important connection for our local communities, industry, transport operators and tourists. Supporting local business and creating jobs for Territorians is exactly what the NT needs right now – a government who delivers projects which support our local economy.”

PROJECT REPORT

Project Manager for the Saddle Rail Creek Upgrade Jay Brewster-O’Brien says along with flood immunity and safety, the upgrades are intended to improve the social and economic outcomes for people in the West Daly region. “The upgrades to Port Keats Road have been a long term project, in 2012 we built up about a two kilometre stretch and a bridge over the Daly River and since 2012, the Northern Territory Government, in partnership with the Federal Government has spent $69.2 million on upgrades to Port Keats Road, to include the Daly River Bridge and Tom Turner Creek on Daly River Road, the Moyle Flood Plain Upgrade, and the Yellow Creek Crossing upgrade and design of Saddle Rail. In 2017 the next two kilometres were built including two bridges over Yellow Creek and now we are doing the next 11.7 kilometres,” Brewster-O’Brien says. CONSTRUCTION METHOD In July 2020, local contractor Allan King & Sons Construction won the $12.3 million tender to build these works which are expected to support 50 jobs. All Saddle Rail Creek project works are being undertaken by local businesses and suppliers.

“Allan King & Sons were involved in the previous delivery at Yellow Creek and we get real value from their regional and local contacts and the community,” BrewsterO’Brien says. Design of the project was also conducted by a local company, Wallbridge Gilbert Aztec RFP. “We started construction at the site in August and we are now progressing with earthwork cut and fill operations up to the subgrade surface. We are building up the foundation of the road and the culverts.” In early November, around three kilometres of earthworks had been completed prior to placement of the gravel pavement. Three precast reinforced concrete box culverts have also been installed. To ensure works can continue safely, away from public traffic, a full-length unsealed detour was constructed. “Earthworks will be ongoing this year until potentially the rain may stop us. Wet season impacts are one of the reasons we are undertaking the works. However, during construction it may temporarily prevent us from doing works,” Brewster-O’Brien says. “Some areas we are building up about five metres above natural surface level to improve flood immunity.”

Earthworks are now progressing with cut and fill operations up to the subgrade surface.

roadsonline.com.au

“WITH THESE REMOTE PROJECTS WE DO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LOCALLY AVAILABLE MATERIAL WHEN POSSIBLE SO ABOUT 100,000 CUBIC METRES OF EARTH FILL IS REQUIRED ON THE PROJECT AND THAT ALL COMES FROM BORROW PITS ADJACENT TO THE PROJECT, NOT AT QUARRIES HUNDREDS OF KILOMETRES AWAY WHERE POSSIBLE.”

CHALLENGES The 45-metre-long bridge will be constructed with driven piles to achieve the foundation, in-situ columns will be formed on site and the beams which span over the river will be precast. “Transporting the beams from Darwin will be a challenge. The historic Stuart Highway is a narrow single lane windy road which our beams will need to be transported on, that is why we’ve made our beams 15 metres long,” Brewster-O’Brien says. While construction of the road elements is being undertaken in 2020, the bridge component of the project will commence after the wet season in April 2021.

A full length unsealed detour has also been constructed to ensure works can continue away from public traffic.

“The design of the project is a common design which enables our local industry to deliver the works. It also means that the asset construction will be quite robust

Water is a large consideration on the project and the contractor has strategically planned works to accommodate for the wet season.

and perform well over the whole of life, without too much maintenance,” he says. Except for precast bridge beams and culverts the rest of the concrete works will be cast on-site, in-situ using a batch plant that has been set up specifically for the project. “Another challenge for us is getting the earth fill material to be able to build the roadway up five metres above ground level,” Brewster-O’Brien says. “With these remote projects we do take advantage of locally available material when possible so about 100,000 cubic metres of earth fill is required on the project and that all comes from borrow pits adjacent to the project, not at quarries hundreds of kilometres away where possible.” OPPORTUNITIES The principal contractor Allan King & Sons will engage a number of suppliers and sub-contractors. Advance Civil Engineering will be delivering the bridge, another local company. “On this project specifically, there is a push by the Federal and Northern Territory Government’s for indigenous engagement so some of the suppliers and subcontractors are indigenous business enterprises and they have supplied plant

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

PROJECT REPORT

and equipment or labour,” BrewsterO’Brien says. There are also five apprentices and one trainee on the project, which is a requirement of government civil works contracts. Local indigenous employees are engaged from Nauiyu (Daly River) community, with support from Community Development Program labour supplier. Brewster-O’Brien reiterates that water is a large consideration on the project but the contractor has strategically planned works to accommodate for the wet season. “During construction we have to deal with big tropical downpours in the monsoon season which not only comes from above but also below when the waters around us start rising up.” Prior to the wet season the focus is to build the road above natural surface level so that when the surrounding plains start to be saturated crews can continue work. “We have a risk-based response for the schedule, such as waiting after the wet season to build the bridge,” Brewster-

O’Brien says. “The contract itself has wet weather clauses so the contractor makes allowances for the wet weather. That is why they want to build the road formation above natural surface level, so the water doesn’t hinder them in continuing the build of these fivemetre-high road formations.” WHAT COMES NEXT? Port Keats Road is 178 kilometres long, of which only 24 kilometres is currently sealed. Following the completion of the Saddle Rail Bridge Creek section of the road, there are plans for future improvements. The Federal and Northern Territory Governments have so far committed $60 million (Federal) and $15 million (Northern Territory), to improvements to upgrade the full length of Port Keats Road. These works are expected to further improve the connection between West Daly and Victoria Daly communities including Nauiyu, Peppimenati, Nganmarriyanga, and Wadeye and back to Darwin.

After 50 years AAPA is repositioning to be more inclusive of the road construction industry.

A NEW JOURNEY ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE IS INTRODUCING THE AUSTRALIAN FLEXIBLE PAVEMENTS ASSOCIATION, PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE AUSTRALIAN ASPHALT PAVEMENT ASSOCIATION OR AAPA. CEO OF NEWLY NAMED AfPA, CARLOS RIAL DISCUSSES THE CHANGES.

fter 50 years of service to the road construction industry AAPA is repositioning to be more inclusive of the road construction industry going into the future. CEO Carlos Rial says it had been identified through the Board and through national consultation with members that the term ‘asphalt’ in the name limited the association’s outreach to key stakeholders, in particular local government, who manage the vast majority of the road network by length. In addition the association’s 200 members are significantly broader than just asphalt producers. On this basis, at the association’s National Awards in November the Board Chairman, Matthew McMahon launched the rebranding of the association, to be the Australian Flexible Pavements Association (AfPA). “Under this new banner we maintain our commitment to promoting the benefits of flexible pavements to all and will remain decentralised to support our members across the nation,” Rial says. 22

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

Under the new name, the association’s logo will be updated, it will pay homage to the past while emphasising the new lower case ‘f’ for flexible. AfPA will drive five national initiatives which are; • health and safety – a priority for all in AfPA • sustainability – in our environment, economy and our people • technology – driving construction and engineering excellence • knowledge – investing in the development of our people and our stakeholders • collaboration – working with our partners to achieve more than we can alone. REFLECTING ON AAPA IN 2020 2020 has been a turbulent year for the Australian construction industry, particularly in Victoria with long lockdowns that limited on-site workers. Rial says he is most proud of how the

industry reacted to the COVID-19 crisis. “Our industry, recognised as an essential service, has and continues to safely deliver the roads that connect Australians during the COVID-19 crisis. I am proud to see the maturity across our whole membership in how we continue to manage COVID-19, while delivering the essential service of building and maintaining Australia’s roads,” he says. “In addition, we have proven that we are shovel ready to create jobs that are COVID safe and will help the Australian economy recover.” As a result of COVID-19 the industry has faced an array of challenges from supply chain to worker limits. “I am most impressed by the ability of the flexible pavements industry to rapidly implement COVID safe work environments and also invest in what will be the continuing challenge post COVID, shifting Australia to circular economy practices,” Rial says. He says this year industry has proven it is doing it’s part to use renewable materials,

reduce energy consumption and lower emissions through implementing new technologies and engineering practice. For AAPA in 2020, the focus has been to continue to promote safer worksites and practices. One of the key initiatives Rial highlights was assisting Austroads in the implementation of its new Guide to Traffic Management. “This guide first and foremost encourages the separation of roadworkers and traffic through road closures to eliminate risks to workers and the public,” he says. AAPA has also worked with regulators and industry on enhanced gas heating devices for bituminous tankers and it has worked towards enhanced operating procedures to reduce risk of respirable crystalline silica. WHAT TO EXPECT FROM AfPA IN 2021 Following the launch of its name and logo change AfPA will turn its eye towards the 2021 AfPA online symposium. “Due to the uncertainty that still remains from COVID-19, we will be postponing our traditional face to face international conference and will be holding an online knowledge transfer event in 2021,” Rial says. With the theme titled ‘Roads going full circle’ the online event, held 3rd to 6th August, will share the latest in health and safety, sustainability and engineering practice specific to the road construction industry. It will also have a parallel training

The AfPA online symposium will be a major focus for the association in 2021.

stream so members can learn more and upskill in these areas. “The event will also be holding industry online workshops that will guide the forward direction of the association,” Rial says. He says the event will be a mix of international and local experts sharing their knowledge, plus workshops that will be run through the digital media we are all becoming accustomed to due to this global pandemic. While the association has a number of international speakers already lined up these won’t be released until next year when the program is announced.

AfPA will release its sustainability framework in 2021.

The traditional face to face AfPA conference, usually held every two years will return in 2023. Aside from the conference, AfPA will continue to be the peak body for the flexible pavements industry and will continue its research, collaboration and advocation in the sector. “We will continue to represent the industry, recognising it as an essential service and advocate for stimulus funding to remain and be targeted to the maintenance of our roads which have significant condition backlogs nationally,” Rial says. AfPA will also be releasing its sustainability framework in 2021, which will showcase the industry’s maturity in transitioning to circular economy practices. “The association will maintain a commitment to enhancing safety for all through establishing public safety alerts across our membership and promoting the use of new technologies. We will continue to educate our front line roadworkers and our industry professionals on the next generation of Australian road construction,” he says. “It’s clear that the essential road construction industry will play an important role in the recovery of Australia’s economy and we will continue to improve and innovate with our practices to ensure we are delivering the best road possible for Australia.” roadsonline.com.au

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MARK WALLER CEO - 4M WASTE PTY LTD

HOW LONG HAS YOUR COMPANY BEEN AN AfPA MEMBER AND WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BECOME ONE? AAPA are very supportive of the development of local industry with a focus on quality. Membership for us has created a lot of opportunity through industry connections and support. This is our first year of membership. HOW DOES YOUR BUSINESS WORK WITH ROAD CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY? We recycle end of life tyres to provide rubber crumb for use in road construction. We are also participating in research and development projects with Universities to improve on the binding qualities of rubber crumb. WHAT IS YOUR CURRENT ROLE AND WHAT DOES IT INVOLVE? 4M Waste started from a desire to create a business focussed on sustainability through the better management of waste. We have built a tyre recycling plant that focusses on an output for use in road construction. I am one of the directors of the business and along with the team we are delighted in what we have built. WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR CURRENT ROLE? Recycling tyres is a challenging business. We have a very skilled and passionate team. Everyone at 4M Waste has skills built from various backgrounds. Its been great working with a team that has been able to pull together and achieve what we have. WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT IN THE INDUSTRY? Creating a circular economy for tyre waste in Western Australia has been very rewarding.

Mark Waller shares his early experiences in the road construction industry.

WHAT IS A RECENT CHANGE YOU HAVE SEEN IN THE ROADS INDUSTRY AND HOW ARE YOU OR THE COMPANY PREPARED FOR THAT? Research into the use of rubber crumb in Asphalt is ongoing. Using a bigger crumb size, changing the chemical properties of the crumb to bind better and increasing the time in which you have to use the asphalt after mixing are all improving the ability to use rubber crumb both more extensively in the road network here in Western Australia and to enable different inputs into the rubber crumb process to improve the ability to recycle more tyres for this purpose. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS MOST INTERESTING ABOUT THE ROAD CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY? The use of rubber crumb from recycling end of life tyres has been around for a while but feels like it is really gathering significant momentum at the moment. Its great to be operating in a part of the industry that is growing and exciting. It’s allowed us to work with industry experts that we would not normally work with. It’s great to work in an industry where the participants are so passionate about improving something

that most people wouldn’t give a second thought to. HOW HAS BEING A MEMBER OF AfPA BENEFITED YOU IN THE INDUSTRY? We have been a member of the AAPA for one year and it has given us the opportunity to make a lot of industry contacts and be seen as a participant in the industry in a way that would not have occurred otherwise. Its an interesting time to be involved in the industry and we appreciate the support AAPA have provided and look forward to continuing working with them. WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE FUTURE? We want to continue to grow 4M Waste and expand on what we have created. As I mentioned, we are doing some really interesting research projects at the moment which will hopefully gain momentum for expanding the use of rubber crumb and therefore increasing the quantity of tyres we can recycle locally. We see end of life tyres as a valuable resource and would love to be in a position to recycle as many as is practical for a whole variety of uses including for use in the road network. roadsonline.com.au

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SUSTAINABLE INFRASTRUCTURE DEMONSTRATES A RETURN ON INVESTMENT, MAKING THE BUSINESS CASE CLEAR AN INDEPENDENT STUDY FINDS THAT ISCA’S IS RATING SCHEME DELIVERS A RETURN ON INVESTMENT BOTH FINANCIALLY AND SOCIALLY FOR INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS. ISCA REPORTS.

he Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) has been supporting the infrastructure industry drive best practice through the Infrastructure Sustainability Rating Scheme (IS Rating Scheme) since 2012. In this time, the Scheme has actively contributed to capacity building and transparently measuring the social, environmental, governance and cultural outcomes delivered by more than $165 billion of infrastructure projects. The IS Rating Scheme builds capacity in industry to improve the identification, selection, measurement and verification of social, environmental, governance and cultural outcomes. To help quantify the future benefit the Scheme can deliver, ISCA engaged RPS to assess the net benefits that an IS Rating provides to Australians. The study used a cost benefit analysis (CBA) or ‘welfare economics’ framework supported by stakeholder engagement. A CBA framework assesses the costs and

benefits to all impacted parties including not only the project proponents but also the environment, community members and government. Targeted stakeholder engagement added to the robustness and richness of the findings because, consistent with the principles of Social Return on Investment (SROI), engagement revealed how stakeholders that are actually implementing the Scheme are affected. The IS Rating Scheme Return on Investment found that IS Ratings are set to deliver a minimum of $1.60 in benefit for every dollar spent – and this figure could be as high as $2.40 in benefit. Moreover, higher net benefits can be achieved across all infrastructure sectors, with wider uptake. The estimate of net benefits is conservative because, to simplify the analysis, not all of the benefits of sustainability outcomes have been included. The report monetises benefits such as carbon, water, ecology and air emissions. The 38 IS assets certified to date have

The study demonstrates that non-market benefits of infrastructure are not limited to major projects.

achieved a collective 68 per cent reduction in energy use, 34 per cent in water use and 11 per cent in materials use, over their lifecycle, when compared to baseline case studies. The study does not quantify wider social value such as health outcomes, amenity value and human capital development. The study also found that pursuing an IS Rating upskills the workforce, encourages innovation, drives process improvements, and enhances procurement and supply chain efficiencies. The capacity building element is particularly important as it drives collaboration, innovation and continuous improvement in the industry. Without the IS Rating Scheme, the ability to effectively realise benefits, communicate verified outcomes and build capacity would be more challenging. Further, without it, economic sustainability improvements may be missed or not fully realised. The study demonstrates that non-market benefits of infrastructure are not limited to major projects. All infrastructure – urban and regional, large and small, new and ageing – can deliver more for communities. Infrastructure is set to play a central role in the economic recovery – and sustainable infrastructure can deliver an even bigger rebound. The IS Rating Scheme can help shift from past practices and invest in sustainable infrastructure that de-risks assets, boosts financial performance and, most importantly, builds a better future for generations. ISCA is committed to optimising investment that stimulates the economy, and delivers resilient, inclusive, lowemission infrastructure. To view the full report, visit the ISCA website. roadsonline.com.au

ROADS REVIEW FOR THE 2020 ‘YEAR IN REVIEW’ EDITION ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE IS LAUNCHING A NEW INDUSTRY COLUMN. EACH MONTH THE MAGAZINE WILL PUT A TOPICAL QUESTION TO LEADERS FROM ACROSS THE ROADS AND TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE INDUSTRY IN AUSTRALIA, TO GET THEIR TAKES ON THE LATEST TRENDS, CHANGES AND PRODUCTS. THE FIRST COLUMN QUESTION ASKS: ‘WHAT IS ONE THING THE INDUSTRY SHOULD WATCH OUT FOR IN 2021?’

AINSLEY SIMPSON, INFRASTRUCTURE SUSTAINABILITY COUNCIL OF AUSTRALIA, CEO: There are three key areas I think industry needs to look to in 2021. Reduced inequalities; infrastructure needs to do more such as building skills and capacity, driving local content, increasing gender equity, partnering with First Nations people, prioritising access and affordability. Climate action; infrastructure is a massive opportunity for innovation and action toward net zero by funding initiatives/assets that are climate-resilient; determining targets, embedding action into BAU; credibly measure and report progress. Build trust; infrastructure is a vehicle for broader outcomes. Good practice develops trust; best practice earns it. This is done by adopting recognised standards for best practice performance, benchmarking using third-party assured performance data, communicating outcomes delivered for communities, business and the workforce.

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

DAVID JENKINS, IPWEA, CEO AND STEVE VERITY, IPWEA, PRINCIPAL ADVISOR, ASSET MANAGEMENT: Similar to other industries, the road construction sector will need to face the challenge of sustainability, if not already doing so. Initiatives such as reclaimed pavements, recycled aggregate, glass and plastics are advancing in Australia, and as more road authorities specify such technology the price will become more attractive. We will likely see the use of emerging technologies increase. A good example is the use of drones to assist with monitoring jobsites, inspecting structures, and providing an aerial overview of a road project. In a few years, we will witness change to meet the needs of a world that expects and likely demands sustainable practice.

MICHAEL CALTABIANO, AUSTRALIAN ROAD RESEARCH BOARD (ARRB), CEO: The 2021 year will be filled with wonderful opportunities to build Australia out of recession and leave a positive legacy of safer, more sustainable and better value for money infrastructure. The great challenge in achieving this goal is to drive “innovation” as a new normal in all aspects of the development, design, delivery and long-term maintenance of newly created transport infrastructure works. The pathway to a more innovative and creative future is the linking together of research, government and the private sector to provide a new range of solutions that are then certified by ARRB Certification Group as “shovel ready” solutions to the products, processes and services being offered to government for acceptance and incorporation into projects. The clarity of this pathway to progress will allow us to achieve our goal of delivering a great infrastructure legacy for the future.

ROADS REVIEW

MARK MACKAY, DOWNER, GENERAL MANAGER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS: I think 2021 will be great year for post COVID-19 infrastructure recovery but we need to be mindful of getting too busy too quickly. We do need to ensure that we continue the good work and engagement between industry and our customers on building a sustainable future. We need the industry to be healthy and an attractive sector for all stakeholders. We need to ensure we have more collaboration, more transparency and build a workplace that can offer the right balance between work life and home life.

SARAH BACHMANN, NATIONAL PRECAST CONCRETE ASSOCIATION AUSTRALIA, CEO: As the effects of COVID-19 start to settle and with urban living on the rise, the construction industry needs to consider its choices for infrastructure. State and Federal governments have fast-tracked new highways and bypasses and thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a new focus on social housing to bolster the economy, but will government and private asset owners, alongside the design and construction industry, rise to the occasion by improving efficiency, safety and quality? There is an opportunity right now to engage precast concrete for both civil and buildingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; infrastructure, that will expedite construction programmes, improve safety by taking work off- site and result in higher quality, factory-manufactured outcomes. Add to that thermally efficient public buildings and both the community and the environment win too.

BRANDON HITCH, CRANE INDUSTRY COUNICL OF AUSTRALIA (CICA), CEO: CICA maintains that infrastructure investment will support jobs and economic growth, however, industry need to watch for the skills gap that currently exists in crane operations. Content for VOCs is currently undefined and un-regulated and so the standard of crane competency differs from site to site. To address this, CICA have developed CrewSafe - a predetermined criteria assessment module that uses a regulated process and standard for ensuring crane operator competency. The site supervisor has peace of mind and access to documented evidence that a crane operator is competent at using a specific crane. CICA is also working with training and education bodies in each state to continuously improve the quality and amount of training, trainee crane operators receive - so that the investment on infrastructure marries up with an investment into upskilling construction employees.

ROB BRYANT, INEIGHT, EXECUTIVE APAC One of the key things will be the filtering down of project revenue to local levels and what that is going to do in terms of challenging local authorities and smaller contractors that are working on a number of projects, maintaining the project data and status across multiple projects simultaneously. In the past they might have been fighting for funds but now they may be blessed with a deluge of funding to execute projects and so managing them effectively I think is going to be a big focus in 2021.

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CHRIS MELHAM, CIVIL CONTRACTORS FEDERATION NATIONAL, CEO: The most important thing the civil infrastructure industry, through CCF, will be watching out for is monitoring the Federal Government to ensure it delivers on its commitment to make infrastructure the cornerstone of its economic recovery. In practice, this will involve keeping track of all federal infrastructure investment commitments to ensure they are delivering on their promise to deliver increased infrastructure investment and a sustainable pipeline of projects. Second, implementing policies that will help to ensure Australia has the skilled workforce we need to deliver on our nation’s large and growing infrastructure task. And third, procurement reform to maximise the benefits of the infrastructure spend.

ROMILLY MADEW, INFRASTRUCTURE AUSTRALIA, CEO:

DARREN HOTCHKIN, SAFEROADS, CEO:

COVID-19 has accelerated changes in the way we use infrastructure, impacting work practices, settlement patterns, activity in our CBDs, public transport use and demand for active transport infrastructure. With the depth and longevity of these impacts on the infrastructure sector still largely unknown, we expect to see a continued focus on smaller, local and regional infrastructure investment, including road maintenance, safety improvements and active transport projects. These kinds of ‘no regrets’ investments have a significant local economic impact and can deliver substantial quality of life benefits as we come to terms with the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on how we use infrastructure.

Road construction companies should be aware of the implementation of the new MASH crash testing standard. A change to a higher safety level of temporary barriers and crash cushions is expected across Australia’s road construction work zones. Many of these new barriers meet MASH TL-4 (10 tonne truck at 90km/h), such as the Saferoads HV2 unanchored barrier, and crash cushions meet MASH TL-3 (2270kg vehicle at 100km/h) such as the SLED freestanding end treatment. These are significantly higher safety levels than the NCHRP 350 testing levels that have been in use in Australia since 1995.

If you or someone at your organisation is an industry leader and would like to be a part of this monthly column in 2021 please get in touch with Editor, Lauren Jones: lauren.jones@primecreative.com.au

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ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

RESOURCECO

GLASS TRIAL

LEADING RECOVERY AND RE-MANUFACTURING COMPANY RESOURCECO IS WORKING WITH THE NORTHERN ADELAIDE WASTE MANAGEMENT AUTHORITY ON A TRIAL THAT COULD FACILITATE THE USE OF RE-PURPOSED WASTE GLASS IN SOUTH AUSTRALIAN CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE SPEAKS TO RESOURCECO CEO JIM FAIRWEATHER ABOUT WHAT THIS MEANS FOR ROAD CONSTRUCTION IN THE STATE.

n a win for the circular economy in South Australia, ResourceCo is heading up a trial that is giving a second life to glass collected from the State’s household waste. ResourceCo is undertaking the trial in conjunction with the Northern Adelaide Waste Management Authority (NAWMA), which could ultimately see tens of thousands of tonnes worth of waste glass re-purposed into construction materials each year. The trial comes ahead of the Federal Government’s export ban on waste glass, which is due to come into effect on January 1, 2021. Unprocessed glass in a whole or broken state is the first in a series of waste export bans to be implemented, followed by mixed plastics, whole used tyres, single resin/ polymer plastics and finally mixed and unsorted paper and cardboard. All bans will be in effect by 1 July, 2024. ResourceCo’s CEO Jim Fairweather says the company has long been of the view that South Australia needs to find a way to re-purpose its non-hazardous waste glass, as other Australian states have. “Finding alternative uses for South Australia’s waste streams such as glass is critical to the environmental sustainability of the State,” Fairweather says. “Through the NAWMA we currently have access to about 15,000 tonnes of glass each year that has previously gone to landfill. Given the imminent ban on the export of glass, we need to find another purpose for it – as we have done with tyres and other waste materials that have the potential to be re-used.” Groundwork for the trial at ResourceCo’s

Wingfield facility began in late 2019. Prior to its arrival at ResourceCo’s processing facility, the glass is separated from the paper, cardboard and plastics that joins it in curbside recycle bins before being broken down to cullet – small shards and pieces. After being screened, the glass is further crushed down into particles of seven millimetres and smaller. It is then blended at a rate of 5 per cent with a 20-millimetre road base material. “We have invested a significant amount of time and resources working closely with the South Australian government, to ensure the blend we are creating meets the Department of Infrastructure and Transport’s specifications for road

construction,” Fairweather says. “Laboratory testing has already proven successful and once it is shown to perform well in construction, we certainly envisage making it a standard product offering for us going forward.” Pending the success of the trial, ResourceCo will be looking to secure additional waste streams to ensure they are also re-directed away from landfill on a permanent basis. “With thought leadership in sustainability and partnerships with progressive and environmentally conscious governments, suppliers and customers, we can set new benchmarks in re-purposing and recycling waste materials into products.”

ResourceCo began preparing for the trial at the Wingfield facility in late 2019.

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THE RECYCLING

RECAP ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE SUMMARISES A WEBINAR SERIES THAT LOOKS AT THE OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES WITH RECYCLED PRODUCTS IN ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS.

n November 2020 the Australian Road Research Board (ARRB) and Ecologiq, the Victorian Government’s initiative to optimise the use of recycled materials, partnered to present a webinar series on the use of recycled products in infrastructure builds. The organisations covered the benefits, challenges and opportunities of using Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement (RAP), crushed recycled glass, crumb rubber and construction and demolition waste. Roads & Infrastructure has compiled a summary of the webinars. RECLAIMED ASPHALT PAVEMENT (RAP) The first webinar, covered RAP. One of the most straightforward forms of recycling available to the infrastructure industry. It’s estimated next year Victorian projects will use around 300,000 tonnes of RAP. There are some considerations needed when using and storing RAP, as it is a variable product depending on where it is extracted from. It’s important to have RAP management plans for the recovery, crushing, storage and usage of RAP in new asphalt mixes. Stockpiles of RAP will need to be tested for characterisation to be used in the right application. There are also requirements for storage, including having the stockpile covered and on a sloped surface. When it comes to mix design, different asphalt plants handle RAP content in different ways. Typically batch plants can have about 30 per cent RAP added and 32

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Crumb rubber is derived from truck, car and off-road tyres before being sorted and shredded into various sizes.

continuous batch plants can have around 60 per cent. Currently in Victoria there are different limits for the percentage of RAP in asphalt mixes depending on the type, with the highest specified amount at 30 per cent. Though the Department of Transport is in the process of updating specifications. There is opportunity to increase percentages of RAP around Australia to 30 per cent or even higher, depending on plant capabilities and mix designs. A trial in WA has seen two major contractors place mixes with 20 and 25 per cent RAP, tested to Austroads standards. So far laboratory test results on the mixes indicated comparable results to virgin mixes. In Victoria, the Mordialloc Freeway is using 30 per cent RAP in the intermediate and structural layer, covering approximately 100,000 tonnes of material used on the project. It is hoped projects like these will lead the way for higher uses of RAP to become business as usual. RECYCLED CRUSHED GLASS As the first product set to be banned from leaving Australian shores, the second webinar covered recycled crushed glass.

Recycled glass can be used in various quantities in a number of road pavement layers. It’s normally used as a fine aggregate and is graded so it is similar to natural sand. In Victoria, recycled crushed glass can be used in certain asphalt mixes as a 50 per cent replacement for natural sand. For granular materials, recycled glass can be used in both base course and subbase applications on sealed roads. Depending on the crushed rock formation up to 50 per cent glass can be used. There are also other opportunities for the material in infrastructure such as for bedding, drainage, embankment fill and landscaping. Crushed recycled glass can also be used as a replacement for fine aggregate in concrete, though in these applications extra attention is needed to ensure the glass is properly washed as sugar contaminants can have an adverse effect on the cement hydration process. When introducing recycled crushed glass into asphalt mixtures there can be a risk, at high percentages, of deformation and rutting. Up to 15 per cent recycled crushed glass can also affect moisture sensitivity, due to possible contaminants. However, this could be down to the smoother surface of crushed glass compared to natural aggregates and is dependent on aggregate

ENVIRONMENT & SUSTAINABILITY

type and bitumen source for the asphalt. Cleaning technologies are progressing to produce more reliable recycled glass aggregate, and processing plants are easy to set up. These can even be mobile, so projects can use local recycled glass. Specifications are also being further developed for each application. Glass has already been widely used in the Western Freeway Alignment project in Victoria. Regional Roads Victoria used 540 tonnes of crushed glass in the subbase layer, used as a replacement for natural sand as part of the 2.4-kilometre resurfacing job. The Kororit Creek Level Crossing Removal also widely used recycled crushed glass. This project used about 900 tonnes of glass sand and bedding fill and backfill for drainage piping. The success of this project led to a uniform Metro Trains Melbourne specification for the use of glass sand on all metropolitan railways, combined service routes and drainage bedding. CRUMB RUBBER Week three covered recycled crumb rubber, which is derived from truck, car and off-road tyres before being sorted and shredded into various sizes. Typically, in Australia crumb rubber is shredded to less than one-millimetre particles for use in roads. There are two ways to introduce crumb rubber to asphalt, either in the dry or wet process. The wet process requires blending crumb rubber with bitumen. This uses crumb rubber to around 10 to 20 per cent of the binder weight, which ends up totalling around 0.5 to two per cent of the entire mix. In the dry process, the crumb rubber is added as an aggregate to the asphalt mixture which can amount to around one to three per cent of the total asphalt mix. The use of crumb rubber in asphalt can lead to an increase in the elasticity of the binder, making the pavement less sensitive to high temperatures. It can also improve cracking and fatigue resistance. Crumb rubber can be used in sprayed seal applications too, and has been used for this in Australia since the 1970s. In this application the rubber can improve flexibility crack resistance, aggregate adhesion and reduce the risk of bleeding. In Victoria there are currently two specifications to facilitate the use of crumb rubber in asphalt for the dry and wet processes. The Australian Asphalt Pavement

Association has also developed a pilot specification for its use in open and gap graded mixtures. One of the main barriers to the use of crumb rubber are the perceived health and safety risks for its use in hot mix asphalt. There are some concerns that at elevated temperatures the rubber may burn and give off emissions or strong odours. To investigate this, trials have been done in QLD, WA and VIC which have shown comparable emissions to traditional asphalt mixes. Crumb rubber binder also needs increased attention for storage and handling as it is temperature dependent and can be prone to segregation. This can be solved by producing the binder close to the plant. Some manufacturers are also developing crumb rubber binders with additives to reduce segregation. This year a trial was undertaken in Victoria to lay and monitor three different, industry created crumb rubber asphalt mixes. As part of the trial the Victorian Government, ARRB and Tyre Stewardship Australia will monitor the sections, laid side by side on an arterial road, over the next two years to investigate performance in the lab and the field. CONSTRUCTION AND DEMOLITION WASTE The two most common forms of construction and demolition waste used in Australia tend to be recycled crushed concrete and crushed brick, which come from construction projects. In Australia 8.7 million tonnes of recycled

concrete and aggregate and 1.3 million tonnes of crushed brick are stockpiled annually. For use in infrastructure, the material is crushed and graded. These products are then most often used as unbound granular materials in road construction. The product can be used in the base course stage for lightly trafficked roads and in the subbase for light and heavy duty roads, with the possibility to use up to 100 per cent recycled material. A barrier to the use of this material in road infrastructure is that contaminants in recycled aggregate can adversely affect the concrete properties, so stockpile management is especially important. Western Australia has only recently started to use recycled concrete aggregate due to concerns around contamination. There are also opportunities in this space to improve stockpile management by using trial batches to test the materials before use. Different specialised test methods are also developing, such as large format wheel tracking tests and flexural beam strength testing, to determine how the pavements will perform with recycled crushed aggregates in different applications. One of the most well-known projects to use recycled crushed concrete in the cement treated subbase was the Western Ring Road or M80 in Melbourne. This was constructed in the early 1990s and used recycled crushed concrete in many of the subbase sections. More recently the Level Crossing Removal Project and the Mordialloc Freeway have used large quantities of recycled crushed concrete and brick.

Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s estimated Victorian projects will use 300,000 tonnes of RAP next year. roadsonline.com.au

SAMI’s low viscosity crumb rubber binder being sprayed.

SEALING THE

ROAD AHEAD

ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE SITS DOWN WITH SAMI BITUMEN GENERAL MANAGER SEBASTIEN CHATARD TO FIND OUT WHAT THE MAJOR BITUMEN SUPPLIER HAS ACHIEVED IN 2020 AND LEARN ABOUT ITS FUTURE EXPANSION PLANS.

AMI Bitumen has long been heavily involved in the research, development and creation of innovative road surfacing products and technology. Despite global disruptions brought on by coronavirus in 2020 the SAMI Bitumen team powered on to supply the Australian road construction industry, which continued to work safely throughout the pandemic. From its import and manufacturing plants in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria, SAMI continued to produce innovative bitumen-based products. For 40 years the company has been a leader in innovation when it comes to bitumen and modified binder products for the infrastructure sector. A good example of this is the introduction of EME2 to Australia, which SAMI helped to pioneer. EME2 is a high modulus asphalt that is designed to reduce the thickness of a base course layer for heavily trafficked pavements. SAMI Bitumen’s parent company was associated with the development of EME2 in France in the 1980’s and the companies worked together to bring the technology to Australia, first in Queensland and then throughout Australia. EME2 is a generic product and the Australian Asphalt Pavement Association has published a model specification that 34

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mimics the French standard which has been essentially used as the basis for other State Road Authority EME2 specifications. Alongside this, the company has developed an array of other innovative products with improved properties in relation to performance or sustainability. SAMI IN 2020 General Manager Sebastien Chatard says there were three advancements the company achieved this year that he is particularly proud of. The first of which is an industry-leading advancement Chatard is excited about. Anticipating industry demand for sustainable products, SAMI developed and successfully supplied a new lowviscosity crumb rubber binder. “Our kerosene free, crumb rubber binder has no additional kerosene in it and therefore it creates less fuming when being laid whilst significantly safer and better for the environment,” he says. “When you put kerosene in a product, it becomes increasingly flammable and there can be risk of explosions as it is a combustible hydrocarbon liquid. So, our crumb rubber binder reduces those risks.” Kerosene can be added to a binder in order to reduce the its viscosity and improve aggregate adhesion. To achieve this outcome, SAMI re-engineered the formula for its standard crumb rubber binder to

create a lower viscosity product without fluxant additives. Chatard says that the second development was the SAMIfalt I-Brid binder.

The MY.SAMI portal smart phone application.

ASPHALT IN ACTION

“When you need a high stiffness road, the tendency is to use a stiff asphalt, but this increases the risk of cracking, whereas when a flexible road is needed, this may cause the pavement to lose strength. The I-Brid binder offers an outstanding balance of flexibility and strength that imparts exceptional performance to the asphalt in which it is being used,” he says. SAMIfalt I-Brid was developed in partnership with RMIT and supplied to the market in June 2020, 1800 tonnes of asphalt produced from I-Brid binder was used in the rehabilitation on the main apron at Bundaberg airport. With climate change predicted to result in hotter temperatures, SAMI anticipated the I-Brid binder could be a response to those challenges. In hot areas pavements can soften up and deform under heavy traffic loading and in contrast, pavements in cool areas can stiffen and thus being prone to cracking. The I-Brid binder was developed to perform well across a wide range of service temperatures, being both stiff and flexible. I-Brid is a combination of innovative plastomeric and elastomeric polymers developed by SAMI and RMIT which was laboratory tested across the full spectrum of temperatures for asphalt performance assessment and performed very well. In addition to supplying the road construction industry, SAMI has been at the forefront of many airport projects across the country. I-Brid with its high rutting and fatigue resistance and SAMIbond 007, a trackless emulsion, have both been used on airport projects this year. “SAMIbond 007 was developed specifically for airport applications due its trackless properties a great advantage when contractors are working under very tight time constraints. Also, it provides better adhesion between asphalt layers, increasing the bond strength, reflected in better pavement performance.” Finally, being a customer-centric organisation, SAMI developed a new online portal and smart phone application, MY.SAMI, for improving overall customer experience. “We realised it was time for us to adjust to the technological world and give our customers as much flexibility and transparency as possible by allowing them access to our services through an app,” Chatard says. The MY.SAMI application allows

SAMIBond 007 in action.

customers to order products, see delivery advice and download lab reports on the go. The application was designed to optimise site production and better manage quality of bitumen products on site. Launched early in 2020, the application has generated the production of a vast range of orders from SAMI’s bitumen terminals and emulsion or polymer modified binder production plants. SAMI had been working on internally automating processes over the last four years and developing a platform for its customers was the next big step. LOOKING AHEAD As for the wider industry, Chatard says he is pleased about the increased attention on quality-oriented innovative products. “Today road authorities demand better performance and sustainable solutions. SAMI is responding to these challenges by committing significant resources and efforts in research and product development,” he says. SAMI has a research and development and quality control team of 20 staff working at a national level. “We are heavily focused in the areas of research and quality improvement so when road authorities become more stringent with the specifications, we can respond

to the demand and continue to deliver quality products to their requirements,” Chatard says. More recently in 2020, SAMI has continued its path of innovation. Products such as its long-haul crumb rubber which can be transported thousands of kilometres to sites without segregation and its primer made using vegetable oils called Bioprime, continue to impress . “Over the next three years we will be investing in the building of a new SAMI central laboratory in Sydney, where we will continue to work on innovating and improving our products and also transfer more and more successful overseas technologies,” Chatard says. The new Sydney central laboratory will be built within the next three years and during this time SAMI will continue to expand its current laboratories nationwide. “We will focus on performance and sustainability as core pillars for our bituminous products using new technologies based on the latest developments from around the world”, he says. “SAMI will continue to partner with universities and look for the best expertise from around the globe to keep producing products that meet and even exceed the needs of the Australian road construction industry.” roadsonline.com.au

MIXING UP PAVING

WITH IMIX

CEA IS INTRODUCING THE DYNAPAC MF2500CS FEEDER WITH IMIX TO THE AUSTRALIAN MARKET. SUITED TO BOTH MAJOR PROJECTS AND THOSE SITUATED IN REMOTE AREAS, TWO STAGES OF ON-BOARD MIXING WORK TOGETHER TO ENSURE A HIGH QUALITY PAVING FINISHED PRODUCT.

he launch of Dynapac’s MF2500CS Feeder with IMIX comes in conjunction with $7.5 billion dollars attributed by the Federal Government to transport infrastructure projects. A mobile feeder of this size is ideal to work on these major projects, which will be significant to the Australian road, rail and aviation networks. In Australia, each state has a different set of requirements regarding paving during major projects and when a material transfer vehicle might be required. As a crucial component of the paving process, material transfer can help to ensure a fully non-contact paving process and in the case of on-board mixing can aid in ensuring materials are uniform in both mixture and temperature prior to paving.

Mobile feeders are often required on major projects or those that are some distance from an asphalt plant increasing the likelihood of segregation and cooling during transport. Dynapac’s new IMIX technology, offered through supplier Construction Equipment Australia (CEA) on the MF2500CS Feeder, works to eliminate thermal and physical segregation, in two stages to ensure a homogeneous and thermally even material before paving. CEA’s National Product Manager of Dynapac, Chris Parkin says you can choose to option the MF2500 Feeder with just stage one or two mixing however IMIX is available to combine both of the mixing methods and optimise the process. “The first stage of mixing is carried out

in the receiving hopper of the feeder where two conical augers are mounted. These augers pick up any cold and segregated material from the outer edges of the hopper area when the material is transferred from the truck,” Parkin says. “This material is pushed back into the centre of the conveyor to re-join the main flow of material. This ensures no segregated or cool material is left behind in the outer area of the hopper, however this process doesn’t completely mix the material.” He says the second mixing stage begins at the end of the main conveyor frame where a flow divider and mixing augers are situated. “First the main flow of material is separated into two separate streams, using a wedge style flow divider. Then using a

The rear belt on the Dynapac MF2500CS Feeder.

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

mixing auger these streams are brought back together and mixed before being discharged out of the conveyor.” As the system works in two stages it ensures the material is collected and mixed effectively, equalising the temperature of the material and eliminating segregation of small and large stones before delivery to the paver. Stage one works to improve the quality of the mix, with the high torque of the hydraulic motor any cold material is actively pushed to the centre of the conveyor. The design of Stage two uses high wear resistant augers to combine the material and finalise the mix quality before paving. The mixing auger also has a hydraulically adjustable discharge chute to allow for the level of mixing to be varied prior to delivery. In applications where mixing is not required, the discharge chute can be opened fully to increase discharge rate and lower the level of mixing. The Dynapac MF2500CS Feeder has been specially designed to ensure a long service life and increased safety across all aspects of the machine’s operation. “The conveying system is unique on the Dynapac MF2500CS Feeder, it has a steel chain substructure with a rubber belt attached which carries the material,” Parkin says. He says the design of the conveyor provides the added strength of a steel construction and with the rubber belt as the material contact point, this provides a long working life and low maintenance costs. “For added safety there is also a liftable platform on the feeder, so the entire operator’s platform can lift up above the machine for improved visibility of the work site, loading truck and paver at all times.” Easy operation is another key design feature for the MF2500CS with IMIX. All of the main operation functions are grouped conveniently together on the control panel and the software and layout is the same as other Dynapac machinery. “There are speed settings for IMIX so the operator can monitor or streamline material flow. Using both stage one and two together ensures all the material is completely remixed before paving begins,” Parkin says. IMIX can be controlled in three different ways for alternate applications. The first has the augers running in automatic mode

The flow splitter separates the material into two flow streams.

Augers in the hopper pick up any cold and segregated material.

in relation to the speed of the conveyor belt. The second is a manual mode which will let the augers run constantly and the third option is to switch the augers off completely when mixing is not required in order to minimise wear. “The feeder is installed with a raft of automatic operator assistance functions such as automatic distance control, which is like cruise control, however it sets a distance between the feeder and paver which is then automatically maintained during the paving process, so if the paver stops the feeder will automatically stop too,” Parkin says “It also has automatic conveyor speed control and SwingAssist, which will keep the swinging conveyor centred over the receiving bin in the paver,” Parkin says.

He says Dynapac has had pavers and feeders in the market for a long time and the MF2500CS with IMIX has been designed to anticipate the increasing customer demand for mixing during the transfer process. “In Australia we have a large road network to cover, that spans over a huge area of land so there are more and more situations where trucks are travelling further and specifications for projects are becoming more stringent to ensure quality finishes. For these jobs remixing aids to ensure the quality of the asphalt being laid and the finished product.” The MF2500CS with IMIX was released by Dynapac earlier this year and is now available for Australian contractors through CEA. roadsonline.com.au

PUTTING IN THE

GROUNDWORK ROADWORK INDUSTRIES HAS PURCHASED ONE OF THE NEW WIRTGEN WR240 SOIL STABILISERS FOR WORK ON A PLANE STORAGE FACILITY EXPANSION PROJECT IN ALICE SPRINGS. THE MACHINE WAS CHOSEN BY THE COMPANY FOR ITS STRENGTH AND RELIABILITY, GIVEN THE REMOTE NATURE OF THE WORKS.

n February 2020, the Northern Territory Government announced it would provide $1 million under the Local Jobs Fund to create more jobs at the Alice Springs Asia Pacific Airport Storage and Maintenance Facility. This investment was set to see the expansion of the facility to increase storage capacity from 20 to 50 aircraft. Then the full effects of COVID-19 spread across the globe. With international travel at reduced levels like never seen before the demand for aircraft storage became sky high. To keep up with such demand the Territory Government invested a further $3.5 million to the Alice Springs Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage (APAS) Maintenance Facility, with a $3 million concessional loan and a $500,000 grant. These funds were matched by the Asia Pacific Aircraft Storage Group, allowing the storage facility to increase capacity to 200+

Roadwork Industries is performing stabilisation works at the APAS Maintenance facility.

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

aircraft. Stages 2 and 3 have already been completed, with Stage 4 due for completion by mid-December 2020. The company has also significantly expanded its workforce to employ nearly 100 staff in Alice Springs to support the aircraft maintenance demands for aircraft in storage. To prepare the ground for some of the worlds heaviest transport machinery, major stabilisation works were required. New South Wales based company Roadwork Industries are participating in the stabilisation works at the site, which require gravel pavement and a three-coat bitumen seal to create the aircraft pads. Brian Crowe, Managing Director of Roadwork Industries says the temperature and remote location of Alice Springs means access to water can be challenging. “When you’re preparing subgrade you would normally blade mix the soil with a grader but because water can be costly in

remote locations, we bought the Wirtgen WR240 to mix and moisture condition the subgrade,” Crowe says. The first stage of the APAS storage facility was constructed around eight years ago, before which aircraft storage services were largely undertaken in America. “We did Stage one eight years ago and since the pandemic we are now up to nearly finishing Stage four, we’ve done Stages 1, 2A and 2B, 3 and we are now onto Stage four which is expected to be finished by Christmas 2020,” Crowe says. “We chose to take the Wirtgen WR240 machine to Alice because we know they are good reliable machines. We’ve got a twometre Wirtgen machine and we’ve had no issues, so if we’re going to send something out into the middle of Australia we need something that is going to be reliable.” The Wirtgen WR240 has a working width of 2.4 metres and a maximum working depth of 510 millimetres, enabling the

TECHNOLOGY & EQUIPMENT

machine to work on a wide range of soil stabilising or cold recycling operations. With a powerful diesel engine, the WR240 is suited for long-lasting high-performance applications. Soil stabilisation can be easily achieved with the WR240 by incorporating prespread binding agents in the pavement material through the machine’s purpose designed and built milling and mixing rotor. This helps to prepare the soil as a strong foundation for building, or in this case for aircraft pavements. For soil stabilisation, on projects such as this one the ideal performance range sits between 4000 and 8000 square metres daily. Heavy-duty, microprocessor-controlled spraying systems are featured in Wirtgen cold recyclers to help ensure that any binding agent, or water, is sprayed into soil according to exact specifications. “It really is a strong, reliable machine and you can’t really beat that. If you do then get a problem Wirtgen are good at trying to solve that for you which is important when you are operating remotely,” Crowe says. To make work simple and consistent for the operators, the WR240 has a precise metering system for binder addition and automated features in the cabin so the operator can set and forget some important measures. These functions can be saved and recalled through a touch screen monitor for frequently repeated work processes. And a new feature to the WR240 series is the VARIO spraybar option, which maintains the spraying pattern of liquid binders or water across the spray bar at a range of pump speeds and pressures. This greatly improves the consistency and range of

The Wirtgen WR24o has a working width of 2.4 metres enabling the machine to work on a wide range of projects.

operating parameters the machine can work in, whilst maintaining material quality. Visibility has also been considered to ensure the operator is supported with wide vision around the cabin and an intelligent camera system for the difficult to see places. “When we found out there was a WR240 available we jumped on the chance to have one. With Wirtgen we sorted the commissioning process out quickly and got it taken straight up to Alice Springs,” Crowe says. “Wirtgen sent a commissioning person to the site and commissioned the machine while it was up there working. My workers are well experienced in stabilisation, but Wirtgen helped them to get familiar with the machine.” He says that is one of the reasons the company went with a Wirtgen machine, because he knows you can always speak to the technicians. Crowe says if there is a problem, he has confidence Wirtgen would

send someone to site, even if it’s remote. “We’ve now been using the machine for five weeks and have had no issues at all,” Crowe says. Wirtgen take pride in having an accessible support team, regardless of the time of day or night they can always be on hand to get projects up and running again if necessary. Following the completion of the plane storage facility in Alice Springs, Roadwork Industries plans to get the WR240 back to Tamworth in New South Wales for major patching works on the New England Highway. “It’ll do smaller council type works for us and also highway work to stabilise new construction, so it’s well-rounded and suited to a lot of the type of works we do,” Crowe says. “I’m happy with the purchase and if I was going to buy another one, it would have to be an exceptional unit to go away from Wirtgen.”

roadsonline.com.au

DRIVING SAFETY

SOLUTIONS INNOV8 EQUIPMENT ANTICIPATED THE INCREASED SAFETY PUSH ON AUSTRALIAN ROADS, CREATING INNOVATIVE PRODUCTS TO MEET AND EXCEED STANDARDS. ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE SPEAKS WITH THE COMPANY TO FIND OUT WHAT IS IN STORE FOR 2021.

or the past four years the Victorian Government has been working towards a road safety plan called Towards Zero. This involves working towards a 20 per cent reduction in deaths and a 15 per cent reduction in serious road injuries over five years. The plan focuses on four main areas; safe roads, safe speeds, safe vehicles and safe people. The Towards Zero website states more than $1 billion is being put to making roads safer in the state. Some of these treatments include barriers, tactile lines, signage and line marking on rural roads as well as barriers, intersection upgrades and traffic calming treatments in local streets. Victoria is not the only state with targets and goals to improve road safety, NSW has its Road Safety Strategy, Queensland has its targeted road safety program, Western Australia has a state black spot program and there are many other programs across the country. To perform these works safely, traffic management equipment and technology will be needed to ensure the people working on the roads are kept safe while doing so. One company, Innov8 Equipment has anticipated this increase in investment and has created a strong safety product line to support those working to make roads safer. General Manager of Sales at Innov8, 40

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

Innov8’s variable messaging boards and lighting towers are solar powered.

Jonathon Cooper says the business’ vision is to ensure the safety of workers and other road users by bringing new and innovative technologies to the Australian market. “We want to offer TMA’s and other traffic equipment that is safe and ready to use. We want to increase the standard and the level of safety for the people working and driving on the road,” he says. The Innov8 CEO Nigel McKinley has prioritised significant investment into

research, looking to overseas knowledge for products and processes to increase road safety. Innov8 work closely with their equipment manufacturers, such as Vedegro, based in Holland, to adapt their innovations to Australian standards and conditions. “Australian roads are much harsher, dryer, hotter and dustier so everything we do is building on Vedegro’s hard work and adapting it to our conditions to meet or exceed

SAFETY

The Innov8 team in Amsterdam receiving manufacturer certification to install the Blade units.

standards,” Cooper says. Innov8’s product range spans from two different speed classes of Truck Mounted Attenuators to visual messaging boards, lighting towers, video boards and traffic control vehicles. The company’s flagship product, their Blade Truck Mounted Attenuator (TMA), has been designed to adhere to changing environments on roads such as larger vehicles and can dissipate the impacts of vehicles travelling at speeds 100 kilometres per hour or under. Innov8 created this TMA specifically to meet MASH standards, which the Austroads Safety Barrier Assessment Panel (ASBAP) will use to evaluate transitions, temporary barriers and part two products such as TMA’s by 31 December 2020. “We also see many applications for the use of TMA’s to increase safety across local road projects over the next few years and so we have created our Light Truck Mounted Attenuator which can absorb vehicles up to 70 kilometres per hour,” Cooper says. The Innov8 team offer turnkey packages, custom builds and alterations with all their

products and this can be advantageous for the TMA’s as they can be made to suit the contractor’s needs. “Contractors are beginning to realise that they can have an all-encompassing truck that can cater for a range of applications, essentially one vehicle can now be used to perform the function of several” Cooper says. “We recently worked with Fulton Hogan who looks after the M4 in Sydney, they gave us a brief and we built a MASH compliant TMA for them, that also met other standards they needed for the job. So whether that be landscaping, cleaning, maintenance or incident response, it’s about understanding what the customer needs and how they can maximise use.” Innov8 is engaging with major road and civil construction companies to educate them about the benefits of TMA’s and other safety equipment as the road construction boom begins. “A key feature is that our TMA’s dissipate energy, they have G-Force reduction technology, and the blade system cuts

through steel and dissipates the energy,” Cooper says The Blade TMA design features 12 blades which engage upon impact. When a vehicle hits the impact plate at the rear, the first section of the attenuator, called the H-beam, is pushed forward. After safely cutting through the aluminium frame, the nylon track gear and drive motor work engage to actively slow the colliding vehicle to a safe stop. The system also ensures any debris is pushed away from oncoming vehicles, this works to keep the car in line with the truck. The design works to produce minimal damage to the driver of the errant vehicle, the person inside the TMA truck and the workers ahead of the TMA. In addition to safety, Innov8 products consider environmental and sustainability impacts. The variable messaging boards and lighting towers are solar powered to reduce energy consumption on site and are made from materials built to last. “Anything in the traffic space, Innov8 wants to look at. With our existing products we have constantly got prototype models on the go to see if we can improve them, make them more sustainable or better suited to contractor’s needs. Research and development is an integral part of our business,” Cooper says. Looking ahead to 2021 the company is beginning exciting works with a partner in relation to camera technology and will expect to make significant progress on this work next year. “We know technology is fast moving and that you can always improve on safety features so we will continue to try and be ahead of the curve with these trends in the future.”

Innov8’s Blade Truck Mounted Attenuator.

roadsonline.com.au

UAA want to know the types of exposure, so need to understand about the tasks facing the client.

IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTANDING

WHAT YOU ARE LIFTING WHEN CRANE HIRE COMPANIES ARE FACED WITH THE PROSPECT OF LIFTING EXPENSIVE LOADS IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO COMPLY WITH THE CORRECT AND REQUIRED LEVELS OF INSURANCE TO MANAGE THE PROJECT.

rane hire companies are often approached to conduct lifts which are out of the ordinary. In some instances, this can involve lifting extremely sensitive weaponry for the Defence Forces or expensive infrastructure parts. In some cases, they may have no idea what they are lifting. George Grasso, Global Chief Services officer for Underwriting Agencies of Australia (UAA), discusses the importance of understanding the nature and value of what you are lifting and the pitfalls if you don’t. When a crane hire company is faced with the prospect of lifting expensive loads, it is important for them to comply with the 42

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

correct and required levels of insurance to manage the project, says Grasso. “Crane hire companies can find themselves in unique situations when it comes to some lifts, and as an underwriter, UAA wants to know about the types of tasks they are expected to execute, especially when they are moving and lifting loads such weaponry or explosives and any type of sensitive work in and around an airport and hospitals, for example,” he said. “UAA wants to know about these types of exposures because, depending on the level and depth of severity of the exposures, we will determine whether we are prepared to cover it or not. To make these decisions, we

need to understand more about the tasks facing the client,” said Grasso. UAA also recognises clients will find themselves in unique situations where the details of what they are lifting is confidential and they don’t actually know what they are lifting, says Grasso. “We understand there might be a confidentiality agreement and the crane hire business doesn’t actually know what they are lifting. The most important element of this scenario is the contract they have signed. We’ve said it many times, it all comes back to the detail in the contract a client agrees to.” He says whether the contract is with the

SAFETY

Defence Forces, a Government Authority, an airport, whoever it is, if the crane hire business is not going to be told what they are lifting and they are being advised what to lift and how to lift it, then any responsibility or any issue that occurs thereafter should be the responsibility of the Principle Contractor. “This way, it makes insurance brokers and underwriters like UAA more comfortable that the entity engaging the services of the crane hire business is taking the responsibility for the lift. In this instance, the major contractor engages the crane hire company, our client. The client then comes to UAA and says this is what we are lifting. We will ask to see the contract agreement between the client and the principle contractor and then decide if we are going to cover them for the work.” Grasso goes on to explain what happens if something goes wrong with a lift. “In the scenario where something goes wrong, each case is examined, managed and reviewed on its own merits. There would need to be an investigation on what happened and where the responsibility lies. All of these factors need to be determined before indemnity can be considered,” he said. Grasso also explains the importance for a crane hire business to ensure it has the right levels of insurance when it comes to conducting ‘every-day lifts’, which might put the crane close to its maximum capacities.

“There are a lot of items that clients lift including air conditioning units for example, which fall under our General Lifting of Goods Cover. We provide automatic cover for this in their policy. UAA generally cover goods up to a value of $250,000 automatically,” he says. “If they are planning to lift anything more expensive such as major precast elements

Grasso explains what happens in a scenario where a crane hire business thinks they are automatically covered for a lift, they don’t approach their broker for specific cover, and something goes wrong and there is an incident. “In this scenario it will depend who their insurance company is of course. But it may impact on indemnity being granted or

“IN THE SCENARIO WHERE SOMETHING GOES WRONG, EACH CASE IS EXAMINED, MANAGED AND REVIEWED ON ITS OWN MERITS. THERE WOULD NEED TO BE AN INVESTIGATION ON WHAT HAPPENED AND WHERE THE RESPONSIBILITY LIES. ALL OF THESE FACTORS NEED TO BE DETERMINED BEFORE INDEMNITY CAN BE CONSIDERED.” for a bridge for example, they certainly need to inform their broker so the broker can inform UAA. We then analyse the associated risks and we generally charge a bit more to cover the more expensive item.” Grasso says there is obviously an extra cost to get the additional cover, but this can make a huge difference when you are lifting more expensive items with values above the Sub Limit of the policy “It is a similar scenario when a crane hire business is lifting historic artifacts which could include priceless and irreplaceable vintage war planes, or cranes are moving expensive camera equipment around a film set,” says Grasso.

indemnity might be limited to the Sub Limit of their insurance policy. For example, if the sub limit of their policy is $250,000 and the item is worth $1 million, and the loss is a total loss of the $1m, indemnity may only be for the Sub Limit of $250,000. “The remainder of the value will have to be borne by the crane hire business or there could be a liability stoush between the crane hire business and their client. It can get very costly if you are not properly and fully covered for these types of lifts or you could end up in a costly legal battle. All this can be avoided by consulting with your insurance broker to triple check you are covered,” says Grasso.

UAA generally cover goods up to the value of $250,000 automatically.

roadsonline.com.au

CONTRACTS IN BRIEF ROADS & INFRASTRUCTURE PROVIDES AN UPDATE ON SOME OF THE MAJOR CONTRACTS AND TENDERS AWARDED OR PUT TO MARKET ACROSS THE AUSTRALIAN INFRASTRUCTURE SECTOR IN 2020.

ACT/ NEW SOUTH WALES Three major consortia shortlisted for two Sydney Metro West contracts – August Sydney Metro West is set to be constructed from Greater Parramatta to the Sydney CBD, creating 10,000 direct and 70,000 indirect jobs. Three major consortia have been shortlisted to deliver the first two major tunnelling packages for the project. Due to the scale of the project, tunnelling and excavation works have been split into two packages between Westmead and the Sydney CBD. The three consortia will first bid for the Central Tunnelling Package which includes the construction of 11 kilometres of twin tunnels from The Bays to Sydney Olympic Park. From there, the remaining two consortia will again bid for the Western Tunnelling Package which includes building nine kilometres of twin tunnels from Westmead to Sydney Olympic Park. The following consortia have been shortlisted for two packages: • John Holland, CPB Contractors and Ghella Australia Joint Venture (JHCPBG JV); • Gamuda and Laing O’Rourke Australia Joint Venture (GALC JV); and • Acciona Australia and Ferrovial Australia Joint Venture (AF JV) Alliance chosen for $100M Barton Highway upgrade - September Transport for NSW have chosen an alliance partner to design and build the first stage of the Barton Highway upgrade project. Seymour Whyte and SMEC will partner with the organisation to undertake the works. The first stage of construction will see the Barton Highway fully duplicated between Murrumbateman and the ACT. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said awarding the first-stage contract allowed for vital works to now begin. JV wins design and construct contract for Sydney’s Gateway motorway – November A Joint Venture has won the design and construct contract for Sydney’s Gateway 44

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

motorway, for which the NSW Government will invest up to $2.6 billion. Transport for NSW awarded the design and construction contract to the John Holland Seymour Whyte Joint Venture following the planning approvals from all levels of government. Time savings enabled by the project are expected to be significant, saving up to 30 minutes from the Inner West to the International Airport, 22 minutes from Bankstown to the Domestic Airport, 30 minutes from Silverwater Bay to Port Botany and 40 minutes from Parramatta to the Domestic Airport. NORTHERN TERRITORY Local contractor to build new $6.7M Rocky Creek Bridge, NT - October Construction has begun on a new two lane bridge and accompanying approach roads over the Rocky Creek Crossing in Borroloola, Northern Territory. NT business Advance Civil Engineering will deliver the works which are expected to support 60 jobs over the life of the project including Aboriginal employment. The new bridge will be 9.5 metres high, one metre higher than the existing road level which is expected to increase flood mitigation. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said the Australian Government was jointly funding this project under its Roads to Recovery program as safer roads save lives. QUEENSLAND Cross River Rail $40M contract awarded to local construction company - January Cross River Rail Minister Kate Jones has announced a $40 million contract for Cross River Rail has been awarded to Toowoombabased construction company Wagners. The deal, which is expected to span a nine-month period starting late next year, will see Wagners manufacture all of the precast concrete tunnel segments for the $10.2 kilometre rail line from Dutton Park to Bowen Hills. The segments will be made at the company’s facility at Wacol and will then be installed in the rail line’s 5.9 kilometre

twin tunnels. These will stretch underneath the Brisbane river and CBD and tunnelling is expected to begin in 2021. Major construction contract awarded for $1B Pacific Motorway upgrade – April The first construction contract has been awarded for the $1 billion Pacific Motorway upgrade between Varsity Lakes and Tugun. Seymour Whyte Constructions have been awarded the contract. The works will include widening the motorway from two to three lanes in each direction, extending entry and exit ramps and rebuilding the Burleigh Interchange into a diverging diamond interchange. Queensland Premier Anastacia Palaszczuk said the Varsity Lakes to Tugun upgrade is set to support almost 850 jobs at a time when creating and maintaining jobs has never been more critical. Contractor selected for $662.5 million Bruce Highway upgrade – September A major contractor has been selected for stage one of the Bruce Highway upgrade between Caboolture and Beerburrum with works set to start before Christmas. Acconia Infrastructure Project Australia will undertake the works, which will deliver six lanes on the Bruce Highway from Caboolture Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way. Acconia Infrastructure Project Australia was formerly known as Lendlease Engineering. The works are expected to support 660 jobs when construction ramps up and will help to boost the sunshine coast’s economy. The project will widen an 11 kilometre section of the highway from four to six lanes and replace 10 bridges over five creek crossings. SOUTH AUSTRALIA Major contractors awarded seven year SA road maintenance contracts – July Four major contractors have been awarded maintenance contracts for a total of 23,000 kilometres of the South Australian road maintenance network. The contracts will run for an initial seven years with provisions for a further six years. This extends the State Government’s 20 year partnership with

CONTRACTS & TENDERS industry to maintain the road network. Contracts have been awarded in four zones: • Adelaide Metropolitan: DM Roads • Regional South: Fulton Hogan • Regional North: DM Roads • Outback: Lendlease Boral Joint Venture Now around 60 per cent of road maintenance services in the state are outsourced and under the new model, all road maintenance will be delivered in partnership with industry. Contract awarded for investigation works on North South Corridor - July A contract for the investigations works, including further detailed geotechnical works, on the final 10.5 kilometre stretch of the North South Corridor has been awarded. Golder Associates and WSP Australia have been awarded a $4.52 million contract to jointly undertake, from their Adelaide bases, the ground investigations work for the Torrens to Darlington Upgrade Project. On-site investigations will be carried out across around 130 test sites beginning in August. Geotechnical works are expected to provide more detail about the viability of tunnels on the project. TASMANIA Local company awarded $3.8M tender for Great Eastern Drive upgrades - July A fourth contract of works has been awarded for the Great Eastern Drive in Tasmania, to a local company. Gradco is a Tasmanian civil contractor with a 65 year history. The company was awarded the $3.8 million contract for improvement works along the road. The upgrades come as part of the Tasmanian Government’s Road Package to support Tasmania’s Visitor Economy. In total the Great Eastern Drive Action Plan is supported by $30 million in funding to improve overall safety and travel reliability along the route. Another $4.5 million has also been committed to extend the route to Binalong Bay Road. Gradco will undertake a package of works to improve safety at junctions and entrances to popular tourism experiences. Tenders called for next stage of $43.8M Murchison Highway upgrade – September Tenders have been called for the next stage of works on Tasmania’s Murchison Highway. The route is a key freight and passenger road connecting the North-West to the West Coast of Tasmania. Works will include the installation of safety barriers, the improvement of visibility for oncoming

traffic in specific areas and the widening and strengthening of the road. This will better cater for heavy vehicles improving the safety of the route. Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael Ferguson said the Murchison Highway was critical for the movement of freight to Burnie Port for export and to other locations within Tasmania. VICTORIA $113M contract awarded to alliance for Cherry Street level crossing - February An alliance of McConnell Dowell, Arup, Mott MacDonald and Metro Trains Melbourne has been awarded the contract for the Cherry Street level crossing removal. The level crossing will be removed by building a road bridge over the rail line, creating a new direct connection between Tarneit Road and the Princes Highway. Cherry Street will be the first of three level crossings to start construction in the Wyndham area. Designs are also progressing on removals at Werribee Street and Old Geelong Road. Due for completion in 2022, the Cherry Street level crossing removal will reduce travel times for drivers while providing improved connections for pedestrians and cyclists. $679M contract awarded for Cranbourne Line duplication in VIC – March Two alliances will work in partnership with the Level Crossing Removal Project on a $679 million contract to duplicate the Cranbourne Line. Construction crews began work at Greens Road in Dandenong South. An alliance of McConnell Dowell, Arup, Mott MacDonald and Metro Trains Melbourne will duplicate the line between Dandenong and Lynbrook. They will also remove the Greens Road level crossing in Dandenong South. The other alliance, comprising Laing O’Rourke, Jacobs and Metro Trains Melbourne will complete the remaining duplication between Lynbrook and Cranbourne. This alliance will also build a new Merinda Park station and expand the Lynbrook station with an additional 135 spaces. Duplication of the line will allow for peak hour services every ten minutes. WESTERN AUSTRALIA $400M contract awarded for Tonkin Gap project in WA - June The Tonkin Gap project in WA has been fast-tracked to unlock local jobs with the award of a $400 million contract. Tonkin Gap

Alliance comprising BMD, Georgiou Group, WA Limestone, BG&E and GHD have been awarded the contract and will work with Main Roads and the Public Transport Authority to deliver the project. Works on the project will include additional traffic lanes in each direction between Collier Road and Dunreath Drive, five new bridges, upgrades to the Guildford Road and Great Eastern Highway interchanges, a Principal Shared Path, noise walls, lighting and amenity improvements. Additional public transport improvements will also be made as part of the project such as the construction of underpasses and dive structures on the Morley-Ellenbrook Line and road and bus bridges will be built at Broun Avenue to provide access to the future Morley Station. Decmil preferred proponent for $175M Albany Ring Road major project - July The Western Australian Government has named the Decmil Group Limited as preferred proponent to build the $175M Albany Ring Road project. Construction is scheduled to commence in September, and run through to 2023, with the contract set to be completed in two phases. The first phase is for the construction of a new interchange at Albany Highway and Menang Drive; construction of the section of the Ring Road south to Lancaster Road; and design of Phase Two. The second phase construction will begin once environmental approvals have been granted and will extend the Albany Ring Road from Lancaster Road to Princess Royal Drive. Preferred Proponent announced for $852M Bunbury Outer Ring Road - August The Southwest Connex Alliance has been named Preferred Proponent for the Bunbury Outer Ring Road in WA. Comprising of ACCIONA, NRW Contracting, MACA Civil, AECOM and Aurecon the Southwest Connex Alliance are delighted to be named Preferred Proponents. The project scope includes investigation, design and construction of 27 kilometres of four lane dual carriageway. The construction phase will provide significant direct and indirect jobs that will benefit both the State and local community. Bunbury Outer Ring Road will provide an alternative route around the suburb of Bunbury connecting Forrest Highway at Australind to Bussell Highway at Gelorup, including grade separated interchanges, rail and river crossings and 20 kilometres of new and upgraded local government roads. roadsonline.com.au

SHAPING OUR TRANSPORT FUTURE

HELPING COUNCILS MAKE THEIR ROADS SAFER THE AUSTRALIAN ROAD RESEARCH BOARD (ARRB) SUCCESSFULLY LAUNCHED A SERIES OF BEST PRACTICE GUIDES EARLIER THIS YEAR, COVERING SEALED ROADS, UNSEALED ROADS, ROAD MATERIALS AND BRIDGE MANAGEMENT. IN 2021, ARRB WILL PRODUCE A NEW BEST PRACTICE GUIDE TO HELP LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUILD AND MANAGE SAFER ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE. ARRB TRANSPORT SAFETY LEADERS KAREN COGO AND TIA GAFFNEY EXPLAIN.

hat can Councils do to save people’s lives on our roads? The next Guide in ARRB’s Local Government series will be focusing on Safer Road Infrastructure and will be developed specifically to assist local government practitioners to integrate the latest available best practice road safety principles and tools when managing their road assets so they meet community obligations while at the same time improve travel mobility. In local government where road safety funding is limited, we must reach beyond traditional mechanisms and leverage other funding pools and resources to achieve more holistic and sustained road safety benefits. Responding to road safety issues can be a momentous challenge to fund within existing council budgets. The greatest impact on safety will be achieved through the integration of Risk Management and Safe System vision throughout the Road Design and Planning, Construction, Asset Management, Operations and Maintenance disciplines. This opens channels for more effective collaboration, opportunities and investment across the whole of a Council’s services, and it need not come at any additional cost. As part of the planning stage of the Best Practice Guide, two Outreach Forums were conducted in October 2020. There were 108 representatives from 55 Local Government Authorities across Australia that participated who have a role in delivering road infrastructure. It was explored how a stronger Road Safety culture can be created amongst road practitioners to include Road Safety initiatives and principles into 46

ROADS DECEMBER 2020

Karen Cogo, Principal Professional Leader Transport Safety, ARRB.

Tia Gaffney, Prinicpal Professional Leader Transport Safety, ARRB.

thinking and evidence-based support for current road management functions across ethical and economical decision making Council’s services. which will assist in delivering safer road We found that: infrastructure. • 100 per cent of Council attendees It is anticipated that the Safer Road thought Vision Zero / Towards Zero was Infrastructure Best Practice Guide will be an important goal for Local Government launched and available early 2021. • 50 per cent of Council attendees had a For more information on how ARRB can road safety strategy assist with achieving your Vision Zero • 52 per cent of Council attendees target or the Safer Road Infrastructure actively use road safety data to inform Best Practice Guide, contact Karen Cogo, its asset management data system Principal Professional Leader at ARRB at • 63 per cent of Council attendees use transportsafety@arrb.com.au a crash risk analysis to help inform or prioritise design decisions • 57 per cent of the Council attendees had a Council network maintenance plan that included road safety requirements (e.g. safety related KPIs) The Best Practice Guide will provide guidance to the practical tools, key Findings from ARRB’s Outreach Forums. fundamentals, latest

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