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IMajor changes needed in TasmaniaTsmania needs to make majorchanges to adapt its infrastructurefor current and future demands, anEngineers Australia study has found.The Tasmanian Infrastructure ReportCard 2010 concluded that the state'sinfrastructure is "stressed".

"Our government must move now tonot only develop a long-term integratedinfrastructure plan for the state, butthat plan must include a solidly-basedimplementation program that is highlyinclusive of local government, industry,the professions and the community:' saidEngineers Australia Tasmania Divisionpresident Grant Atherton.

The report card singled out rail asthe worst infrastructure category in thestate, giving it an F rating. According tothe report card, enormous investment isrequired to make it adequate for currentand future uses.The state's network is usedonly for freight. The volume of freight hasbeen decreasing and trains have sufferedderailments. Pacific National used to operate freight services, but handed them overto the state government in 2009.National and local roads, and portswere found to have deteriorated since thestate's previous report card was publishedin 2005 .The ratings for state roads, stormwater and electricity remained the same.There was some improvement in potablewater and wastewater infrastructure.Airports were judged to have the bestinfrastructure, with a rating of B.The report card noted that the smallstate is experiencing a shortage of engi-

,Category 2010 2005Roads overall C- N/ANational roads C+ B-State roads C CLocal roads D D+Rail F N/APorts B- BAirports B N/APotable water B- C Metropolitan,D Non-metropolitanWastewater C C Metropolitan,D Non-metropolitanStormwater C- C-Irrigation B- N/AElectricity B- B-Gas C N/ATelecommunications C+ N/ACard assigned ratings on the scale A-F to different categories of infrastructure. Herethe grades are compared with the state's previous report card published in 2005. N/Aindicates the category was not rated.neers and is likely to have limited fundsfor infrastructure. "Private sector fundingfor infrastructure must be encouragedand infrastructure delivery models thatinclude the private sector must have theappropriate allocation of risk to deliver thebest project outcome:' it recommended.

The report card was prepared by thinktank Australian Security Research Centrein consultation with industry experts andEngineers Australia. The findings are

based on a survey of publicly availabledocuments, such as statistics and reports,and interviews with industry representatives and experts., The Tasmanian Infrastructure ReportCard 2010 follows the Victorian onereleased earlier this year. Engineers Australia's report cards for other states will bereleased in the coming months .For more information see www.engineersaustralia.org.au/irctasl

Duplicate bridge opens in Brisbane

Te second Gateway Bridge was officially opened last month, six months

ahead of schedule. The event wasopen to the public, allowing pedestrians to walk across Brisbane's newest

piece of road infrastructure.The existing and the new bridge will

now both be officially known as the SirLeo Hielscher Bridges.

12 ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA IJUNE 2010

Like its twin, the new bridge stands64.Sm at its highest point over theBrisbane River. It was constructed SOmdownstream of the existing bridge andhas the same shape, with the exceptionthat it is Sm wider with the addition ofa dedicated pedestrian and cycle way.

The new bridge used a twin box girdersystem to accommodate the extra width,

rather than the single box design of theold bridge.The approach spans were built using asegmental match-casting method, whichinvolved lifting precast concrete segmentsinto place to form the bridge deck.The balanced cantilever 260m mainspan and 130m side spans were built using a cast in-situ method, which involved

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fromThe new bridge was constructed in a

period and hasof 300 years.

Queensland Motorways said that

of southeastand's entire precasting industry,

Octagonal piles, super-tee beams,segments, bridge parapets

on an 11ha.

More than 2000 prestressed octagonal

The approaches of he bridge requiredsingle box concrete segEach was match -cast to the next,

g an efficient method for joiningof four segments

per day were produced at the faCilityduring its operation. The segments wereerected side-by-side on each span tocreate the superstruc ture for the bridge.

In all, some 11,600t of steel and45,000m3 of concrete were used in construction of the new bridge.

The $2.12 billion Gateway UpgradeProject is being delivered by Queens landMotorways with design and constructionby the Leighton Abigroup Joint Venture.The project involves duplication of theGateway Bridge and 24km of motorwayupgrades north and south of the Brisbane River.

"For a project of this scale to be delivered ahead of time requires meticulous planning, dedicated personnel andexceptional team work;' said LeightonAbigroup Joint Venture project directorHugh Boyd.

After the official opening last month,four southbound lanes were opened totraffic on the second bridge, with all sixlanes to be opened by August.

~ r i s b a n e residents walked over the new Gateway Bridge last month to mark its opening.

Motorists will ultimately have 12 lanesacross the river - six northbound and sixsouthbound and all 12 lanes are scheduledto be open by the end' of the year.

"We want to give motorists the benefitsof those extra lanes as soon as they'reavailable - every extra lane means anextra 1400 vehicles an hour can crossthe river;' said Queensland premierAnna Bligh.

At the opening, it was noted that workson the new bridge were completed a fulltwo years faster than the constructiontime of the first Gateway Bridge, completed in 1986, thanks to productionefficiencies and innovative approachesto the bridge's construction.

Queensland main roads minister CraigWallace said the original Gateway Bridgeproject cost $140 million and includedthe bridge and 4km of motorway.

The original Gateway Bridge willremain open while a six month stagedrefurbishment takes place. Screens, lighting and pavements will be installed over

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the full six lanes of the old bridge.During the next 10 years, GatewayMotorway Services (a Leighton Investment and Facility Management (LIFM)/ Bilfinger Berger Services joint venturecompany) is contracted to undertake allmaintenance responsibilities on the existing and newly constructed assets. Thejoint venture said that with the existingbridge being a substantially aged asset,significant rehabilitation works to bridgeand pavement elements will be deliveredto retain serviceability.South of he Sir Leo Hielscher Bridges,12km of upgrades to the motor way arescheduled to be completed by the endof this month. The motorway upgradewill increase the four-lane motorway toup to nine lanes in some sections, eightlanes -and six lanes in others.North of the bridge, a new 7km section of the Gateway Motorway providesa new access to the Brisbane Airport andincludes 17 new bridges.The Leighton Abigroup Joint Venturehas also been awarded an additional4kmof motorway upgrade south of MountGravatt-Capalaba road.These works are due for completionm\d-2011.

' 4 ENGINEERS AUSTRALIA I UNE 2010

Early works to start forGold Coast light rail .

Te early works contracts for theroadworks associated with theGold Coast Rapid Transit projecthave been put to tender, taking theproject a further step towards reality.The works support stage one of

the project, a 13krn light rail corridorconnecting Griffith University and thenew Gold Coast University Hospitalto Broadbeach, passing through thekey centres of Southport and SurfersParadise.The roadworks contracts will bedivided geographically into two areas- Roadworks North (Southport) andRoadworks South (Broadbeach). Theworks would include road widening,

the relocation of public utilities andaccommodation works such as thereinstatement of driveways, fencingand car parks."These works are vital for the layingof the light rail tracks and the construc-

tion of stations which will be conductedby the appointed operator from 2012 to2014;' Queensland premier Anna Blighsaid. "These major tenders confirm theproject will be delivered and we willbuild a transport network that will take75,000 cars off Gold Coast roads whenit is completed in 2014:'The roadworks package will bedelivered using a competitive Early

Contractor Involvement (ECl) approach. The project team identified twogovernment funded packages valuedat approximately $110 million thatwill lay the foundations for the futurelight rail system.The project aims to provide a fully

integrated public transport systemand boost public transport use in theregion from 4% to 10% . Bligh saidthe project is part of managing theenormous growth that has occurredon the Gold Coast.

Skills DevelopmentProfessional development for the power sector

The Power Generation Skills Development programhas been developed by industry experts and staffat three of Australia's premier universities specificallyfor the power sector.Apply now for 2010 and choose from the followingunits for the Master or Graduate Certificate programs: Generator Technology Design and Application Introduction to Power Plant Applied Thermodynamics Power Plant Chemistry Project Delivery Asset Management SystemsFind the 2010 delivery schedule atwww.powergeneration.edu.auPlease contact any of the partner universitiesfor more information.

THE UNIVERSITYOF QUEENSLAND Queensland University of Technology