The McConnell Dowell and Martinus Rail Joint Venture (MMJV) is poised to start work on one of the largest freight upgrade projects in Australia – the $440 million Murray Basin Rail Project
V/Line is overseeing the Murray Basin Rail Project, which involves the upgrade and conversion of over 1,000 kilometers of track to standard gauge to provide better rail freight services and improved freight access to major ports. The project is jointly funded by the Federal and Victorian governments.
To mark the beginning of these works which includes scope to reopen the 87-kilometre freight train line from Maryborough to Ararat, Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester and Victorian Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan inspected equipment and met some of the MMJV team at Maryborough on 31 July.
The Maryborough to Ararat track is expected to reopen in January 2018, returning freight trains to the line for the first time in more than a decade.
Preliminary works along the line are already underway including vegetation removal and site investigations.
Works are also set to begin in Dunolly, ultimately delivering major upgrades to the Mildura freight rail line.
Crews will upgrade and convert the track from Dunolly to Yelta, and Ouyen to Murrayville from broad gauge to standard gauge, the works will increase train axle loadings from 19 tonnes to 21 tonnes between Dunolly and Yelta to allow freight trains to carry larger loads.
Jim Miller, the responsible Operations Manager at McConnell Dowell said “This is a an important project for the State and for regional businesses relying on freight. For McConnell Dowell it is an opportunity to demonstrate our expertise in delivering long line renewal.”
More information about the project can be found at vline.com.au/murraybasinrail
The hotly contested awards, which recognise excellence in the construction or management of assets, are a major feature of the New Zealand industry calendar. Waterview was up against the McKays to Peka Peka Expressway near Wellington and the Stronger Christchurch Infrastructure Rebuild (SCIRT), which we were also a founding member of.
In the judges’ citation, the Waterview Connection Project was described as “arguably the most complex infrastructure project undertaken in New Zealand”. The Alliance, working for the NZ Transport Agency, delivered not only two of New Zealand’s longest road tunnels at 2.4km each, but also a complex motorway to motorway interchange, 5km of pedestrian/cycleway paths, skate parks, BMX track, sports fields and an environmental upgrade of a nearby creek.
The judges said the project was “an outstanding example of what can be achieved when a diverse group of Constructors, Designers and the Client work together collaboratively to achieve a single goal, being the delivery of exceptional facilities for the public.”
The Well-Connected Alliance comprised seven organisations (McConnell Dowell, Fletcher Construction, WSP, Beca, Tonkin & Taylor, Obayashi and NZ Transport Agency) plus two sub-alliances, from four countries. The judges were impressed with the focus and investment given to gelling this diverse cultural group from New Zealand, Australia, Japan and Spain into a single harmonious team.
They also noted “a proactive risk management approach” and were also impressed with a number of other challenges faced and solved by the Well-Connected Alliance, including:
- Selection of the right Tunnel Boring Machine which at the end of 4.8km of tunnelling achieved the initial assessed performance criteria with no major issues,
- The spoil disposal system that included 6km of conveyors and a sound proof muck building for loading out to the Wiri disposal site,
- The complexity of the three tiered Great North Road interchange bridges,
- Formation of a sub-alliance with Wilsons to make the 24,000 precast concrete segments for the tunnel plus the many concrete bridge girders,
- Formation of a sub-alliance with SICE to bring leading international experience in tunnel systems to the project,
- Turning a nervous local community, concerned about the project impact on their daily lives, into a supportive community through a whole team approach to community communication and involvement,
- Achieving an outstanding health and safety outcome on this project which had significant risks and over 11 million man-hours of work.
The Waterview Connection Project also won the Over $25m Category at the CCNZ Auckland Branch Awards earlier in 2017.
L-R: CCNZ President Brian Warren, Former MD of McConnell Dowell Roger McRae, Graham Darlow, Sumi Eratne, Glen Kirk, Peter Spies and Hirepool GM of Sales and Marketing Gary Richardson
The final piece at the apex of Christchurch’s architecturally designed ‘gateway arches’ was put in place yesterday morning with the help of a 180 tonne crane.
The top piece (or arch cap) weighs in at 13.5 tonnes and connects the gateway arches, which now stand 27 metres above Memorial Avenue.
“The structure is set to become a powerful symbol for Christchurch,” said Transport Minister Simon Bridges in a press statement today. “It will leave a lasting impression on locals and travellers alike and it is exciting to see it in place.
“What is even more exciting is just how close the Russley Road Upgrade is to completion. This milestone will allow the project to complete the remainder of the interchange below the structure. By mid-August traffic will be able to travel under the new interchange and by early 2018 the whole project will be complete – months ahead of schedule.”
The arches and a major interchange are being constructed by a McConnell Dowell Downer Joint Venture at the intersection of Russley Road and Memorial Avenue, near Christchurch Airport.
Watch a
of the arch cap being lowered into place.
The Cook Islands Government has awarded McConnell Dowell the NZ$30M+ Te Mato Vai project on the island of Rarotonga in the Cook Islands.
This project is a multi-staged upgrade of the water supply network on Rarotonga, funded by the governments of New Zealand, China and the Cook Islands.
Stage 1, the installation of a new ring around the island was completed in 2016, and McConnell Dowell has been selected to construct Stage 2. This involves the design and construction for the upgrade of 10 existing water intakes, construction of 12km of replacement trunk main from the intakes to the new ring main, and minor upgrades to the access roads to eight of the 10 intakes. Intake works involve the construction of new intake structures, sedimentation tanks, sand filters and bolted steel water storage tanks.
McConnell Dowell has operated on numerous Pacific Islands since 1989, including Fiji, Vanuatu, Samoa and American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, the Solomon Islands, the Cook Islands and the Marshall Islands. Our track record in the Cook Islands includes the 2012 upgrade of the Avatiu Wharf in Rarotonga, and a solar power project in the outer Cook Islands in 2015.
Works will commence on site in Rarotonga in February 2018 following a six month design period. Construction is programmed to be completed in 18 months.
More than 200 engineers were considered for inclusion on the prestigious list, with the winners selected by a panel of judges including:
- Bronwyn Evans, CEO, Standards Australia
- John Immelman, former Managing Director, Endress+Hauser Australia
- John Wilson, Executive Dean, Swinburne University of Technology
- Alex Kingsbury, former Director of CSIRO's additive manufacturing centre, Lab 22
- Ian Opperman, NSW Chief Data Scientist
- James Trevelyan, Professor, University of Western Australia
Engineers Australia National President John McIntosh congratulated all the winners.
"Australian engineers are respected worldwide both for our ingenuity and persistence in making our solutions work," he said. "We are the home, after all, of world famous inventions such as WiFi and the black box flight recorder."
Innovative engineering has always been part of McConnell Dowell’s DNA and this nomination is a strong endorsement of Vito’s engineering leadership and recognition of our ‘Creative Construction’ brand.
You can read Vito’s profile in create magazine.
