The staged upgrade of Kingsford Smith Drive is to reduce traffic congestion and improve safety in Brisbane.
Kingsford Smith Drive is one Brisbane’s busiest traffic routes connecting Brisbane Airport, the CBD, Port of Brisbane and the Australia TradeCoast region. The upgrade project aims to create boulevard entry into Brisbane, reduce traffic congestion and improve safety. It is also expected to improve vehicle travel times by up to 30 per cent by widening the road from four to six lanes between Theodore Street at Eagle Farm and Cooksley Street at Hamilton. The works included three through-traffic lanes in each direction and continuous footpaths on both sides of the road with improved footpath widths.
Bounded on one side by the Brisbane River and the high traffic capacity of Kingsford Smith Drive, construction had to be undertaken with minimal disruption to traffic and residents. To address the limited access, the main construction activity for the marine structure relied upon river access and working off barges.
Boral developed concrete mix designs for key components of the highly complex and technical project including high strength concrete that was specified to meet marine and salt water conditions for the 165 piles and the back slab and cantilever structures that supported the road widening and cycleway over the river.
The supply to this project was also affected by the limited site access with most of the concrete supplied via pump. Initially, two pumping stations were established at each end of the project with concrete pumped up to 800 metres. The pumping distance of the concrete was governed by the construction program at either end of the project. A third pumping station was established about halfway along the alignment when sufficient space was established for the safe entrance and egress of delivery trucks could be established.
The project was a finalist in the Queensland Major Contractors Association 2018 Innovation & Excellence Awards. The association is the construction industry's peak body representing Queensland’s leading major construction contracting companies.