Roads Australia
In Melbourne this week, the Herald Sun reported that the landmark EastLink project was well ahead of schedule and that two untolled sections - the Ringwood and Dandenong bypasses - may open ahead of the rest of the tollway.
The Age reported that Australia’s car industry would fight moves to impose compulsory greenhouse gas emission standards for new vehicles.
In Brisbane, the Courier Mail reported that the cost of the Goodna bypass had blown out by $500 million to $2.8 billion because the original estimate did not include the cost of connecting the new bypass to key existing roads. Federal Transport Minister Mark Vaile was reported as saying this would not force a rethink of the project.
In Sydney, the SMH reported that P-platers were trying to get around the State’s tough new laws for young drivers by not displaying their plates.
The Herald also reported on a State Government draft plan to increase the number of houses in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, with local government representatives warning of further road congestion.
Abigroup Contractors has been awarded a $108 million contract for Section 3 of the Geelong Ring Road.
The contract was jointly announced this week by Victorian Roads and Ports Minister, Tim Pallas, and Federal Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, Jim Lloyd.
“With the awarding of this contract, the Geelong Ring Road will continue for 7.5 kilometres south from the Hamilton Highway, over the Barwon River, underneath Barrabool Road and continuing south to the Princes Highway,” Mr Lloyd said.
Mr Pallas said features of Section 3 included twin 110 metre-long bridges over the Barwon River and an interchange that reconnects to the Princes Highway at Waurn Ponds.
“The new roadway will comprise two lanes in each direction with a provision for a third in the future and will involve major works including moving 4.7 million cubic metres of earth,” Mr Pallas said.
“A range of safety features including emergency stopping lanes, median safety barriers, help phones and active message signs will provide a safe journey for motorists while easing congestion on the existing arterial road network.”
Works on Section 3 are expected to start later this year, and scheduled for completion in 2009.
Abigroup Contractors are also responsible for the 10.5 kilometre Section 1 of the Geelong Ring Road which is expected to be completed early in 2008.
The Queensland and Federal governments have accepted the recommendations of an independent review into the reliability of cost estimation of QDMR projects funded under AusLink.
The report by Evans and Peck was commissioned by DOTARS to examine the methodology adopted by QDMR to determine project cost estimates for the interchange between the Ipswich and Logan motorways, the upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway from Wacol to Darra and the Neilsens Road interchange on the Pacific Motorway.
While acknowledging that Main Roads documentation and procedures were in accordance with best practice, the review did note that further improvements were required in the areas of cost contingency and escalation.
The review made a number or specific recommendations for both QDMR and DOTARS.
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Paul Lucas, said the Evans and Peck report showed that both State and Federal governments could do better.
“Main Roads has acknowledged it could do more to better predict construction costs,” Mr Lucas said.
“And it is constantly looking at measures that can help keep projects costs down. This report will help provide better accuracy in costings.”
In a separate statement, Federal Transport Minister, Mark Vaile, said he accepted all the report recommendations that related to his department.
"It (the review) recommends that DOTARS should define its requirements better and that its staff should be trained to cast a more critical eye over the initial cost estimates for projects. It advises that the lessons from the report should be implemented nationally,” Mr Vaile said.
For a copy of the review, go to http://www.ministers.dotars.gov.au/mv/releases/2007/July/120MV_2007_attachment.htm
The Australian Road Forum has won a prestigious International Road Federation (IRF) Global Road Achievement Award for 2007.
ARF’s award in the Advocacy and Lobbying category recognises the significant success the organisation has had in strategically reforming and rebuilding its membership over the last three years.
ARF today has more than 50 members representing all key sectors of the industry, and is recognised by the Federal Government as the national peak body of road transport stakeholders.
Underscoring that status, last year alone nearly 1200 participants from 140 organisations attended ARF lunches, forums and workshops around the country.
ARF’s achievement isn’t the only success for Australia in the 2007 Awards. ARF member, Maunsell, has also won a Global Road Achievement Award in the Design category for its work on the Westlink M7 project, in Sydney.
Started by the IRF in 2000, the Global Road Achievement Awards seek to honor and recognise road projects throughout the world that demonstrate excellence and innovation.
Since the inception of the Awards, nearly 50 projects from two dozen countries have been recognised for their contributions in the advancement of road development worldwide. Past winners include the Queensland Department of Main Roads.
The full program for Freight Week 2007, described by organisers as the most ambitious freight-focused program ever seen in Australia, has now been released.
Taking place in Melbourne from September 15 to 21, Freight Week will involve 10 separate conferences as well as a three-day expo and a range of launches and social functions.
Held devery two years, Freight Week is organised by ARF member, the Victorian Transport Association (VTA), and the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce (VACC).
One of the major events on the 2007 program is Freight Outlook 07, an all-day session at the State Library of Victoria on Tuesday September 18 that brings together leading thinkers and agenda shapers across industry, government and academia to discuss and debate the future of freight.
Other highlights of the 2007 program include a Freight Careers Day at Caulfield on Monday September 17, the three-day Freight Expo at Caulfield from September 19 to 21, and the Australian Freight Industry Awards Dinner at the Melbourne Convention Centre on Saturday September 15.
For full details of the program, including registration information, go to www.freight2007.com.au
The Australian Asphalt Pavement Association (AAPA) is the latest organisation to join ARF’s growing membership of road industry stakeholders.
AAPA is a non-profit organisation which promotes the economic use of asphalt and bitumen bound products based on sound technical and commercial grounds.
Since its formation in 1969, AAPA has maintained as its major objective the dissemination of technical knowledge aimed at continuing improvement in asphalt technology.
AAPA members include virtually all manufacturers of asphalt and other bitumen bound products, as well as state road authorities, local government, paving consultants, material suppliers, plant and machinery manufacturers, paving and sealing contractors and individuals interested in asphalt technology.
Integral to AAPA is its training activities, with the AAPA Training Centre regarded as Australia’s foremost provider of quality training courses on all aspects of asphalt and bituminous surfacing.
The Training Centre presents a program of around 90 courses each year in all capital cities and many regional centres, in addition to customised courses for member companies and local government.
AAPA is currently planning for its 2007 Pavements Industry Conference, to be held in Sydney from October 21-24.
A new awareness campaign that focuses on the risk of being injured in a road crash has been launched in South Australia.
SA Road Safety Minister, Carmel Zollo says the 24 Hours 24 Injuries campaign connects the risk of serious injury to the key behaviours that will be targeted through the advertising program – speeding, drink and drug driving, restraints, and fatigue and inattention.
The campaign responds to statistics that show from 2000 to 2006:
The SA Government’s commitment to reducing road injuries is reflected in the fact that an injury target has been added to South Australia’s Strategic Plan.
“By the end of 2010, we want to reduce road fatalities to less than 90 people a year and reduce serious injuries to less than 1,000,” says Minister Zollo.
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Sunday July 29th 2007 8:54pm
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