More than 500 concrete trucks will line up at Port Botany this weekend for the biggest elevated continuous concrete pour in NSW history.
Roads and Ports Minister, Duncan Gay, said the pour was a critical stage in construction of a $55-million elevated roundabout that would streamline access to and from Port Botany’s Brotherson Dock.
“Managing contractors, Baulderstone, will pour more than 6,500 tonnes of concrete non-stop for 26 hours, a huge undertaking that’s been carefully planned for many months,” Mr Gay said.
“This grade separation project, part of the $1-billion Port Botany Expansion, elevates Penrhyn Road over the freight railway lines servicing Patricks and Sydney Intermodal Container Terminals Limited (SICTL), which will enable trucks servicing the port, unimpeded access to the northern side of Port Botany.
“This will greatly improve the flow of traffic in and out of this part of Port Botany as previously they had to wait for long periods at the Penryhn Road rail crossing while 600-metre plus freight trains rolled slowly though.
The addition of the SICTL rail lines would have required a second rail crossing and further delays to Patrick’s Terminal trucks.
“On average, 24 trains use these lines every day with a truck waiting time of about 8 minutes per train, so the new roundabout will improve traffic flow times by more than 3 hours a day, the Minister said.
“This is an incredible bit of engineering – they are building a huge roundabout right over the old railway crossing and because it spans more than 75 metres, the concrete pour has to be continuous to ensure the best possible post-tensioning of the support beams.
“When the entire project is finished later this year, there will be three access ramps and four bridge spans linked to the roundabout providing clear access to all tenants on the north side of Port Botany,” Mr Gay said.
Is this a good move for the Port Botany area?