First bite for Brisbane Airport Link

摘要

Excavation work on the Airport Link and Northern Busway in Brisbane has got underway with the start on site of the first of 11 roadheaders scheduled to work on the major road project, which will also see two TBMs arrive next year.rnThe contractor, a joint venture of Thiess/John Holland, is due to, bring the second Sandvik MT720 (formerly Alpine Tunnel Miner ATM 105) roadheader to the Truro Street site by June. Later, a further three units will work from the site.rnThe entire fleet of roadheaders will also include four working from the Kedron site and two from Bowen Hills. Driving at depths of up to 35m, the contractor expects each roadheader to advance up 3m-6m per day, depending on ground conditions.rnGeology in the area is dominated by the Neranleigh Fernvale Beds, which are regionally metamorphosed rocks, including hardened shales, greywackes and quartzites. For hard rock, the MT720 uses 72 picks, and 57 for soft rock.rnThe JV is performing the design and construct contract for the concessionaire, BrisConnections, on a fixed-price, fixed term basis contract for completion by 2012.rnBrisConnections was awarded the 45-year toll link concession by the Government of Queensland. In addition to Thiess and John Holland, members of the consortium include Macquarie Capital Group, Arup and PB.