Concrete convoy converges for massive Gateway pour in Queensland November 2008

A convoy of trucks carrying enough concrete to fill two Olympic-sized swimming pools converged on the Gateway Upgrade Project as part of a massive 15 hour continuous concrete pour.

The pour - the largest to be undertaken on the congestion-busting $1.88 billion project - would form a part of a new interchange linking the Gateway Bridges to the new 7 km of motorway on the northern end of the project.

The new section of motorway would connect with a new Brisbane Airport access road and Nudgee Road. The pour of 2300m³ of concrete is the largest for this congestion busting project and took 350 truck loads to deliver.

"The pour needed preparation which included placement of about 460t of reinforcement steel and, for the pour itself, substantial logistical planning. The project team had to ensure the continuous supply and delivery of 350 truckloads of concrete, split shifts for some 80 workers and various equipment and machinery including four concrete pumps.

Earlier this year, additional lanes opened on the Gateway Motorway south of the Brisbane River at Murarrie and in September, a third southbound lane over Wynnum Road was opened to traffic.

The new 7km of motorway north to Nudgee Road is planned to be opened by mid 2009.

The Gateway Motorway upgrade between the Gateway Bridge and Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Road is also well underway, with all works planned to be completed by late 2009. The Gateway Bridge duplication was at a peak in terms of construction activity.

The main river piers are substantially complete, five of the 10 spans on the northern end of the bridge approach are completed and an 800t launching gantry is in position to lift segments to construct the remaining spans that will complete the northern approach to the second Gateway Bridge.