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The Pacific Highway Upgrade is part of a multi-billion dollar endeavour to reduce travel time and improve safety on this main thoroughfare between Newcastle and Brisbane.
The Arup – Parsons Brinckerhoff joint venture (APBJV) team undertook the detailed design and construction tender documentation for the 31km Woolgoolga to Glenugie (W2G) section of the Pacific Highway Upgrade Program.
Project Summary
31km length of road
1million cubic metresof soil reintegrated back into the development
Design innovation
A fundamental piece of innovation contributed by APBJV was an alternative Range Road interchange design that was sympathetic to surrounding natural terrain, and improved safety and operation, particularly for heavier vehicles.
Of particular relevance to the project was managing the earthworks, which would entail cutting in to a 40m hill. A solution was developed to minimise the earthworks and reintegrate the 1 million cubic metres of soil back into the development. This creates zero balance making the project self-sustainable; a difficult outcome to achieve that saved significant costs.
The final design has been recognised as a true ‘value engineering’ outcome due to all identified client and risk objectives being achieved.
A GIS centric approach
To facilitate collaboration between the diverse project team and with the client Arup designed and developed a bespoke GIS based interactive web based project portal that connects the various project information management systems used in the design of the highway. It enables the project team in the office and the client in the field to access all project design and reference information.
Users can amend and comment on issued documents on the device in the field through the system and submit amendments immediately back to the project team.
This GIS centric approach has greatly reduced time and cost for the project, and received the Roads and Maritime Quality Innovation Award in 2013.
