News

Port Drive Upgrade awarded ‘Excellent’ rating for sustainable design

Get in touch
Australasia Press Office
5 December 2017

The Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia (ISCA) has awarded the Port Drive Upgrade Project a certified IS Design v1.2 – Excellent rating. The scheme is Australia’s only comprehensive rating system for evaluating sustainability across design, construction and operation of infrastructure, taking into account environmental, social, economic and governance aspects. This is only the second road project in Queensland to receive the rating, and of all 13 projects registered is the highest scoring in the state. 

Crane lifting Quickcell Super I Girder as part of the Port Drive Upgrade project Crane lifting Quickcell Super I Girder as part of the Port Drive Upgrade project

An innovative solution that was key to achieving this rating was the Australian first use of Super I Girders. Developed by Quickcell Technology Products and Arup, the new type of beam can reach spans of up to 46m, longer than the standard 32m Super T girder. Using the longer girders on the Lucinda Drive bridge reduced materials, construction and maintenance costs, while also mitigating major safety and constructability issues. 

Icons/Social/Facebook Created with Sketch. Icons/Social/LinkedIn Created with Sketch. Icons/Social/Twitter Created with Sketch. Icons/Social/More Created with Sketch.
“

Close collaboration with Seymour Whyte, the Port of Brisbane, and the Department of Transport and Main Roads, along with the technical excellence and effort put in by everyone in the wider project teams has been critical in achieving the certified IS Design v1.2 – Excellent rating. It has delivered a number of truly innovative solutions, attaining ‘firsts’ in Queensland and Australia, and is changing how road projects realise sustainable lifecycle outcomes. ”

Jody Finsen

Another significant feature of Arup’s design was the use of Enrobés à Module Élevé Class 2 (EME2) asphalt, a binder (bitumen) rich mix which produces a stiffer asphalt with remarkably good workability. This innovation drives a better design with reduced asphalt thicknesses resulting in the reduction of 99,000tn of asphalt, which in turn delivered a 32% reduction in lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions between the preliminary design and detailed design. We were also able to realise time savings of 80 days needed to lay the asphalt along with construction fuel savings due to less plant movement.

Enrobés à Module Élevé Class 2 (EME2) asphalt being installed as part of the Port Drive Upgrade project Enrobés à Module Élevé Class 2 (EME2) asphalt being installed as part of the Port Drive Upgrade project
Icons/Social/Facebook Created with Sketch. Icons/Social/LinkedIn Created with Sketch. Icons/Social/Twitter Created with Sketch. Icons/Social/More Created with Sketch.

Enrobés à Module Élevé Class 2 (EME2) asphalt being laid as part of the Port Drive Upgrade project

This rating has also positioned contractor Seymour Whyte Constructions to receive an IS As Built v1.2 – Excellent rating upon completion of construction. The project is due for completion in mid 2018.