A sophisticated, pioneering construction method has been used to construct the mezzanine of the underground Woolloongabba station. The Cross River Rail project team successfully piloted the engineering feat on site and progress on the project is forging ahead.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk congratulated the team on their efforts. “Construction of the mezzanine level in this manner has never been done before and requires to the millimetre precision from the 50 strong team working underground right now,” said the Premier.
“Once complete, Queensland’s first underground train line will revolutionise transport through the south-east and open up opportunities to connect from coast to coast. And…sporting fans from around the world will take the journey through the mezzanine to get to and from The Gabba on game days, or to the main stadium for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
Deputy Premier Steven Miles said large concrete beams were being installed with millimetre accuracy at the project’s Woolloongabba site to create the future station’s mezzanine level.
“Anything made up of 180 concrete beams – each weighing up to 70 tonnes – would be considered impressive in its own right,” Mr Miles said.
“But what makes this phase of station construction so remarkable is the way the beams are installed. After being assembled, the concrete beams are lowered into the station box, moved into position and then turned 90 degrees in the air inside the cavern, before being fitted into place.
“The margin of error within the cavern for this delicate manoeuvre is mere millimetres. It’s the engineering equivalent of keyhole surgery, or a ship in a bottle.”
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Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said more than 450 individually cast concrete segments have been made and are being delivered to site to construct the mezzanine using a mobile gantry from inside a cavern, demonstrating the large scale and complexity of the build.
“A total of 7,700 good jobs will be supported over the life of the mega project – that’s good news for the Queensland economy and for local suppliers,” he said.
Mr Bailey said the project’s three remaining underground stations were also well progressed, with mezzanine beams due to start being installed at Boggo Road, Roma Street and Albert Street later this year.
Meanwhile, he said the rolling program to rebuild six southside stations being delivered as part of Cross River Rail project was also progressing, with Rocklea the next to close from Monday 12 September to late 2023.
“The stations between Fairfield and Salisbury are some of the oldest on the entire south-east Queensland rail network and are in definite need of upgrades to improve accessibility and passenger amenities,” Mr Bailey said.
“With work nearing completion at Yeronga and progressing well at Fairfield, Rocklea is the next station in line for a much-needed upgrade.”