Location:
Giru (midway between Ayr and Townsville), North Queensland
Client:
and Main Roads (TMR)
Sector:
Roads, Bridges & Structures
Expertise:
Transport
Contract Type:
Dual ECI
Collaborative Partnership Agreement (CPA) – Design & Construction (D&C)
Project Duration
2018 – 2022
Project value
$224 million (AUD)
Status
Completed
TMR appointed JF Hull as part of the Joint Venture “The Infrastructure Group” (Bielby Holdings, BMD Construction, JF Hull Holdings, Albem Operations), a Queensland-owned joint venture, as contractor for the Haughton River Floodplain Upgrade project.
The 14km long project located on the Bruce Highway in North Queensland, midway between Ayr and Townsville, covered the extent of the Haughton River Floodplain. There are four main waterways: Haughton River, Horseshoe Lagoon, Pink Lily Lagoon and Ironbark Creek / Reed Beds along the project section.
The project significantly reduces the severity and frequency of closures of the Bruce Highway due to flooding, which was previously impacted on average every 1 to 2 years. These closures significantly affect locals, tourists, transport operators and other motorists.
Scope of Work
The upgrade has seen safety for motorists improved, through replacement of three key bridges (including a wider Haughton River Bridge); realignment of the Reed Beds curve; upgrades to nine rural intersections; construction of two overpasses of cane tramway open level crossings; 13.5km of pavement on a new alignment; and installation of wide centreline treatments.
These upgrades have improved the highway’s overall safety, capacity, accessibility and network efficiency while contributing to regional growth.
Key Features
Design and construction of the works
Construction of 13.5 km of Bruce Highway at Giru, Queensland
Seven new wider, higher-level bridges (including five waterway bridges and two cane-tramway overpasses over the Hodel Road / Upper Haughton Road cane tram-way and the Shirbourne Road cane-tramway)
A new alignment, mostly upstream and immediately adjacent to the existing highway, with a raised road level (between 1 to 3 m higher) along the project extent
Multiple culvert structures
Nine upgraded rural intersections
- Modifications to the existing Bruce Highway to enable it to function as a service road from Sari Road to Mailman Road
Staggered T-intersection at the Woodstock-Giru Road
Retention of the existing northbound / southbound overtaking lanes and removal of existing structures and embankment opposite waterway areas on the new highway alignment
Winner of the QMCA Cbus Super Fund Project of the Year above $100M Award for 2021 (Innovation and Excellence Awards)
Winner of the Infrastructure Partnerships Australia – Project of the Year 2022 at the 2021-22 Annual Infrastructure Oration and National Infrastructure Awards
Winner of the Infrastructure Partnerships Australia 2020 Innovation Excellence
