Brisbane RiverCity Motorway

North-South Bypass Tunnel

The North-South Bypass Tunnel (NSBT) is 6.8 km-long, and includes dual twin lane tunnels, approximately 4.8 km-long with connecting ramps to and from the Inner City Bypass and Lutwyche Road in the north, and the Pacific Motorway and Ipswich Road in the south. A connection to Shafston Avenue in Kangaroo Point will also provide access to the eastern suburbs.

By providing a streamlined route between Bowen Hills and Woolloongabba, with an entry/exit point at Kangaroo Point, a ring road system is created linking north-south and east-west traffic in Brisbane. This ring road will ease congestion and cater for the city's future traffic needs. The tunnel will save through-traffic up to 15 minutes in peak periods, with motorists avoiding up to 18 sets of traffic lights.

Public Private Partnership

The NSBT is currently under construction by the Leighton Contractors, Baulderstone Hornibrook and Bilfinger Berger Joint Venture. The project is a Public Private Partnership, and after a concession period will be returned to Brisbane City Council. The project comprises:

• Two twin lane 4.8 km-long tunnels - for northbound and southbound traffic.
• Crosspassages connecting the tunnels.
• Surface connections including 9 new bridges and 9 bridge widenings.
• A ventilation system, including two outlets, for managing in-tunnel air quality.
• A fire and life safety system, supported by CCTV surveillance.
• In-tunnel traffic management and control centre.

Mechanized Excavation

Two major types of mechanized tunnel excavation will be used - tunnel boring and roadheading.
Two TBMs will be used simultaneously to excavate the main tunnels, each starting at Bowen Hills and finishing at Woolloongabba. The TBMs are being designed and manufactured to meet the specific requirements of the project, and the geological conditions along the tunnel route. Each machine is 12.4 m-diameter, as tall as a
three-storey building, with a weight in the order of 3,000 t. They will be used for up 70% of all excavation.
Up to seven roadheader machines will also be used on the project to excavate the tunnel entry and exit ramps in Woolloongabba and Kangaroo Point. Roadheaders will also be used to excavate an initial section of the main tunnels in Bowen Hills. Tunnel spoil will be taken to an enclosed purpose-built loading-out facility and removed along the arterial road network.

Opportunities

The NSBT is still on time to be finished by October, 2010 and, when complete, will be the longest road tunnel in Queensland. Opportunities on the project still exist for experienced Tunnel, Civil and Mechanical/Electrical project staff from both Construction and Design Backgrounds. For further information, and to make an application, visit:
www.rivercitymotorway.com.au