Roads Australia
Infrastructure Australia Chairman, Sir Rod Eddington, doesn't want the current economic crisis to get in the way of planning for Australia's long-term infrastructure needs, according to media reports this week.
The Australian Financial Review says Sir Rod told guests at a Melbourne CEDA event that the current crisis would have ‘profound implications’, but that this shouldn’t deter governments from the task of identifying Australia’s future infrastructure needs.
The same report quoted Federal Opposition infrastructure spokesman, Andrew Robb, as saying the Coalition would move Senate amendments to the Government’s legislation for its nation-building funds to ensure transparency and prevent bail-outs of cash-strapped states.
In other news, the Age says lower than predicted patronage on Melbourne’s new EastLink tollway has placed a question mark over the viability of the proposed tolled tunnel from Footscray to Clifton Hill.
However, a transport expert quoted in the same report came to the defence of toll roads, saying projects like EastLink took time to ramp up, and toll roads still represented fairly low risk investments over the long-term.
The Age noted that despite the lower than anticipated patronage, EastLink was still the third busiest route in the State.
Meantime, the Herald Sun this week quoted a transport expert who predicted only half Melbourne’s east-west road tunnel would be built, with the eastern half a victim of the current economic crisis.
And in a separate report, the Herald Sun predicted that an $8.5 billion rail tunnel between Melbourne’s west and south-east would be the ‘big ticket item’ in the State Government’s soon to be delivered Transport Plan. A construction timetable would be determined by the availability of Federal funding, the report said.
The Federal and Queensland governments have embarked on a major planning study for the Bruce Highway as part of a $150 million upgrade planned for the existing southern corridor.
The planning study will look at the Bruce Highway from south of Edmonton to Draper Street, near the Cairns city centre.
Maunsell AECOM has been awarded the $5 million contract for the planning study, with funding provided by the Federal Government.
Queensland Main Roads Minister, Warren Pitt, said this week the study would address impacts of rapid urban growth, peak-hour congestion and traffic accidents on this stretch of the Bruce Highway.
A new traffic management system to deliver improvements to congestion, capacity and safety will be installed on Melbourne’s M1 Freeway as part of the $1.39 billion M1 upgrade.
Victorian Roads and Ports Minister, Tim Pallas, announced this week the $13.7 million contract to design the software for the new traffic management system had been awarded to Queensland company, Transmax Pty Ltd.
“The contract will design the software used by freeway ramp signals to monitor and control traffic, as well as on-road signage to communicate to drivers about lane closures, speed limits and freeway conditions,” Mr Pallas said.
“This system is unique in Australia and will deliver significant improvements to the operation of the Freeway, used by more than 160,000 motorists every day.”
As part of the M1 upgrade ramp signals will be introduced at more than sixty locations on the freeway.
Speed and lane control will be in place over 18 kilometres of the Freeway and new technology linking the operation of these signals will allow VicRoads to respond more quickly to incidents and freeway congestion.
Mr Pallas said the development of this technology puts the M1 projects at the forefront of world congestion management strategies.
Works to install the new freeway management system are already underway. Implementation of the entire system is due for completion in December 2010.
Sydney businesses have strongly rejected plans by the NSW Government to introduce time-of-day tolling and increase parking levies across the city, according to research conducted by the NRMA.
A survey of 570 NRMA BusinessWise Members located across Sydney found only 15 per cent support plans by the State Government to introduce time-of-day tolling on the Harbour Bridge and Tunnel, and nine per cent support an increase in parking levies.
The NRMA research found:
"The majority of BusinessWise Members surveyed said they could not delay trips to suit the Government's new tolling strategy and many will now be forced to cop the toll increase in the hip pocket," said NRMA President, Alan Evans.
"This proposal will do nothing to improve traffic congestion - all it will do is increase transport costs on thousands of small businesses at a time when they can ill afford it."
The NRMA Businesswise research found 77 per cent believed higher parking levies will increase their parking costs and almost 40 per cent of those will be forced to pass on the costs to consumers.
The Ipswich Motorway upgrade between Dinmore and Goodna is another step closer, with a $92.2 million contract awarded to the project team as an early works package.
The contract provides for the start of vital early works, including the supply of pre-cast concrete barriers, relocating public utility services such as underground cables and sewerage pipes, and environmental investigations.
The Dinmore to Goodna upgrade is being delivered by Origin Alliance, comprising Queensland Main Roads, Abigroup, Fulton Hogan, Seymour Whyte Constructions, SMEC Australia and Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia.
Federal Minister for Infrastructure and Transport, Anthony Albanese, said a detailed design and construction program was currently being developed, with construction expected to start early next year for completion by 2012.
The project involves upgrading 8km of the existing motorway to a minimum of six lanes, with a network of new service roads, new pedestrian bridges and bicycle paths.
The Australian Government has committed $1.1 billion for the Dinmore to Goodna upgrade. Other Australian Government funding for the Ipswich Motorway includes $255 million for the upgrade to the Logan Motorway interchange and $700 million to widen the Wacol to Darra section to six lanes.
Macmahon has been award the contract for Stage Two of the Tiger Brennan Drive Extension project in Darwin.
The project includes the design and construction of 7.5 km of road works, including a four-lane dual highway from Berrimah Road to the Stuart Highway, and a grade separated interchange with provision for pedestrians.
Macmahon, which is currently completing Stage One of the project, will work with SKM to start the Stage Two detailed design process immediately. Construction is scheduled to get underway early next year for completion in 2010.
CEO Nick Bowen says Macmahon participated in the Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) procurement model, the first time it’s been used for a NT road project.
“The innovative procurement model allowed Macmahon to demonstrate that it can deliver significant time and cost efficiencies on a major project, working in partnership with the Department of Planning and Infrastructure,” Mr Bowen says.
Queensland councils, Main Roads and the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) have reconfirmed their commitment to work together to improve Queensland roads, with the formation of 19 new Regional Road Groups (RRGs).
Minster for Main Roads and Local Government, Warren Pitt, said the RRGs had replaced previous groups and took into account council changes resulting from local government reform.
"The RRGs are structured around new council and Main Roads regional boundaries to best enable state and local government to jointly deliver on regional road priorities," Mr Pitt said.
LGAQ president Cr Paul Bell said the confirmation of the new RRGs followed the signing of the 2008-2013 Roads Alliance memorandum of agreement (MoA) on 2 September at the LGAQ annual conference in Cairns.
"The MoA and the new RRGs formalise the ongoing commitment of Main Roads, the LGAQ and local government to collaborative decision-making through the Roads Alliance," Cr Bell said.
The 6th Roads Australia National Roads Summit and John Shaw Medal Dinner will be held on July 28 and 29 next year at the Novotel Brighton Beach, Sydney.
We ask that all members and other interested parties note this major event in their diaries now.
The Summit is the peak annual gathering of the major stakeholders in Australia’s road industry. Once again it will focus on the most important issues and challenges confronting the industry, from sustainability to the management of infrastructure in adverse financial conditions, with presentations by leading managers and CEOs from across the sector.
It should be noted that this is the only Roads Australia-endorsed Summit for 2009. RA is not connected with any similarly named events.
Members who have suggestions for speaking topics are encouraged to email our Summit Convenor, Scott Matthews, or phone 03 8534 5004.
To register your interest and/or to enquire about Sponsorship/Exhibition, click here.
High-Occupancy Toll (HOT) lanes could provide part of the solution to congestion in Sydney and other Australian cities if trials currently underway in the US are any indication.
Parsons Brinckerhoff International Transport Planner, Darren Henderson, in Australia this month for a number of speaking engagements, leads the ongoing Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority Congestion Pricing Option Plan.
Mr Henderson said this project was a demonstration of congestion pricing along two of the most congested freeways in Los Angeles.
“Existing High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes will be converted to HOT lanes to allow additional drivers to buy access to the lanes by paying a toll, with the toll rate regulated to ensure traffic speeds remain above 45 miles (72.4km) per hour,” he said.
“HOT lanes provide an additional travel option, while preserving the existing time savings and travel reliability afforded to transit and carpools already using the lanes.
“This approach maximises the productivity of existing infrastructure while also providing the potential to generate revenues which can be reinvested in road infrastructure to benefit all users.
“We anticipate the demonstration projects will show the benefits of congestion pricing in Los Angeles – allowing us to expand the concept to other transit corridors and to regional applications.
“Several Australian cities have existing HOV lanes that could be converted to HOT lanes.
“Other congested corridors may be candidates for new HOT lanes with the potential to generate much needed transport revenue.
“Furthermore, congestion pricing programs can help people make better choices about their travel – so we can start to reverse the trend of increasing travel demand and congestion in our cities.“
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Saturday November 29th 2008 4:33pm
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