The construction industry is set to receive a boost in Victoria thanks to the state government’s level crossings removal program. We spoke to microtunneller Stuart Harrison about the opportunities this eight year, multi-billion program will provide for contractors.

After winning the 2014 state election, the Victoria’s Andrews’ Labor government established the Level Crossing Removal Authority, charged with the task of removing 50 dangerous and congested level crossings across Melbourne.

The Victorian Government allocated $2.4 billion in its 2015-16 budget to remove at least 20 level crossings by 2018. These sites form the basis of a long-term strategic plan being developed to remove all 50 level crossings by 2022.

Early planning and engineering assessments are being undertaken for all the level crossing sites that will be removed. Construction has already commenced on several sites, and planning and early consultation is underway for the delivery of the entire project.

Removing the crossings will:

  • Deliver significant safety improvements for drivers and pedestrians
  • Improve travel around Melbourne – for train users, pedestrians, cyclists and drivers
  • Get people home safer and faster
  • Make Melbourne’s roads more reliable, enabling people to better predict their travel times
  • Stimulate economic growth by creating thousands of jobs during construction
  • Revitalise local communities, with many areas benefiting from station rebuilds
  • Enable more trains to run more often and on time.

Opportunities for construction contractors

The significant volume of construction work being generated as a result of this program will have major flow on effects for the construction industry in Victoria.

Each level crossing to be removed presents its own unique challenges and intricacies. Of the level crossing removals already underway, typically the removal involves lowering the rail line under the road, rebuilding train stations and platform access via steps, ramps and lifts, and upgrading cycle and pedestrian infrastructure.

In addition to this, with the rail lines being lowered underground, the relocation of essential services – including water mains, sewers, gas pipes and electrical and telecommunications cables – is a critical element of these projects.

This aspect of the works is of particular interest to Stuart Harrison, owner and managing director of microtunnelling contractor Edge Underground. According to Mr Harrison, the delicate nature of the works, and strict requirements from VicTrack regarding asset installation under tracks, means that only a handful of contractors are capable of fulfilling the asset relocation brief.

“VicTrack’s regulations relate to construction and boring under existing tracks,” explained Mr Harrison. “There are strict regulations in place which stipulate that any underground installation technique must core a hole which must be filled at all times – eliminating any potential for the bored hole to collapse.

“Further to this, the annular space allowed between the bored hole and the pipe inserted into it is quite rigid. The reality is, there are only a small number of trenchless installation contractors capable of meeting these requirements.”

Edge Underground is one of the few installation contractors that is capable of installing pipe within the strict tolerances as stipulated by VicTrack.

Utilising the Vermeer AXIS guided boring machine and jacking pipe, Edge Underground is able to provide a trenchless installation service which meets the requirements of a constantly filled borehole and minimal annular space.

Edge Underground has significant experience in boring under rail lines, having most recently been involved in the $13 million Warragul Trunk Sewer Upgrade, which involved microtunnelling under sections of rail. Edge Underground worked closely with their head contractor to ensure all VicTrack regulations were adhered to; and the overall project was completed earlier this year on time and on budget.

“The VicTrack construction requirements ensure the integrity of rail lines is maintained while construction and installation works are carried out underneath,” noted Mr Harrison.

Major construction projects as part of the level crossing removal program will take place throughout 2016; with new crossings to be progressively opened from late-2016 onwards.

If you’re involved in the Victorian Government’s level crossing removal program and need assistance with installations under existing rail lines, contact the team at Edge Underground on 1300 JACKED (that’s 1300 522 533).