GRAHAM FARMER FREEWAY & TUNNEL
Contract Value
$230 MILLION
Construction Period
MAY 1996 - APRIL 2000
Client
MAIN ROADS DEPT, WA
Baulderstone in joint venture with Clough Engineering constructed Stage I of Perths City Northern Bypass Project, now known as the Graham Farmer Freeway.
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Baulderstone in joint venture with Clough Engineering constructed Stage I of Perth’s City Northern Bypass Project, now known as the Graham Farmer Freeway. The overall project provides a link between Great Eastern Highway and Mitchell Freeway, improving traffic flow between the east / south east and the northern suburbs. As well as improving conditions for motorists, the public has benefited from reduced traffic levels along Riverside Drive, through the centre of the city and in Northbridge.
Stage I, the major section of the project, comprised works between the west side of the Swan River through to the Mitchell Freeway connection. Stage 2 was the river crossing and associated roadworks. Stage 3, the interchange roadworks at Great Eastern Highway was also constructed by Baulderstone under a separate contract.
The main feature of Stage I is a 1.6km, six lane tunnel through Northbridge, the entertainment heart of Perth. The scope of work included all mechanical and electrical services and exhaust ventilation structures. The Joint Venture is also operating and maintaining the tunnel for a period of ten years. Other structures include bridgeworks at the Mitchell Freeway connection, a railway tunnel and a number of pedestrian overpasses and underpasses.
Extensive modifications were required to local roads and railways. The project included 34,000m² of diaphragm walling, 500,000m³ of excavation and 120,000m² of pavements.
Notable features of the project included complex traffic and services management, a rigorous environmental management programme and comprehensive community consultation.
The project was awarded the 2000 Institute of Engineers Australia Engineering Excellence Award for Infrastructure and Building and also won the WA Government C Y O’Connor Award for Engineering Excellence.
