Bridge construction a major milestone for Botany Rail Duplication

In an ultimate knockdown-rebuild for the Botany Rail Duplication project, the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has dismantled an existing steel single-track rail bridge and constructed a new concrete double-track bridge in just five days, on Robey Street in Mascot.

The Australian Government is fully funding ARTC to deliver the $400 million project, which will deliver better access to global export markets via Port Botany, improve freight supply chains across New South Wales and help reduce the number of trucks on local roads.

The rail line is located in a constrained and high-traffic area, over a major road and situated next to Sydney Domestic Airport, making the challenging works a major achievement.

Ultra-High Performance Concrete (UHPC) was utilised to ensure works were completed efficiently and safely. UHPC is extremely durable with a fast curing time.

The bridge works included moving and installing two 36.5-metre-long main bridge girders over Robey Street, weighing 330 tonnes each, during a five-day track closure.

Twenty-four planks were also installed to form the bridge deck using a 600-tonne crawler crane and a 650-tonne mobile crane working simultaneously.

The project will duplicate the remaining 2.9 kilometre section of single line track to Port Botany, and construct a passing loop on the Southern Sydney Freight Line at Cabramatta to accommodate freight trains up to 1,300 metres in length.

For more information about the project, please visit the Botany Rail Duplication webpage.

Editors’ note: Vision and images are available here:  www.dropbox.com/sh/s7r35utrpvl2x06/AAAu4_gdtyEJLHmF41QT5Bfva?dl=0

Quotes attributable to Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government Minister Catherine King:

“When it comes to delivering infrastructure, the Australian Government is focused on the long game.

“Port Botany is a major gateway for Australia and the world, and investing in its growth is vital to the economic wellbeing of the nation.

“When completed, this project will allow freight to be moved more efficiently and effectively, ensuring we are ready for an anticipated 77 per cent increase in freight task by 2036.

“This is another example of the Government delivering projects that will make a real difference to the lives of all Australians.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Kingsford-Smith Matt Thistlethwaite:

"This is a double win for our community that is removing more trucks from our busy local roads as well as supporting productivity at Port Botany.

"It is a welcome relief for Mascot residents that means less traffic congestion and noise from truck traffic being diverted to the rail line.

"Investing in this key infrastructure is vital in reducing delays and boosting productivity at the economic powerhouse of Port Botany.”

Quotes attributable to ARTC Group Executive Major Construction Projects Mike Zambelli:

“The Botany Rail Duplication is a transformational project; the Robey Street bridge construction indicates major construction works are on track with the project expected to be complete in 2024.

“Completing the Robey Street bridge works in just five days in a busy urban environment is a major achievement.

“I’d like to thank the ARTC and contractor teams for their efforts, and for getting the work done as efficiently as possible, minimising disruptions to motorists and freight.

“Not only will this project increase freight capacity, it will also encourage more freight movements to be made by rail – helping to shift freight away from road transport and reduce truck movements and associated traffic congestion.

“Each extra freight train travelling on the Port Botany Rail Line will take up to 54 trucks off Sydney’s roads and that will be well received by local road users.

“We thank motorists for their patience while bridge construction works were taking place.”