The Victorian Government partnered with Transurban to deliver the $10 billion, West Gate Tunnel Project in Melbourne. The project includes new tunnels under Yarraville, the widening of the West Gate Freeway, new bridges across the Maribyrnong River, and an elevated freeway connecting to CityLink, the Port of Melbourne, Footscray Road, Dynon Road, and Wurundjeri Way. The Port to City section of the project is within the City of Melbourne municipality.
West Gate Tunnel Project
The project is designed to ease congestion for the 200,000 cars that use the West Gate Freeway daily, and get 9000 trucks a day off residential streets in the inner west among a raft of other community benefits.
The APS scaffolding team have been hard at work delivering design, engineering, material supply and scaffold services including crane-able hanging perimeter scaffold to crosshead over water, Crane-able stretcher stair access, Gantry access stretcher stair and working platforms, Cantilever Perimeter scaffolds and Crosshead scaffolds.
Crosshead scaffolds (Kwikstage)
Designed for an 18-month life these heavy duty 1 working lift scaffold to perform multiple works which include access for handrail install, installing bearing pads, landing the girders and grouting and potentially welding after beam install. A 2.5kpa (emergency access stretcher stair) incorporated in to each 3 sided or perimeter scaffold.
Included inside standard handrail system that extends up past the top of the crosshead to acts a fall protection (this eliminates the need for a 2nd contractor or workers to install handrail to the crosshead). This scaffold is encapsulated in “Barra wire” 12.5mm x 12.5mm wire that gives protection but allows for a smaller wind loading which makes it easier for the temporary works process.
Cantilever Perimeter Scaffolds (Layher)
Designed for an 8kpa 1 working lift scaffold to perform multiple works which include access for handrail install, installing bearing pads, landing the girders and grouting and potentially welding after beam install. A 2.5kpa (emergency access stretcher stair) is incorporated into each 3 sided or perimeter scaffold.
3Some of these scaffolds have been designed to allow access to the top girder after install to allow for emergency access and has been designed so that all scaffold components can be modified safely and efficiently just before the girder install. We have also added the inside standard handrail system that extends up past the top of the crosshead to acts a fall protection.
We have also designed a 1.4-meter-wide cantilevered bay on one side to allow either site access underneath and in some locations, this goes over/close to the road to allow space to work underneath.
Gantry Access Stretcher Stair and Working Platform (Layher)
Stretcher stair access designed to the 2.5kpa emergency access requirements. These scaffolds allow access to the launching gantry which are landing the “spans” from one column to the next. Some of these scaffolds have been designed to allow for a cantilever on some elevations to allow vehicle access underneath. This allows for the trucks to bring each segment through the site rather than having to go around Footscray rd. saving time and cost to the project.
Handrails Tube and Fitting
Installing kms of double and quadruple handrails on steel girder beams ready for installation of the river. APS is working closely with the site teams and the temporary works team to foresee design changes before becoming critical. This allows safe access for the super lift team to de-rig the load. These handrails have been installed via an EWP under a tight time schedule to keep to the lift schedule.
Crane-able Stretcher Stair Access
Designed to the Australian standard of 2.5kpa emergency access rating. We have designed this efficient crane-able stretcher stair access to give flexibility to the site team to be able to crane in and out of position while installing bridge beams saving many man hours on the job. This has allowed the lift schedule to stay on time. We believe this time saving has allowed for a safer environment on site.
Crane-able/Hanging Perimeter Scaffold to Crosshead Over Water (Layher)
We have designed this scaffold to be built on land (pictured) then craned into position on a crosshead over a river with no drilling into the permanent works. (Avoiding re-works). We have also designed and fabricated steel brackets (in house) to be installed on each end to achieve the medium duty rating required on all 4 elevations. This scaffold has been 9 months in the making in partnership with WGTP. This scaffold was deemed in the top Category (Cat 2) by the project which has the highest scrutiny and quality insurance requirements.
