The Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC) has successfully carried out vital bridge beam lifts on the Port Botany Rail Duplication and Cabramatta Loop projects, ticking off major construction milestones on these transformational rail projects in Sydney.
ARTC successfully lifted four 15 metre bridge beams weighing 45 tonnes each for the new, 31 metre Mill Stream Bridge on the Port Botany Rail Duplication project, using a 750 tonne crane, with nearly 300 cubic metres of concrete used for the structure.
The Cabramatta Creek Bridge works, part of the Cabramatta Loop project, saw the installation of 48 bridge beams that are 14-metres-long, weighing up to 30 tonnes each.
The lifts are the first to be completed for the two major projects, with both bridges expected to be complete by early 2023.
The Australian Government is fully funding ARTC to deliver the $400 million Port Botany Rail Line Duplication and Cabramatta Loop projects, which will deliver better access to global export markets via Port Botany, improve freight supply chains across New South Wales and help ease local road congestion.
The two projects will help meet future demand where the freight task is predicted to increase by 77 per cent by 2036.
The Botany Rail Duplication will duplicate the remaining 2.9km section of single line track to Port Botany, allowing freight to be moved more efficiently and effectively.
The Cabramatta Loop Project will increase rail freight capacity through metropolitan Sydney by allowing freight trains travelling in either direction to pass each other on the Southern Sydney Freight Line. The new 1.65km passing loop will allow for trains up to 1.3km in length.
ARTC Group Executive Major Construction Projects Mike Zambelli said:
“We are pleased to announce the first bridges for the Port Botany Rail Duplication project and the Cabramatta Loop project have reached this milestone. Major construction works are on track with both projects expected to be complete in 2024.
“Not only will these transformational projects increase freight capacity, they 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.
“This will further bolster the economy, with more than 620 people employed by the two major contractors and their subcontractors at the peak of construction.
“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.”
