Around the clock Easter effort, upgraded 800m of Melbourne tramline

— filed under: Print Edition, Equipment at work

Fulton Hogan, a growing force in the delivery of light rail projects in Victoria, has been the contractor behind a number of Melbourne CDB tram upgrades over the last 12 to 18 months.

Around the clock Easter effort, upgraded 800m of Melbourne tramline

One of its most recent successes, was upgrading part of the Toorak Road tramline about 8km south east of the CBD, over the Easter weekend.
The $1.8m project for Yarra Trams involved two stages. Stage one required the removal and replacement of approximately 830 linear m of double tram track, including demolition of existing track, installation of new tram rail and rail bonds, installation of about 3.32 linear km of 100mm solid wall electrical conduit and pits for future use, new track drainage including connection to the existing network, placement and finishing of 1500m of high strength 50MPa concrete and reinstatement of 220t of asphalt in the road reserve. All works were mobilised and demobilised in just 3 days when the road and tramway was re-opened to traffic.
Initially about 30 excavators were in action removing the roadway around the tracks and the tracks themselves.
Stage two required similar works but was slightly smaller with the removal and replacement of about 300lm of double tram track which was completed in just 48 hours before re-opening the road and tramway to traffic.
The logistics of coordinating the demolition, replacement and reinstatement, required a high level of planning, in order to effectively and safely manage a large number of personnel and the movements of more than 60 pieces of plant and equipment in a tight urban environment.
Traffic management was also a key challenge for Fulton Hogan. Recognising the need to minimise disruption to residents, as well as create a safe working environment, the company facilitated the closure of Toorak Road, an extremely busy main road feeding and taking significant traffic from the Monash Freeway.
Despite the challenges of working in an urban area with a limited time frame, Fulton Hogan has developed an effective work method and planning process, that has seen it deliver a number of similar tram upgrades throughout Melbourne, helping to grow and improve Melbournes tram network while attempting to minimise impact on the wider community.

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Around the clock Easter effort, upgraded 800m of Melbourne tramline

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