Rail customers are being thanked in Queensland for their continued patience during extended track closures throughout March and April.
The closures allowed for critical Cross River Rail works to take place across Brisbane’s south and the Gold Coast, including the installation of a huge new pedestrian bridge at Pimpama.
The 45-tonne bridge was lifted into place over the rail corridor by a specialised 850-tonne crane, as significant progress continues at the site.
More than 400 workers were busy completing vital work over the Easter holiday period, which included hundreds of metres of new track laid and kilometres of signalling and fibre optic cables installed across the project.
These works could not have been completed safely or efficiently while trains were running.
Cross River Rail Delivery Authority Graeme Newton said the track closures were essential to the transformational project and thanked the community for its patience.
“The track closures have allowed crews to undertake an incredible amount of work safely and efficiently in the rail corridor,” Newton said.
“While the work was deliberately scheduled during a quieter part of the year, we do appreciate some people had to change how they got around on the Beenleigh and Gold Coast line.
“We thank everyone for their patience while this critical work was carried out.
“Thank you also to the 400-plus workers who gave up time with loved ones during the festive period to ensure the works were a success.”
In the rail corridor south of the new Cross River Rail tunnels, crews laid approximately 700 metres of new track, alongside the installation of six kilometres of new signalling cable, 11.2 kilometres of fibre optic cables and five new signals.
About 10 tonnes of steel was installed at Yeerongpilly, as well as the pouring of 250 cubic metres of concrete and the removal of 1200 tonnes of material.
At Salisbury station, about 100 metres of a new stormwater line was installed between train tracks, precast walls were lifted into place to form one of the station’s new platforms, and piling works were completed ahead of construction of a new pedestrian overpass and lift towers.
Preparation works for new Cross River Rail track was carried out at Dutton Park, while 160-metres of drainage was installed as work continued on the new station’s canopy and platforms.
Station fitout works were completed at Rocklea, which included the installation of water and electrical services and the construction of a new station fence.
Work was deliberately scheduled to minimise disruptions as much as possible, but unfortunately with significant works of this size and scale, some impacts are unavoidable.
Cross River Rail will continue to keep the community informed about works and their impacts as the progress on the transformational project continues.
