Further progress has been made on the Sydney light rail project over the new year holiday period, with track installation at important street intersections completed and finishing and utility works soon to be finished at several zones across the network.
At the intersection of George Street and Hay Street, more than 600m3 of concrete was poured and over 250 metres of track was installed, with workers taking advantage of lower traffic volumes during the summer holiday period.
It is at this intersection that the CBD and South East Light Rail tracks will cross those of the Inner West Light Rail line. Two track turnouts – a diamond crossing and an H-crossing – will provide access to the new maintenance depot at Lilyfield for light rail vehicles travelling on the CBD and South East line to gain access by enabling them to turn onto the Inner West line from George Street.
The remainder of the Inner West light rail track to the east and west of the intersection was also reinstated, with poles and wires installation, storm water work, and road pavement and footpath works carried out.
A two-week closure of the intersection of George Street with Bridge Street and Grosvenor Street in early January enabled installation of the third rail that will power light rail vehicles in the north of the CBD, drainage work, smart pole preparations, electrical upgrades and pavement work.
At Randwick, roadside kerbing and pavement has been installed along the light rail corridor and 800 metres of new footpath adjacent to Randwick Racecourse is now in place.
Structural work for the underground substation at High Cross Park has also been completed, and service installation is currently being carried out, along with the construction of the geothermal cooling wells that will cool the substation.
The track base slab and the combined services route are now in place along Wansey Road, where track installation will be carried out over the coming months, while the final road alignment on Alison Road between Darley Road and Botany Street remains to be completed, along with the planting of new trees and landscaping works along the light rail corridor.
Traffic changes will be implemented at Kensington and Kingsford to allow track installation works to be carried out on Anzac Parade between Tay and Todman Avenues and south of Rainbow Street, and to enable the continuation of works on the underground electrical and communications networks between Todman Avenue and High Street.
At Moore Parke, lane arrangements are now in place southbound on Anzac Parade, enabling track installation to continue at the intersection of Anzac Parade, Alison Road and Dacey Avenue.
In Surrey Hills, on Devonshire Street between Chalmers and Elizabeth Streets, the removal of construction barriers before Christmas has allowed pedestrians to temporarily move through the open space, which currently features plant displays and street artworks.
On Holt Street, temporary street furniture has been installed while the zone is remains closed to traffic. Final finishing works here will be carried out over February, including final telecommunication work, smart pole installation and landscaping.
Lower traffic volumes during the holiday period enabled the installation of track at the intersection of Crown Street and Devonshire Street in both directions, while installation of the new low voltage electrical services on the northern side of Devonshire Street continues.