FEATURE - PROJECTS
STRUCTURAL STEEL FOR THE OAKLANDS RAILWAY STATION CANOPY, PICTURED IN JANUARY 2019.
ROAD OVER RAIL SOLVES THE OAKLANDS GRIDLOCK MOTORISTS no longer battle boom gates at the Oaklands crossing in Oaklands Park. An underpass now puts the Seaford train line and a new Oaklands Railway Station beneath Diagonal and Morphett Roads. Trains began servicing the new station on 6 May last and traffic above is moving more smoothly – almost 42,000 vehicles use Morphett Road south of the Oaklands crossing daily. The $174 million project, funded by the federal and SA governments and the City of Marion, is on target for final completion in July this year. It has involved excavating 70,000 cubic metres of material, constructing a new road bridge, demolishing and rebuilding the station and laying 1.2 kilometres of new track. A design and construct contract was awarded in January 2018 to the Public Transport Projects Alliance (PTPA), a joint venture of McConnell Dowell, Mott MacDonald and Arup Group. It has been delivered by the alliance in partnership with the Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure (DPTI) and the City of Marion. Site mobilisation commenced in May 2018. The workforce peaked at around 300 during rail connection works from 100 to 120 typically on site each day. Oaklands station was permanently closed on 13 April 2019 and demolished as works began to realign the tracks to the newly constructed underpass. The Seaford line was also temporarily closed between Brighton and Adelaide to allow the electric catenary for the lines to be shut off for the final works. Substitute buses bridged service gaps as needed between Adelaide and 10
Brighton while trains continued to operate between Brighton and Seaford railway stations. The new grade-separated Oaklands station has ramps and stairs down to platform level and a public toilet at street level. A shared pedestrian/cyclist bridge over the rail line provides direct access to the eastern end of the new station platforms.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT A major planning study by DPTI in 2012 resulted in extensive public engagement from the time of the project’s announcement through the life of the works that followed. Community engagement in 2016 demonstrated a high level of community support and a clear desire to start the project as quickly as possible. Over 300 people attended two dropin sessions in 2018 to view the project design and provide feedback. Stakeholder management sessions were backed by a 24/7 hotline and project email. Partnerships with local primary schools through STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) programs supported study projects at various stages of project construction. The new crossing and station are expected to catalyse development and renewal in the local area. Travel time via the crossing will be reduced; new pedestrian bridges, pathways and activated crossings will improve
cycling and walking access and safety; and commuters will gain an additional 50 parking spaces at the Oaklands station.
BENEFITS FOR LOCAL INDUSTRY The SA Industry Participation Policy has provided multiple benefits for SA businesses, suppliers, subcontractors and workers. Major works included: THE construction of new platforms and station canopies (precast elements fabricated and erected by Bianco, structural steel by Bowhill Engineering and erected by Crane Services, cladding including architectural timber soffit by SA Construct, in-situ concrete elements by Hully). THE construction of 1.2 kilometres of new track with overhead and underground infrastructure to support the electric trains and signals (drainage and formation by CME Group, steel gantries fabricated and installed by ID Fab, signal and conduit installation by RIC). THE construction of a bridge over the new alignment (piled foundation with insitu concrete headstocks and wing walls by Torrens Building & Civil, and precast concrete Tee-roff beams by Bianco, and installed by Crane Services); an upgrade of three existing pedestrian crossings to incorporate active-control warning equipment (civil construction by Outside Ideas).
