past projects

Forming the southern part of the North-South Corridor, and built to relieve heavy traffic from the major arterial, Main South Road (in Adelaide's south), the 18.5 km Southern Expressway runs through the southern suburbs of Adelaide. Originally built as a reversible one-way freeway, it was the world's longest after its completion in 2001. Between 2010 and 2014, it was expanded and is now a regular 2-direction freeway. The construction of the Southern Expressway was a complex exercise, challenging the stakeholders involved. In the 1990s, a 2100mm diameter mild steel water main near Seacombe Road, Sturt had to be relocated. The new freeway design included the construction of a 7-metre-deep underpass at Seacombe Road. The existing water main intersected the new alignment of the freeway at that location. United Water secured the job and managed the relocation of the 150-metre section of the major pipeline from the Happy Valley Water Filtration Plant to the metropolitan area. The pipes, sourced and trucked from Queensland, were each 166mm thick (steel plate), with one that was 9 metres long, priced at $30,000! Carrying out the installation, the 5-metre-deep excavation was battered before being laid with chases cut out at each joint to allow welders access to the underside of the pipe. The pipes were then laid in the trench using two mobile cranes (50 tonne and 25 tonne capacity). Subcontractor John Ranger & Associates welded the ball and socket joints. Then each joint was air tested for leaks before its inside was mortared to prevent material corrosion.

The project was then completed on time and within budget.

Valve placed to reduce water from Myponga Dam as main valve was faulty so workmen could weld the interior.

Work in progress in February 1997 Southern Express Way 2014

Location of pipework is between the Southern Expressway and South Road just south of Seacombe Road.