The Geraldton Southern Transport Corridor project enabled the City of Geraldton to redefine its future economic and social prosperity by providing an efficient freight connection to the Port of Geraldton and removing the railway from the foreshore of the city.
The key elements of the project include:
- 11 kilometres of single rail line from the Narngulu industrial area to the Geraldton Port, with provision for future duplication;
- 13.5 kilometres of a new East-West Highway between the Geraldton Airport and the Geraldton Port, linking to Mt Magnet Road.
- four bridges, two tunnel structures and preliminary design of two future bridges;
- two major interchanges between the highway and connections to the local road network;
- construction of an eastern breakwater to the port and town beach improvement works, utilising spoil from the works; and
- service relocations associated with the works.
BG&E provided bridge design, and civil and structural engineering for the project, including the two tunnel structures. One rail tunnel accommodates the crossing of local roads over the railway and highway and utilises a three-pinned precast concrete arch structure supported on spread footings. The other tunnel structure allows the railway to pass under the new highway. Foundation analysis of the tunnels considered liquefaction of the sands and called for consolidation at the port’s tunnel site.
