Bridges

In February 2011, the Queensland Government announced that the TrackStar Alliance would construct the $475 million Stage 2 Richlands to Springfield project as part of the broader Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor. The alliance consisted of Queensland Rail, Aurecon and Aecom as the designers, and Thiess Pty Ltd as the constructor. The project included the delivery of a 9.5 km dual track passenger line from Bullockhead Creek to Springfield with the addition of two stations – Springfield and Springfield Central. The project also involved the construction of seven new rail bridges, with crossings over the Logan Motorway Interchange, Springfield Parkway, Springfield Greenbank Arterial Road and several waterways. The significant structures in the project included the Logan Motorway Viaduct and Springfield Central Station.The Logan Motorway Viaduct is an 820-metre long structure severely constrained by the requirement to cross multiple existing and future motorways, ramps and roads as well as Bullockhead Creek. The bridge geometry and rail alignment was coordinated to produce the best possible overall outcome, with a high speed alignment, provision of appropriate pier positions, minimisation of pier heights, moderation of the skew over roads and the avoidance of long spans.Springfield Central Station is a 205-metre long structure with an elevated platform consisting of 13 spans of precast concrete beams supported on a series of reinforced concrete arched portal frames. These arched portal frames form the entry of the station and are without a doubt the most impressive feature of the station.This paper will present the interesting design features and construction challenges faced for these and other structures on the project.