PB role (in joint venture): tunnelling, road, geotechnical, electrical and mechanical, structural and drainage design

The Queensland Government appointed BrisConnections to deliver the $4.8 billion Airport Link, Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) and Airport Roundabout Upgrade project — Australia’s largest road infrastructure project.

The project comprises two tunnels and a new airport connection — the 6.7 km mainly underground Airport Link toll road, the Windsor to Kedron section of the Northern Busway, and an upgraded interchange providing improved access to the Brisbane Airport precinct.

PB and Arup in joint venture (PBAJV) are engaged to deliver the detailed design for this public private partnership (PPP) design-and-construct project.

Design features include:

• TBM tunnels: twin-tube, two-lane uni-directional
• large-span mined tunnels providing three-lane uni-directional vehicular travel, with underground intersections
• high-capacity interchanges providing access to the tunnel infrastructure and existing road network
• high-quality urban design and finish.

Airport Link will provide a critical new link between Brisbane’s northern suburbs and two of south-east Queensland’s most important economic centres — the airport and the city. It will connect CLEM7 (previously called the North–South Bypass Tunnel), the Inner City Bypass and the local road network at Bowen Hills to the northern arterials of Gympie Road, Stafford Road and Sandgate Road, and to the East–West Arterial leading to the airport.

The Northern Busway (Windsor to Kedron) will provide a dedicated busway tunnel and surface infrastructure for a high-capacity rapid transit system.

The Airport Roundabout Upgrade is a vital piece of infrastructure required to improve access to the airport and surrounding economically important areas. The design solution for this project replaces the existing airport roundabout with grade-separation of the East–West and Gateway arterial roads, supported by a fast-diamond intersection.