Bruthen Intersection Rehabilitation

AustStab Awards of Excellence 2014AustStab Awards of Excellence 2014

QRCGINNOVATION OR EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY

Sponsored by

Objectives of the Initiative

Reduced social/community impact Reduced burden on resources Reduce social impact Greater Safety for work crews Reduced aftercare hazard potential Alternate pavement design to treat deficiencies in the

proposed pavement design Associated cost savings

Operating environment/context Link between Bairnsdale, Omeo and Orbost Alternative for long haul traffic avoiding the tourist town of Lakes

Entrance. At the heart of Bruthen, with the pavement abutting several local

businesses Timescales conflicted with both the long-haul traffic and tourist

traffic

Contract DetailsThe contract awarded by Vicroads was for the rehabilitation of the pavement with the predominant treatment of dig out and replace. A portion of the job was earmarked for some stabilisation to treat a reduced depth of existing pavement.

There were several problems with the specified treatment including:Length of program approximately 2 weeks Disruption to local businesses Aftercare hazards Expensive Environmental Impact

Supporting data for the applicationProcessFollowing the review of a pavement investigation, the design requirements were confirmed with the client – VicRoads – and an alternative pavement design was proposed. The alternative design addressed some of the deficiencies of the specified pavement design, with greater use of lime to change both the physical properties of the material and to increase the subgrade strength, and consequently, reducing the amount of excavation required and the amount of importation of new asphalt for the site.

Alternative DesignIt was proposed that a deeper stabilised subgrade be provided throughout the limits of the work allowing the design assumptions made for the specified pavement to be altered. In doing so, the required depth of asphalt necessary to provide the strength of the original pavement design was reduced by a third.

Benefits to the communityEconomic Benefits of InitiativeSignificant cost saving Economic benefit of safer environment for traffic

Social Benefits of InitiativeReduced cartage requirements of new pavement material Length of project reduced by half Work during chaotic tourist weekends avoidedAccess maintained to local shop owners at all timesReduced impact on Victorian road network

Environmentally Sustainable Benefits of InitiativeIncreased amount of road pavement to be recycledReduced CO2 pollutionReduce burden on precious raw materials Reduced amount of pavement to be disposed