Rail freight company QR National has announced the completion of all eleven rail bridges on the Northern Missing Link, a crucial component of the company’s $1.1 billion Goonyella to Abbot Point (GAP) Expansion Project.

 

QR National Network Services CEO Michael Carter said it was an important milestone for the GAP project, which is due to have the first trains running across its tracks in early 2012.

 

“The expansion project has been in full swing for 19 months, and we are now reaching the final stages of construction. Despite the extraordinary wet season which hit Queensland earlier this year, we have continued to deliver the project on behalf of our customers on schedule and within budget,” he said.

 

The GAP project will increase the rail capacity for export coal transported to the port of Abbot Point to 50 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) by upgrading and connecting the Goonyella and Newlands coal systems.

 

Construction of the eleven rail bridges used 4,700 square metres of concrete and 950 tonnes of steel reinforcement. Ninety-six bridge beams were installed, each costing more than $20,000 to manufacture.

 

A staged construction process was undertaken using steel formwork specially designed to enable quick dismantling and reassembling. The design of the formwork also incorporated walkways for working at height, allowing continuous safe access for workers.

 

QR National and its alliance partner CoalConnect are continuing works on the two road-over-rail bridges on Suttor Developmental Road and Collinsville-Elphinstone Road.