Cranes mobilised for Ross Creek pipe installation
Date published: 30 August 2016
Three big cranes – one 80 tonnes and two 20 tonnes – are towering over the southern end of the Strand for the laying of new underground sewerage main beneath Ross Creek.
The project is part of the CBD Utilities Upgrade and has utilised high-tech drilling rigs on either side of the creek, at Enterprise House and Archer Street, to bore an underground crossing for the pipe.
Drilling was completed last week, two weeks ahead of schedule, in the most technical aspect of the four-year utilities upgrade program.
Cranes were positioned on site this morning for the next stage of the project, the “pull through” of 400 metres of pipeline through the bore hole under the creek.
Council’s Major Projects manager Simon Ormes said the work was two weeks ahead of schedule and on track to be nearing completion next week.
The project is in a high profile part of the city and quite a display of engineering muscle,” Mr Ormes said.
“Drilling work is always a challenge because of the unpredictability of what might be buried under the river bed, but in this case it has all gone very smoothly.
“An 80 tonne crane will be used, supported by two smaller cranes, to lift the pipe and assist it being winched under Ross Creek to Archer Street in South Townsville.”
The new pipe will be connected to a waste water pump station near Leichardt Street on the Strand and through South Townsville to the Cleveland Bay Treatment Plant.
Director of Council’s Water and Waste Division Keith Parsons said the Ross Creek pipeline crossing was the most technical work in the CBD Utilities Upgrade.
“This is by far the most complex project of the upgrade and it’s extremely pleasing to see it coming along ahead of time,” Mr Parsons said.
“Other projects in the current package of works across the CBD are also progressing well and residents, businesses and motorists have been extremely patient.”
Work is also underway on the installation of new pipelines along Sturt Street between Stanley and Stokes Street, a new trunk water main along Flinders Street West, and new water and sewerage trunk mains in Stanley Street.Excavation of a new reservoir site in the old West End quarry is also continuing.
Traffic arrangements are in place in the CBD to minimise disruptions and property owners and residents are receiving regular updates on the progress of the work.
