The Department of Transport and Main Roads has delivered an update on the Cross River Rail project, stating that the mezzanine of the underground Woolloongabba Station is taking shape, using a unique method of construction.
The Department said construction of the mezzanine level required to-the-millimetre precision from the 50-strong team working underground.
Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, Steven Miles said massive concrete beams were being installed to create the future station’s mezzanine level.
“Anything made up of 180 concrete beams, each weighing up to 70 tonnes, would be considered impressive in its own right,” Dr Miles said.
“What makes this phase of station construction so remarkable is the way the beams are installed.”
He said that after being assembled, the concrete beams are lowered into the station box, moved into position and then turned 90 degrees in the air inside the cavern, before being fitted into place.
“The margin of error within the cavern for this delicate manoeuvre is mere millimetres,” Dr Miles said.
“It’s the engineering equivalent of keyhole surgery, or a ship in a bottle.”
Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey said more than 450 individually cast concrete segments had been made and were being delivered to site to construct the mezzanine, using a mobile gantry from inside the cavern, demonstrating just how mammoth a task it was to build.
Mr Bailey said the project’s three remaining underground stations were also well progressed, with mezzanine beams due to start being installed at Boggo Road, Roma Street and Albert Street later this year.
