ABSTRACT The Melbourne City Link Project is one of the biggest and most important Metropolitan road developments ever undertaken is Australia. The twenty two kilometre project will connect three of Melbourne's existing freeways and significantly upgrade them. The 1.7 billion (Australian) dollar project will enable motorists to pass through the city without a traffic signal as well as access the city and its docks, airport, rail terminals and the Central Business District. The project includes two-three lane tunnels a total of five kilometres including cut & cover, as well as driven tunnel, in difficult ground conditions. The tunnels will be designed to the latest fire, life, safety requirements. The Link will construct over five kilometres of elevated six lane viaduct, including a 490 m. balanced cantilever concrete bridge over the the Yarra River with two 170 m. clears spans. The Link will be fully electronically tolled, so there will be no toll booths. The will be sophisticated traffic management and surveillance systems incorporated into the project. The project will be financed, designed, built, owned , operated and maintained by a private consortium over a 34 year concession period. Construction work on the project is underway and will be completed by mid 1999. (A)
Samenvatting