2022 has been a difficult year for Australia’s infrastructure sector. Volatile weather has caused devastating infrastructure damage in some regional and urban communities, and the sector has been dealing with a shortage of skilled workers and material/supply chain issues.
However, with record infrastructure investment, 2022 has also seen major developments in road, rail, airport, port and urban construction projects. These significant projects are part of the Government’s strategy to ease congestion, increase connection between regional communities, improve safety, reduce freight challenges, and meet sustainability targets.
Here, Infrastructure Magazine recaps the top five news stories of the year.
NSW Government releases tender shortlist for $700M bypass project
Our most read story in 2022 was about the shortlisted tenderers for the design and construction of the $700 million New England Highway bypass, announced by the New South Wales Government.
The shortlisted bidders include Acciona Constructions Australia, Fulton Hogan Construction and John Holland.
Contract awarded for NSW bridge replacement
Our second most read story covered the construction contract for a new 30m road-over-rail bridge in Wallendbeen, a regional New South Wales town. The original bridge suffered extensive damage due to poor weather.
Abergeldie was awarded the contract to replace the temporary single-lane steel bridge and permanently restore access for motorists and pedestrians.
Major works planned for Victoria’s Big Build over summer
Next, readers were intrigued by the major works set to take place over the 2022-23 summer on Victoria’s Big Build, including maintenance on four regional train lines, the West Gate Bridge and the City Loop.
The works on the City Loop will help better manage potential emergency situations in the underground rail system, including allowing crews to respond quicker to intruders – further minimising and reducing delays to the network.
Construction begins on Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop
Construction began on Victoria’s Suburban Rail Loop (SRL), a massive project that will see 90km of orbital loop linking every major rail line in the state.
The project aims to deliver better public transport, connect communities and ease road congestion by connecting each major line via the airport.
Final timeframes released for SA Gawler Rail electrification project
Our readers continued to take interest in project news with our fifth most read story looking at South Australia’s Gawler Rail Line as it neared the final stages of rail electrification near the start of 2022.
The Gawler Rail Electrification Project (GREP) was hit with unavoidable setbacks in 2021 caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including an inability to bring the required number of highly specialised workers across the border from interstate, and manufacturing shutdowns during extended lockdowns in other states.
