Transport for New South Wales’ $13 million slope remediation for the Castlereagh Highway project has been completed, following a landslide in 2022 which caused significant damage.
Contractor Pan Civil was approached by Transport for New South Wales to conduct the remediation work along the impacted 250m.
Heavy rain in October 2022 caused a landslide at Pearson’s Lookout, three kilometres south of Capertee in New South Wales, compromising a 50m section of pavement in the southbound lane and toppling a power pole.
Further damage was found to the pavement whilst crews were monitoring the slope, extending the initial impacted area.
Transport for New South Wales Regional Director West, Alistair Lunn, said that the repairs to the highway and slope had been a mammoth task.
“This has been a complicated project from start to finish, involving the incremental excavation of loose material and temporary stabilisation using rock nails, before permanent support infrastructure was built,” Mr Lunn said.
“That permanent support involved the construction of a terramesh wall downslope from the road, which consisted of layers of steel mesh and compacted backfill material which was used to rebuild the damaged slope.
“All the while, the southbound lane was closed for eleven months so crews could work safely and guide traffic through the site in both directions under single lane arrangements.
“While monitoring the slope, our crews identified further cracking in the pavement near the landslip area which required an extension of the initial scope of work.
“As well as the slope remediation, we were able to widen the impacted section of the Castlereagh Highway to eleven metres, increase the shoulder widths and improve drainage, all of which will improve the safety along this section of the Castlereagh Highway.”
The road pavement was replaced and crews installed a kerb and a safety barrier throughout the damaged area of the highway.
“This was a specialised job which required specific equipment to negotiate the cliff face for the team to carry out repairs, including a Menzi Muck Walking Excavator, which we call a spider excavator,” Mr Lunn said.
“We also used a 13t and two 23t excavators, dump trucks, drill rigs and grout pumps.
“As a result, almost twelve months on from the wet weather event which caused widespread damage, we have smoother, safer and more efficient journeys for all motorists travelling through Pearson’s Lookout.”
