Cross River Rail has announced that construction on the project would more than double in 2020.
Cross River Rail Minister, Kate Jones, said eleven new sites would open in 2020 to add to the seven existing sites.
“Already we’ve got 1000 workers on Cross River Rail sites across the city. With new sites set to open, we’re looking at employing an extra 500 workers this year,” Ms Jones said.
“A worksite has now been established at Boggo Road, the existing site at Woolloongabba is already a hive of activity, demolition at Albert Street in the heart of the CBD is well advanced and work at Roma Street is well and truly underway.
“Regular rail users may have noticed extensive work has also begun in our rail corridors, particularly near Normanby where the project’s northern tunnel portal will be built.”
Ms Jones said work would soon start at the RNA Showgrounds ‘Exhibition’ station, at stations from Salisbury through to Fairfield, on the Gold Coast where new stations are being created at Pimpama, Helensvale North and Merrimac and at the project’s Southern tunnel portal, south of Boggo Rd.
“Cross River Rail will create 7,700 construction jobs throughout southeast Queensland,” Ms Jones said.
Cross River Rail Delivery Authority CEO, Graeme Newton, said that 2020 would see the project pass a number of critical milestones.
“2019 was a big year for the project. We appointed our major contractors, established multiple new worksites, revealed the location of three new Gold Coast stations and launched a Precincts Delivery Strategy that will be the catalyst for up to $20 billion of investment,” Mr Newton said.
“But 2020 is where things really kick up a gear. We’ll complete demolition at Roma St and Albert St, start tunnelling from Woolloongabba to Boggo Road, start work on station upgrades and the new Gold Coast stations and we will have workers live on the project at as many as 18 sites across the city.”
