Background
In order to improve the worsening traffic conditions in the North-South corridor of Adelaide, the relevant authorities came up with the idea of upgrading the existing Main South Road. The Main South Road comprises of the Ayliffes Road, Stuart Road as well as the Tonsley Boulevard intersection. The North-South Corridor is a motorway that connects the old Noarlunga and the Gawler. It is a major motorway that greatly links the ever expanding manufacturing regions and the suburb areas both north and south Adelaide. The expansion is viewed to greatly improve the traffic conditions witnessed in the north-south corridor. Improved transport and infrastructure within the regions will also improve the economic output of the region and also the productivity of the locals (Clear, 2010).
This is a report that is mainly concerned with the geotechnical investigations that will enable the designers of the Darlington upgrade project to have answers to several pertinent questions that may arise during the whole course of developing the project. This is aimed at ensuring that the final project is of greater standards. Some of the questions that the report will be answering include;
- Are the locally available raw materials sufficient and suitable for the intended road construction?
- In what way will the live loads and dead loads have an effect to the design of the project?
- In what way will the ground respond to any change that will result from the proposed design?
- What are the possible geotechnical characteristics of the region that could have an influence on the design of the project?
It is important for the designers to have a lot of geotechnical information that will enable them to acknowledge the restrictions that come about from the conditions of the site and the availability of the raw materials that are used for the purpose of road construction and the influence they may have of the final project (Alam, Kabir, & Chaudhri, 2014). There also are a number of basic geotechnical issues that are involved in such earthworks projects. Such issues include the following;
- Intercepting the ground water which in turn results to changes in the stability and strength of the materials.
- Increasing the load on the ground that is produced with structural foundations and compacted soils.
- Destabilizing the areas surrounding when excavating or cutting grounds
The main aim of this report is therefore to offer enough information in order to achieve stable and secure retaining wall structures for the stated project area. It also aims at classifying the structures in accordance to the Australian standards (Thomas, 2010). In order to carry out the research effectively, there is usage of 12D software. The software is used in order to collect dimensional data of all the retaining walls. The report also makes use of reports that are provided by the DPTI in order to make a determination of the conditions for the soils for the retaining walls. The report also carries out a review of the progress of the whole project. The process of carrying out the review involves conducting a detailed analysis of the progress that have been made by all the processes of developing the project. All the changes that are carried out and that involve altering the project in one way or another are also justified. Most importantly, the report will also involve reports on the construction works that have already been completed in relation to the geotechnical aspects of the whole project, thus the overall progress report of the project (Cleland, 2015).
Background
The Darlington upgrade project makes up part of the Adelaide North-South Corridor upgrade. This is a vital component within the ongoing strategies on transport and infrastructure in South Australia. The Adelaide North-South corridor is a 78 km route north to south freight that is intended to be upgraded in order to do away with the bottlenecks that surround it usage as well as offer non-stop road links that will connect the rapidly expanding residential and industrial areas of growth all over Adelaide. The Darlington upgrade project will constitute of an upgrade of a 3.3kilometre of the south road. This will also include anon-stop motorway in between the Tonsley Boulevard and the southern expressway that needs separations of grades at 5 intersections. The motorway is intended to pass below Flinders drive, Sutton road, Sturt road, Mimosa Road as well as Tonsley Boulevard (Duffield, 2012).
Conclusion
The project is worth 60 million dollars and it is funded by both the Australian and state governments. The main developers that were assigned the project are Laing O’Rourke. They are developing the project in a joint venture with the Fulton Hogan company. The upgrade is considered a major boast to the transport industry in Adelaide’s North- South corridor. It aims at improving the pathetic traffic conditions commonly witnessed in the region. The upgrade will also aim at linking the suburb areas with the growing and ever expanding manufacturing regions in North and South Adelaide (Loureiro, Ingram, & Loizias, 2017). The idea of expanding the motorway was arrived at due to the inability of the existing motorway to effectively handle the increasing traffic that had long been predicted as well as the use of land and transport systems in Adelaide. It is also unable to effectively handle the traffic on the central link that is used more frequently in the North-South corridor (Thorogood & Yetton, 2014).
Some of the key features that the Darlington upgrade project is meant to deliver include the following;
- Full free flow and interchange at the main south road/ the southern expressway. This should include dedicated ramps that are intended to enable direct access to the main south road and the new motorway.
- A non-stop motorway between the Tonsley Boulevard and the southern expressway. The motorway is expected to go underneath the flinders drive, Mimosa Terrace/ Sutton road, Stuart road and Tonsley Boulevard.
- A Grade separation of the main south road/ shepherds hill road/ Ayliffes intersection.
- Main south road service roads along both sides of the lowered motorway in a bid to offer connections to Stuart road, Flinders drive as well as most of the local roads (English, & Guthrie, 2013).
- Improved overall traffic performance. This is achieved as a result of the addition of access to the non-stop motorway for the traffic that are north-bound on the main south road.
- Enhanced safety of cyclists and pedestrians. This is because the main south road is positioned on the outside of the motorway hence there are smaller and staged crossing points and intersections.
- No changes to the intersection on main south road/ Ayliffes road (Voris, 2012).
Artistic impression of Flinders drive intersection.
The following are some of the benefits that are intended to be achieved from the Darlington upgrade project;
- A maintained access to the area
- Enhanced traffic safety and efficiency
- Improved and encouraged cycling, walking as well as public transport opportunities.
- Improved local access for the community
- Increased opportunities for landscape, urban and environmental improvements.
- An opportunity to compliment the unique character and culture of the Darlington zone (Grimsey & Lewis, 2012).
The Darlington upgrade is meant to enhance an innovative traffic management system in whole of Adelaide. The main south road section between the Shepherds road/Ayliffes road and the southern expressway is considered as the busiest section of the road. The section carries up to 73000 vehicles on a daily basis. In order to handle such a huge number of traffic, it is important to have an elaborative and innovative system and approach to the management of traffic. The approach should be one that has been adapted from an iterative design and also a review process that is constructible (Guo et al, 2014). These were some of the key factors that resulted to the idea to upgrade the existing motorway and the principles of coming up with the best design were based on having an innovative process of managing traffic within the regions of interest.
Other specific features of the Darlington upgrade project include the following;
- Removing the Tonsley station that existed before and then constructing a new station that will be adjacent to the Flinders Medical Centre.
- A shared pedestrian / cycle path that is integrated and that is adjacent to the rail line.
- Extending the Tonsley rail line by close to 650 m. The new rail line will connect the Flinders University and the Flinders Medical Centre to the rail network. This will also include the 520 m of elevated single track over main south road, Stuart road and Laffer’s triangle (Renard et al, 2012).
Conclusion
The Darlington upgrade project is greatly intended to offer development and progression to the government of southern Australia as well as the whole Australia landmass. The extension of the north-south modern way will promote a massive establishment of new and current commercial activities by different corporations (Cooper, 2011). Such developments would most probably have not taken place due to the unfavorable transport conditions. Besides that, the whole project idea is meant to make a right of entry to the district of Darlington. This would be facilitated by the well-constructed road network that will further result to economic growth of southern Australia. The project will also offer improved savings on the budget for major businesses and also other operators that would be carrying out their activities along the region. This is due to the reduction in the travel time. The expansion of roadways will greatly reduce the traffic congestion rates for all the automobiles and pedestrians alike that are bound the Darlington North-South corridor. The upgrade will equally reduce the traffic congestion rates during the dawn peak period for the northbound automobiles and the evening peak for the southbound automobiles (Jefferies & McGeorge, 2015).
The urban and landscape design of the region has formed a fundamental part for the expansion of the original design of the Darlington north-south corridor and it has played a significant role in recognizing the network operators and also the people who stay to it. A good and exclusive urban design incorporates a number of prospects that are purposefully meant to improve the existent conditions (Jin, 2014). Some of the features and activities that have been incorporated during the course of the conceptual design include the carrying out design valuation workshops, launching standards of assessments as well as carrying out endorsements with a bid to enhance the community features and the beauty of the project. Several assessments and valuations were also carried out following a criteria that were based on the Australian infrastructure urban design protocol that is intended to achieve a comfortable, safe, vibrant, diverse, enduring and enhancing final scheme.
The gateway south is mainly dedicated towards fulfilling the objectives and goals in the South Australian Manufacturing Participation Policy. This will ensure that it delivers a complete and truthful business prospects that will also play a pivotal role in the Darlington upgrade project. It will also give an assurance towards the most appropriate use of the commercial and the accessible raw materials that are located nearby within the south Australian state (Dexter, 2014). The Gateway south idea towards construction organization is purposefully intended to lower the effects to the civic. It is also intended to accomplish the whole scheme with the least possible number of variations in traffic. This idea will enhance a degree of steadfastness and conviction that is extraordinary for the road users as the process of construction goes on. This will further increase the safety conditions for the scheme as well as improve on the road performance.
The Darlington upgrade project will have an influence on how the land is currently being used, the charisma as well as the geographical facility of the region. This is due to the footwork development and also the acquirement of several inhabited, merchandising and money-making possessions situated along the main south road (Faber, Val & Stewart, 2010). Besides that, doing away with flora along the road will also result to graphic influence mostly when viewed from delicate regions such as raised zones to the south east and dwelling that are located near the project. The project is designed in such a way that it avoids conflict or influences on the Warriparinga region that is considered a delicate region. There are also prospects that are noteworthy for the project and that are considered accountable for an improved graphical facility for the region. This is achieved through putting into practice the urban design framework for the North-South corridor.
The Darlington upgrade project is an ongoing project with an expected completion date of 2019. This report therefore carries a review on how far the project has performed and how its design was able to handle some specific features that are related to the geotechnical requirements. It carries out an assessment on whether the project designers had adequate geotechnical information. Such information is necessary since it enables the designers to understand the limitations and challenges that the site conditions may have on the final outcome of the project (Kwon, Kim & Orton, 2010). The review begins by first examining the natural geology of the region where the Darlington upgrade project is located. It is located “within the geomorphological unit of the upper outwash plain, on the Para Fault Block and spreads out a part to Sturt River Fan.” The soil association within Adelaide reveals that the upper soils of North-South corridor can be classified as the Red-Brown Earth Types 3.
The material strength and serviceability factors of the project are also reviewed. This involves a classification of the structure on the basis of its ability for harm or damage (Regan, Smith & Love, 2010). The classifications are always in the orders below; classification A: “where failure would lead to little damage and loss of access.” Classification B: “where failure would lead to moderate damage and loss of services” and classification C: “where failure would lead to significant damage or loss of life.” The classifications are widely used all through the project development given that it is used to find values that are vital to the earthworks of the project in regard to the properties of soil and loads e.g. applied loads, load factors, load casings etc. Both the dead loads and live loads also form the basis of the investigations into the Darlington upgrade earthworks. Finally, the report also discusses the be3st management practices for the project that will ensure the project is delivered in the right frame and within the required time limits (Leet, Uang, & Gilbert, 2012). This is achieved by designing an elaborate project management framework.
References
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Clear, T., 2010. THINKING ISSUES Managing mid-project progress reviews: a model for formative group assessment in capstone projects. ACM Inroads, 1(1), pp.14-15.
Cleland, D.I., 2015, August. A strategy for ongoing project evaluation. Project Management Institute.
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Grimsey, D. and Lewis, M.K., 2012. Evaluating the risks of public private partnerships for infrastructure projects. International journal of project management, 20(2), pp.107-118.
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Jefferies, M. and McGeorge, W.D., 2015. Using public-private partnerships (PPPs) to procure social infrastructure in Australia. Engineering, Construction and Architectural Management, 16(5), pp.415-437.
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Kwon, O.S., Kim, E. and Orton, S., 2010. Calibration of live-load factor in LRFD bridge design specifications based on state-specific traffic environments. Journal of Bridge Engineering, 16(6), pp.812-819.
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Renard, K.G., Foster, G.R., Weesies, G.A., McCool, D.K. and Yoder, D.C., 2012. Predicting soil erosion by water: a guide to conservation planning with the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) (Vol. 703). Washington, DC: United States Department of Agriculture.
Thomas, J.W., 2010. A review of research on project-based learning. Engineering structures, 22(12), pp.1677-1689.
Thorogood, A. and Yetton, P., 2014, January. Reducing the technical complexity and business risk of major systems projects. In System Sciences, 2004. Proceedings of the 37th Annual Hawaii International Conference on (pp. 9-pp). IEEE.
Voris, H.K., 2012. Maps of Pleistocene sea levels in Southeast Asia: shorelines, river systems and time durations. Journal of Biogeography, 27(5), pp.1153-1167.
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