Client: ARTC
Duration: 2 months
Location: Merrygoen, NSW
In 2020, Brefni completed the Merrygoen Loop Extension for ARTC at Merrygoen, NSW. This project was funded by NSW Government under the Fixing Country Rail Program, and involved the extension of the existing Merrygoen crossing loop, on the Dubbo to Merrygoen and Gulgong to Binnaway line, from its current length of 650m to approx. 1,550m to accommodate the crossing or “turnaround” of 1,500m long trains to ease bottlenecks on the network.
In addition to the rail loop extension, Brefni relocated a public Type D level crossing and completed the associated road works to divert 1.3km of Warrumbungle Shire council owner & maintained Category 3 public Highway, Hakoni Road.
Key challenges experienced and overcome during construction included the following:
Constructing the rail loop foundation and capping adjacent to a live line with zero delays to train movements.
Lowering existing stormwater culverts and drainage lines.
Staging the works to minimise impacts to the level crossing and the public.
Removing inadequate pre-existing subgrade material and liaising and co-ordinating with the geotechnical engineers to complete an approved ground treatment to optimise subgrade performance for the road and rail extension.
Managing bulk earthworks during atypical weather to achieve the completion date.