‘Seriously impressive’: Major milestone for Cross River Rail
A new milestone has been reached on Queensland’s multibillion-dollar Cross River Rail project, with a giant 220m platform and mezzanine levels now complete at a flagship station.
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A new milestone has been reached on Queensland’s multibillion-dollar Cross River Rail project, with the giant 220m platform and mezzanine levels now complete in the city’s flagship Albert Street Station.
Deputy Premier Cameron Dick along with new Transport Minister Bart Mellish and Infrastructure Minister Grace Grace travelled more than 30m underground on Wednesday to inspect the site – the first city station to be built in 120 years.
The station’s mezzanine levels were constructed with 183 precast concrete beams, each weighing up to 70 tonnes – the size of an African male elephant.
While escalators were due to arrive and tracks set to be laid in the coming months, passengers will have to wait at least another two years to use the station.
But Mr Dick said within a decade from its opening, more than 67,000 passengers would pass through the station each day.
“The Queensland Labor Government promised to build the Cross River Rail and we are delivering it,” he said.
“Cross River Rail is a critical piece of infrastructure that will redefine how people not only travel in Brisbane but live in this amazing city.”
Mr Mellish thanked the Queenslanders who in recent days had faced delays due to track closures linked to the project, adding services would be returned to normal by the end of next week.
He described the works underneath the city streets as “seriously impressive”.
“Most people going about their business in the CBD would have absolutely no idea about the extraordinary construction effort underway right beneath their feet,” he said.
“With tracks, escalators and platform screen doors soon to come, what was once a massive empty cavern below ground is looking more and more like a world-class train station each day.
“And I thank the more than 545 workers at Cross River Rail’s Albert Street sites for their tremendous efforts in bringing the first station to be built in Brisbane’s CBD in more than 120 years to life.”
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