Kingsford Smith Drive delayed due to ‘design defect’
A significant section of the $650 million Kingsford Smith Drive project will be delayed by up to a year due to a “design defect” only recently flagged as a problem by the contractor.
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A SIGNIFICANT section of a $650 million Brisbane road project will be delayed by up to a year due to river conditions only recently flagged as a problem by the contractor.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk made the announcement about Kingsford Smith Drive on Thursday morning but tried to soften the blow with news the river walk would be open by Christmas.
He also announced that the first section of the upgraded road, eastbound from Harbour Rd at Hamilton, would be open and the speed limit restored to 60km/hr by mid next year.
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Cr Quirk said despite geotechnical work done by the contractor during the early stages of the project a section of the river, between Toorak Rd and Grays Rd, proved an “issue for us”.
“The river conditions are very varied and as a result of that there is going to be a need for ground anchors to be placed around 15m into the bedrock to ensure the long term structural soundness of the retaining wall in the river,” Cr Quirk said.
“Really, we’re talking about that section from around Racecourse Rd through to Breakfast Creek will not open until the second half of 2020, and we had hoped that section would be open by the end of 2019,” he said.
Cr Quirk said ratepayers would not wear the increase in cost for the already $650 million project, which would be borne by the contractor.
“There is a price around the contract, and that remains,” he said.
Lendlease chief executive officer Steve McCann told addressed the company’s Annual General Meeting last Friday there was a “defect in the design undertaken by external design consultations”.
“This design defect has meant the work is outside the required tolerances and therefore requires rectification,” he said.
“In addition to the costs of rectification work, this has resulted in increased provisions for delay and other ancillary costs.”
Throughout the project residents and commuters have dealt with the major thoroughfare’s speed limit being reduced to 40km/hr and constant road closures.
Meanwhile, traders at Racecourse Rd have said the roadworks had contributed to challenging retail conditions on the landmark high street.
The road is a key connector for the Australia Trade Coast, Brisbane Airport, Northshore Hamilton and the soon-to-be-built International Cruise Terminal at Pinkenba.
Cr Quirk apologised for “any delays and inconveniences there might be to residents and (local) traders”.
“What I would say to the traders is that at least now that they have got that pedestrian connectivity happening again along this corridor.
“That will make, I think, a significant difference at least that people will be able to connect with traders via this walkway ... from this Christmas.”
The river walk will 1.2km long, with a 2m wide pedestrian footpath and a 3m wide two-way cycle path, and will include five “look out” spots to take in views of the river.
Infrastructure chairman Cr Amanda Cooper said it was “a fantastic new facility”.
“Council is delighted that for this Christmas, the residents will be able to actually stroll along a 1.2km new Riverwalk facility,” she said.
“They will certainly be able to enjoy the beautiful views of the CBD, Mt Coot-tha, our spectacular river and will also be able to stop at one of these five rest nodes, have a drink of water, sit, and look at the world go by.”
Labor lord mayoral candidate Rod Harding said ratepayers would still pay for the delay in inconvenience and up to another year of the roadworks affecting their property values.
“This is a catastrophic day for Graham Quirk and his administration, and he will rue the day he came out and said it wasn’t a big deal,” he said.
The contractor, Lendlease has been contacted for comment.
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