Walls of orange plastic bring extra expense as light rail project hastens apace

CLOSE to 10,000 plastic bollards a day are being hired out at an exorbitant rate to line the route of the delayed and over budget light rail project.

CLOSE to 10,000 plastic bollards a day are being hired out at an exorbitant rate to line the route of the delayed and over budget light rail project.

Sources have revealed the barriers are being hired at an estimated cost of up to $150,000 a week, draining the project of cash every day they are in place.

“Where possible they should pull the barriers down,” Transport Minister Andrew Constance said.

A cyclist makes his way up ruptured Devonshire St in Surry Hills, where bollards are part of the furniture. Picture: Richard Dobson

“They need to be accountable for that. Just to ease the pressure on pedestrians and businesses, and their own finances.”

The government has been giving rent assistance to businesses affected by the construction­.

The Daily Telegraph can also reveal work on the project has sped up, with more track laid in May than at any time in the past year.

The bollards are costing the project $150,000 a week. Picture: Richard Dobson

The tracks are in place but so too are the bollards — still. Picture: Richard Dobson

A spokeswoman for the project consortium ­Altrac said the total track slab laid as at June 7 was 19.3km, with just under 5km of track left to be laid.

Pedestrians at the intersection of George St and Ultimo Rd in Haymarket, where teenager Anna Lambden was electrocuted while walking on the footpath near the light-rail construction site. Picture: David Swift

Anna Lambden received an electric shock when she stepped in a puddle. Picture: Anna Lambden

Mr Constance said the project was “starting to shape up” after months of government pressure over an alleged go-slow campaign by Spanish firm Acciona.

The Altrac spokeswoman attributed the faster pace to most of the costly and time-consuming utilities work being completed.

MINISTER’S APOLOGY TO GIRL ALMOST KILLED BY LIGHT RAIL ELECTRIC SHOCK

LIGHT RAIL CONTRACTOR PULLED FROM PROJECT OVER TWO MAJOR ACCIDENTS

The government believes the public pressure and reputational risk felt by Acciona has led to the faster work pace.

There were some weeks earlier this year when no track was laid.

“We’ve had well over 2000m of track slab laid in the past month, which shows a propensity for (the builder) to deliver quickly,” Mr Constance said.

“There’s nothing stopping them from punching this away and getting those barriers down.”

A spokeswoman for Altrac said that “arrangements for equipment purchase or hire are commercial and the details are confidential”.

The spokeswoman said “once civil construction is substantially complete” there will be “opportunity to reduce the barriers progressively across the zones”.

New trams for Sydney’s light rail remain at a holding yard on the western side of Randwick Racecourse. Picture: Dylan Robinson

The rate of work on the project picked up during May. Picture: John Grainger

TRANSPORT NSW TO FINE ACCIONA HALF A MILLION FOR EACH DAY DELAY

DESIGN COMPANY SUES ACCIONA OVER ‘FAILURE TO PAY’

The government is pushing for barriers to be removed when work is not being completed. “Get out of the way of the people, that’s the message,” Mr Constance said.