Kangaroo Island hopping for joy at road upgrade
South Australia’s Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure has awarded BMD a road re-sheeting contract on Kangaroo Island, just off South Australia.
The 4,405 km² Kangaroo Island is southwest of Adelaide and renowned for its protected nature reserves which cover a third of the island. Home to native sea lions, koalas, diverse bird species, and penguin colonies. The striking coastline is famous for its rock formations, sculpted remarkable rocks and the Admirals Arch, covered in stalactites.
Following on from their successful upgrade of Kangaroo Island’s Airport runway, BMD was awarded the project in a project management contract administration (PMCA) capacity, the first time DPTI has conducted this construction model with a civil contractor.
The project’s scope involves upgrading existing roads at two major locations on the island, the first being a 19 kilometre section of the Rowland Hill Highway which includes raising 93,000 tonnes of material from a local property’s borrow pit. Once upgraded, the highway will be used as a major freight route to Penneshaw where the island’s ferry docks. The resheeting of Rowland Hill Highway also involves the upgrade of 26 culverts, as well as the realignment of two intersections to improve safety for motorists.
The second part of the project involves upgrading a 5 kilometre section of the frequently used tourist route, North Coast Road, with the upgrade running west from Stokes Bay. The upgrade involves using 17,000 tonnes of pre-raised material during construction and the project team will upgrade six culverts as part of the works. As a PMCA contract, BMD will provide project management for the works as a representative of the client.
BMD is committed to supporting the communities in which we operate, and this project will see the engagement of local Kangaroo Island suppliers and subcontractors to complete the road upgrade works, aiding in the development of local industry and job creation for the community. The project is expected to begin in February and will be completed late 2018, weather permitting.
With a strong portfolio of projects in some of the country’s most iconic locations, BMD is currently seeking a wide range of construction personnel to help deliver important infrastructure upgrades such as this.
