Legacy Way latest news and updates
Find all of the latest news and updates for Legacy Way. You can also find historic news and updates for the Legacy Way project.
Joyce breaks through at Kelvin Grove
April 2013
Brisbane City Council has celebrated a significant milestone on the Legacy Way tunnel, with the first of the project's tunnel boring machines (TBMs) Joyce breaking through at Kelvin Grove.
Joyce’s breakthrough at Kelvin Grove is an incredible achievement for Legacy Way and marks the culmination of more than two years of work and three million work hours.
The breakthrough is another major step towards tackling Brisbane's traffic congestion, moving motorists one step closer to a four minute trip between Toowong and Kelvin Grove when Legacy Way opens in 2015.
Joyce has completed a record-breaking journey that has seen her travel the 4.6 kilometre journey in just six months, following her launch from the Toowong worksite in October 2012.
She has excavated an average of 150 metres per week, which is an outstanding feat for any tunnelling project using machines the size and scale of those used on Legacy Way.
Transcity, the contractor building Legacy Way, will now disassemble and remove the first TBM from the Kelvin Grove worksite as work continues on the tunnel’s eastern portal.
Work will also continue on the new eastbound Inner City Bypass lanes, which are due to be realigned in mid-2013 and will allow the team to create the tunnel’s entry and exit lanes at Kelvin Grove.
Legacy Way’s twin tunnels are excavated by two Double-Shield TBMs, which both excavate spoil and place concrete ‘rings’ to create the structural lining of the tunnel at the same time. Each TBM is 12.4m in diameter, 110m long and weighs 2800 tonnes.
Joyce excavated more than 500,000 cubic metres of rock and dirt, which was transferred via an underground spoil conveyor from the project’s Toowong worksite to the Mt Coot-tha Quarry.
The second of the project’s two TBMs Annabell is expected to arrive at Kelvin Grove in June.
Following the disassembly and removal of the TBMs from site, the machines will be sold back to their manufacturer Herrenknecht.
Construction starts on Moggill Road and Western Freeway Interchange upgrade
March 2013
Early construction works have begun on the $20.5 million upgrade to the Moggill Road and Western Freeway interchange at Indooroopilly, which is being delivered as part of Brisbane City Council’s Legacy Way project.
Site establishment activities are currently underway, while major construction activities, such as bulk earthworks to create the new sections of road, will start from May.
The upgrade, which includes lengthening and widening the Western Freeway’s on and off-ramps, as well as adding extra turn lanes on to and off the freeway at Moggill Road, will cater for traffic demand at the interchange when Legacy Way opens in 2015.
The start of initial activities followed several weeks of engagement with the local community and key stakeholders, including the necessary use of local areas for parts of the project.
Council is committed to keeping the community informed about this project, which is part of our overall plan to improve Brisbane’s road network.
Transcity, the contractor undertaking the works for Council, is available to the community 24 hours a day, seven days a week to provide up-to-date construction information and help minimise impacts as much as possible.
While the majority of construction activity will occur between 6.30am and 6.30pm, Mondays to Saturdays, the community and motorists will be advised in advance of any out of hours work.
Local residents can get more information about the upgrade by contacting Transcity’s community relations team via info@transcityjv.com.au or 1800 778 772 24.
The Moggill Road and Western Freeway interchange upgrade was required as part of the Queensland Coordinator-General’s approval of Legacy Way and is expected to take approximately two years to complete.
Legacy Way's workforce parking to keep cars off local streets
February 2013
As construction on Brisbane City Council’s Legacy Way tunnel ramps up towards peak operation from late 2013, construction has now started on a dedicated workforce car park on the lower section of Sir Samuel Griffith Drive, Mt Coot-tha.
The new car park will accommodate an extra 150 spaces for workers as large-scale construction activities continue on the project.
The lower section of Sir Samuel Griffith Drive will be closed to motorists and cyclists from Thursday 14 February 2013 for approximately two years to accommodate the new car park.
This section of the road will be converted to one central lane with 150 car spaces to be line-marked on the existing road surface. A new footpath will be constructed to provide pedestrian access throughout this period. It is intended that this footpath will remain in place for public use once Legacy Way is completed.
The new parking arrangement will not affect access around Mt Coot-tha. Access to and from the Brisbane Lookout at Mt Coot-tha, via Scenic Drive, will not change and will be maintained at all times.
Transcity, the contractor building Legacy Way, will continue to use existing workforce parking locations in line with the Queensland Coordinator-General’s project approvals.
Council is also currently finalising the design to improve safety aspects for cyclists and pedestrians at the Mt Coot-tha Road/ Scenic Drive intersection, following feedback from the community.
These improvements to the intersection will be implemented following completion of the workforce car park in the coming months.
The car park is expected to be operational by mid-2013.
Council announces major $20.5 million intersection upgrade on Moggill Road
January 2013
Brisbane City Council has revealed the final design for a $20.5 million upgrade to the Moggill Road/Western Freeway interchange at Indooroopilly, which will begin in February 2013.
The upgrade will be delivered as part of Council’s Legacy Way project to cater for traffic demand at the interchange when the tunnel opens in 2015.
Work will include lengthening and widening the Western Freeway’s on and off-ramps, as well as adding extra turn lanes on to and off the freeway at Moggill Road.
The upgrade will increase capacity at the interchange and will improve safety and traffic flow for motorists at one of Brisbane’s busiest intersections.
By packaging the works with those of Legacy Way, Council has achieved significant cost savings for Brisbane ratepayers. The upgrade works coupled with the travel time savings that will be offered by Legacy Way will provide lasting benefits for the people travelling to and from the western suburbs.
The upgrade was part of the Queensland Coordinator-General’s approval of Legacy Way and will be constructed by Transcity, the contractor building the 4.6km tunnel on behalf of Council.
Transcity has started speaking to the community to inform local residents of the upgrade and will continue to engage with nearby residents, businesses and local stakeholders in the coming weeks prior to the start of construction.
While the majority of construction activity will occur between 6.30am and 6.30pm, Mondays to Saturdays, out of hours work will be required, however, Council is committed to minimising impacts on local residents and motorists.
Local residents can get more information about the upgrade by:
- emailing the Transcity’s community relations team
- calling 1800 778 772 24 hours a day, seven days a week
Construction of the upgrade is expected to take approximately two years to complete.
For more information about the upgrade, please visit Transcity's website.
Public display session details
Date: Wednesday, 6 February 2013
Location: Indooroopilly Library, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, Level 4, 322 Moggill Rd, Indooroopilly
Time: 11am to 2pm
Date: Saturday, 9 February 2013
Location: Mt Ommaney Library, Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre, 171 Dandenong Rd, Mt Ommaney
Time: 9am to 12noon
Legacy Way making light work of tunnelling
November 2012
Brisbane City Council’s Legacy Way tunnel has announced outstanding progress as tunnelling passes the 25% mark since excavation began in late August 2012.
The project’s tunnel boring machines (TBMs), Annabell and Joyce, are well ahead of schedule, with both machines expected to complete their journey from Toowong to Kelvin Grove in mid-2013.
Annabell has already completed over 1.6km on the first of Legacy Way’s twin 4.6km tunnels.
Joyce has also exceeded expectations and is now nearing the 1km mark after less than two months of tunnelling.
More than 330,000 cubic metres of rock and dirt has been excavated by Annabell and Joyce and transferred via an underground spoil conveyor from the project’s western worksite at Toowong to the Mt Coot-tha Quarry.
More than one million cubic metres will be excavated during tunnelling and transferred directly to the Quarry, removing the need for about 96,000 truck movements on local roads and greatly reducing noise and dust impacts in the local area.
Legacy Way’s twin 4.6km tunnels are being excavated by two Double-Shield TBMs, which both excavate spoil and place concrete ‘rings’ to create the structural lining of the tunnel at the same time.
Each TBM is 12.4m in diameter, 110m long and weighs 2800 tonnes. Annabell and Joyce will excavate beneath the surface of Toowong, Auchenflower, Milton, Paddington, Red Hill and Kelvin Grove once they complete their journey in mid-2013.
Tunnelling begins
August 2012
Tunnelling has now started on Brisbane City Council’s Legacy Way tunnel, with the launch of the project’s first tunnel boring machine (TBM), Annabell, from the western worksite in Toowong. The milestone marks more than 16 months of work and brings Council one step closer to almost halving peak hour travel times between the Centenary Bridge and the Inner City Bypass.
The 110 metre long, 2,800 tonne machine will tunnel 4.6 kilometres from Toowong to Kelvin Grove, travelling approximately 15 to 20 metres per day when it reaches peak operation.
Annabell has taken more than six months to assemble onsite and with tunnelling now underway, will excavate more than 500,000 cubic metres of rock and dirt which will be transported directly to the Mt Coot-tha Quarry via a spoil conveyor.
Transferring material directly to the quarry will reduce the need for about 96,000 haulage truck movements on surface roads and will help reduce the project’s impacts on the local community, motorists and many visitors to the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mt Coot-tha each year.
Legacy Way’s second TBM, Joyce, has started to arrive at the Toowong worksite and is expected to start tunnelling later this year. Both TBMs are expected to complete their journey at the eastern worksite in late 2013.
Legacy Way is due to open in 2015. If you would like more information about the tunnelling activities, please visit the Legacy Way website or contact Transcity on 1800 778 772.
Toowong Cemetery – gravestone conservation activities
August 2012
In preparation for the start of tunnelling on Brisbane City Council's Legacy Way project, Transcity, the contractor building the tunnel, undertook gravestone conservation activities in the Toowong Cemetery in August 2012.
Conservation activities were undertaken to protect approximately 120 gravestones identified as extremely dilapidated and structurally unsound due to their age and existing condition. These gravestones are located in portions 1, 2, 2A, 5, 11, 12, 16, 18 and 24 of the Toowong Cemetery.
All conservation works were undertaken by qualified stonemasons under the direction of heritage experts and in consultation with the Friends of Toowong Cemetery. All the required work has been completed.
If you would like more information about the conservation activities, please visit the Legacy Way website or contact the Transcity Community and Stakeholder Relations Team on 1800 778 772.
