The unique challenges of working in the Melbourne City

Majority of our work occurs in remote locations, or regional operational resource locations, more recently though the Heavy Lift team have ventured into the Victorian infrastructure market to deliver heavy haulage works for the West Gate Tunnel Project, in the heart of Melbourne.  

The West Gate Tunnel Project includes the movement of structural steel such as bridge components, portals and girders via self propelled modular trailers (SPMTs).  

Working in a CBD environment has presented many unique challenges too, and while the team are no strangers to a good challenge and solution, there’s some they didn’t expect, (including Melbourne’s four seasons in one day! 

The West Gate Tunnel project is being undertaken as a means to reduce existing congestion and improve connectivity into the city by providing an alternative route to the West Gate Bridge. However, while the project is in construction at times creates additional congestion for commuters, which isn’t always well received commented Heavy Lift Superintendent, Lindsay Marley.  

 “Melbourne traffic is pretty unforgiving, we get some hysterical comments, and then some much less funny ones when we’re undertaking significant moves and traffic is halted,” said Lindsay.  

“People are also in awe of what we’re doing, and how we’re moving loads on the SPMTs – it’s not something you see too often in the city, remote controlled trailers carrying up to 60 metre long bridge components.” 

“We’ve had some characters attempting to breach the safety boundaries and traffic management too, which has been interesting to navigate. Cyclists trying to walk their bikes through the transport corridor alongside the load with us; a drunk chap early hours of a Saturday morning confused about his whereabouts carrying his shoes; and we even had a Porsche drive up onto a footpath and try and outdo the traffic control.” 

Like on any Monadelphous job, safety is a key focus and there are a number of measures in place to keep the team and the community safe such as traffic control contingents that create a bubble around the movements.  

Working around existing city infrastructure there’s some tight boundaries to navigate. 

“One corner can take up to an hour to get around, and we can get within millimeters of existing infrastructure – that certainly keeps you awake on night shift!”  

The work is planned carefully aiming to minimise disruptions as much as possible, holding up long lines of traffic is inevitable though at times.  

“Depending on the movement, the time of day, the traffic and the path we have to travel along, during a move we’ll sometimes need to pullover into a clear space and wait for traffic to clear. This can mean pulling over for about 30 minutes during a movement at 2am in the morning.” 

The project has kept the team on their toes, but by all accounts, the team are working well together, keeping safe and making good progress.