WestConnex Tunnel, Sydney, Australia
PROJECT TYPE
Road tunnels
APPLICATION
Permanent sprayed concrete linings
PARTNERS
Owner: Sydney Motoway Corporation
Contractors: Acciona Samsung Bouygues JV
Concrete supplier: Hanson
Button Icon Let’s talk Button Icon
Download project
Downloads
Documents
close
What we do

High performance steel fibers, a new frontier for WestConnex tunnel linings

In what is described as one of the most complex underground junctions ever built, WestConnex is a 33-kilometer (21 mi) predominantly underground motorway tunnel network in Sydney. Its walls are lined with two permanent sprayed layers: one is a fiber reinforced primary support lining, the other is a fiber reinforced concrete smoothing layer. Both are reinforced with Dramix® 4D steel fiber for optimal load-bearing capacity.

The challenge

 

Like many road tunnels in Australia, these are designed as a drained, permanent sprayed concrete lining tunnel. This was especially relevant for this project, because of the low cover and its permeable nature and the proximity of the Wolli Creek.

The solution

 

A spray applied waterproofing membrane was added between the layers of concrete. Both the primary support lining and the final lining were reinforced with Dramix® 4D steel fibers assisted to achieve on average flexural performance of greater than 4.0Mpa at fR1. The primary shotcrete lining was on average 110mm and when required in bad ground conditions as was in Wolli Creek a secondary layer was added at an average thickness of 125mm. In addition, Duomix® M12 polypropylene fibers for fire resistance.

 

By building the interchange mostly underground, the project will deliver new active transport options in Rozelle: up to 10 hectares of new public parkland, new pedestrian and cycling paths and sports fields.

Talk to an expert

Talk to an expert

Let’s talk about your project and discover what Dramix® fibers can do for you.

Button Icon Contact us Button Icon