Approximately 10.0 km of motorway concrete pavements (two lane carriageway each side) between Varsity Lakes and Tugun have reached the end of the design life and require reconstruction upgrades to keep this section of Pacific Motorway in a serviceable condition.
Considering carbon emission, environmental factors, and cost benefits, the project adopted the reconstruction option of rubblisation insitu and pavement overlay, whereby existing concrete pavements are fully repurposed and reused as a sub-base layer. The process results in a minimisation of rubblised concrete being disposed to landfills with the majority left insitu as a suitable subgrade/foundation condition.
The rubblisation process involving fracturing concrete pavements insitu followed by pavement overlay is the first in Australia, where project specific specifications and construction methodology have been developed and implemented to meet Queensland conditions.
Approximately 5.0 km long (76500 m2 area) fracturing treatment has been completed where 2.25 km long (40500 m2 area) have been opened to traffic, some sections since 2020. Recent inspections have indicated that the trafficked fracturing sections are in a good condition.
This presentation will discuss technical and non-technical aspects of the projects in its complete cycle, from investigation, trial, design, and construction. Decision making process, risk management, investigation methods, project management, and construction leanings will be presented. Additionally, the sustainability benefits of both the fracturing and other initiatives in the Varsity lakes to Tugun program will be discussed.
