The Gap Road rail bridge in Sunbury, built as part of the Gap Road level crossing removal project, is a tied winner for the Consult Australia Awards in the Superior Sustainability category.
Rail Network Alliance (RNA), comprising John Holland, CPB, AECOM, Alstom, MTM and RPV, worked to ensure the bridge design delivered the best sustainability outcomes for the local community. Compared to the initial reference design, the final design included:
- using fewer materials, to reduce emissions from transport during construction
- where possible, preferencing materials such as recycled glass over emissions-intensive materials such as concrete and steel
- using materials and features which deter vandalism and graffiti
- implementing Water Sensitive Urban Design to manage stormwater
- increased safety factors including clearer sightline and more natural light
- incorporating a First Nations artwork by Teena Moffatt (pictured), which celebrates the area's cultural and environmental heritage.
One of the key design features was to reconfigure the 4-span bridge into a 2-span bridge. This design solution meant fewer materials and less excavation were needed.
In total we were able to reduce the embodied emissions from the project by 988 tCO2e – equivalent to taking more than 200 cars off the road for a year.