The Mooloolaba Separated Bikeway Project was the first separated bikeway to be constructed in an urban/business area of the Sunshine Coast and a flagship project for the region. It involved the construction of a new, separated two-lane (one lane each direction), 3m wide bikeway linking the Mooloolaba Wharf area to Minyama. Designed by the Sunshine Coast Council in conjunction with the Queensland Government Cycle Network Program, the bikeway separates cyclists from vehicle and pedestrian traffic.
St Hilliers was awarded the contract to construct Stage 3 of the Separated Bikeway Project. This involved a 3m wide and 600m long bikeway built in front of shop fronts along the busy thoroughfare into the popular Sunshine Coast beach resort town.
The works included, but were not limited to;
- Demolition and disposal;
- Clearing/grubbing and earthworks;
- Service trenching, conduits and pits for smart city ducts (future optical fibre);
- New electrical street lighting;
- Modification to existing and new traffic signals;
- Assorted stormwater infrastructure (kerbs, channels, pits and pipes, including connections into existing networks);
- Pavements, asphaltic concrete, concrete, line marking and signage;
- Landscape (hard and soft infrastructure) including maintenance period;
- Re-instatement and clean-up of all areas impacted during construction (including site hut / compounds, temporary car parks).
Paramount to the success of the project was ensuring public safety and minimising impact on business traders, members of the public, parking and traffic. Access to all affected business premises during their operating times was maintained throughout construction and St Hilliers provided strategies to cope with significant public interaction including clear distinctions between construction sites and public access areas. To ensure this was of the highest standard St Hilliers commissioned a Traffic Management Specialist to develop the Pedestrian Management Plan within 14 days of Contract Award.
Value for money was achieved through a number of innovative strategies including proposed changes in design. A significant change included using concrete directly over the existing pavement in front of several shops rather than demolishing and reconstructing from subgrade. This resulted in not only a reduced program, but also minimised inconvenience to traders and a saving that was passed back to the client.
