Barwon Heads Road Upgrade delivered six months ahead of schedule
Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians are benefitting from safer, more reliable travel between Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula and the rapidly growing Armstrong Creek area following the completion of stage one of the Barwon Heads Road Upgrade, south of Geelong.
The $365 million project was delivered six months ahead of schedule by BMD Constructions, Decmil and BildGroup in partnership with Major Road Projects Victoria (MRPV). The milestone achievement was made possible due to the commitment and effective collaboration between the trio of construction partners under MRPV’s Program Delivery Approach model, and the use of evolving technologies to improve the construction methodology and overall project performance.
To celebrate the early mark and thank the community for their patience, a community day was held for locals to enjoy – with children’s diggers, an animal farm, and even a take home native plant for residents to add to their garden.
The upgrade has delivered four kilometres of additional lanes between Belmont and Charlemont to cater for an anticipated growth to 44,000 daily journeys by 2031, and the removal of a level crossing and its replacement with a new 97-metre-long bridge over the Warrnambool-Geelong rail line at Marshall.
Other improvements included intersection upgrades, the construction of a three-metre-wide shared use path along the project length, and the relocation and protection of existing utility services.
BMD was praised by MRPV during the project for showcasing clear insight into the new age of construction through a commitment to investing in new technologies intended on improving project performance.
As an example, 4D technology became a critical tool in delivering the bridge’s beam installation, with the simulations used to lower the overall risks associated with the process, while also reducing the installation timeframe and decreasing overall impacts on the local community.
Another key project milestone was securing a partnership with GROW, a community-based organisation that has helped thousands of Australians with their recovery from mental ill-health through a unique and carefully curated program. As part of the partnership, GROW led a social value and opportunities analysis that was factored into the estimation process. 51,000 hours were delivered by Victorian Priority Jobseekers and over 7000 hours delivered by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples over the project’s duration.
BMD is proud to be part of delivering the vital upgrade which created more than 570 local jobs and generated a further 1419 indirect jobs, providing a crucial boost to the region’s employment rate.
