Innovation
PROJECT SCOPE:
ARES transported precast concrete L-beams, each weighing 125 tons and up to 30m long and made by CIG in Laverton, to level crossing removal sites at Webb St in Narre Warren and at Waurn Ponds. For Narre Warren the beams took the Metropolitan Ring Road around Melbourne to Greensborough, then wound through the eastern suburbs onto the M3, Eastlink and M1 down to site, while the Waurn Ponds loads ran the M1 past Geelong.
Transported 80 precast L-beams from Laverton to level crossing removal sites at Webb Street in Narre Warren and the Surf Coast Highway in Waurn Ponds. Each 125-tonne beam required specialised equipment, carefully planned routes and precise positioning on site.
The program combined complex metropolitan transport with strict access conditions and limited road closure windows. Detailed planning and skilled execution kept deliveries moving safely through Melbourne and Geelong, supporting the construction of new elevated rail infrastructure at both locations.
Each precast L-beam weighed approximately 125 tonnes and measured up to 30 metres long. Their size reduced the number of spans required for each rail overpass but created a complex combination of weight, length and manoeuvrability.
Delivered 64 L-beams into the confined construction area surrounding Narre Warren Station. Drivers carefully manoeuvred around barriers and access restrictions to position each component near the installation cranes before safely exiting the site.
A specialised combination of a dolly, low loader and jinker was used for each beam. Distributing the weight across three trailers maintained acceptable axle loads while providing enough flexibility to navigate roads throughout metropolitan Melbourne and Geelong.
Delivered 16 L-beams over four consecutive nights during a full closure of the Surf Coast Highway. With no room for delays, every movement was carefully coordinated so the road could reopen to the public on schedule.
Cargo Carried
L-beams delivered across both sites.
The L-Beams had to be made as long as possible to reduce the number of spans required for each crossing.
The beams are made of pre-cast concrete with steel reinforcing bars embedded throughout.
Especially impressive given the size of the beams and the restricted space we had to manoeuvre on site.