High Performance Solution for M5 East

Project Name       M5 East Freeway
Location South     West Sydney, NSW
Client                    Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW
Civil Engineer       Hyder Consulting
Civil Contractor    Baulderstone Hornibrook/ Bilfinger + Berger (BHBB) Joint Venture
Project Cost         $794m
Completion Date   December 2001

James Hardie Products Used
Class 1 FRC™ rubber ring jointed pipe, Supertite™ suspended drainage, and specially manufactured dropper pipe junctions.

The $794m M5 East Freeway became part of Sydney’s growing orbital road network in December 2001, extending 10km along a four lane divided carriageway to carry traffic through a series of newly constructed tunnels and bridges.

The Baulderstone Hornibrook/Bilfinger + Berger (BHBB) Joint Venture was contracted to design, construct, operate and maintain the extensive project which includes the Bexley Road to Marsh Street Tunnel fit out (with over two 4km sections of bored tunnels), the Cooks River Tunnels (two 1km sections), General Holmes Drive approaches and bridgeworks (consisting of 800m of below ground stormwater drains) and Eve Street Viaduct suspended drainage.

The use of FRC™ pipes for stormwater drainage on the M5 East generated some impressive project results:

• Dramatic cost savings  - the 4m lengths required 1,438 less pipes to lay than competing pipes, in the Bexley Road to Marsh Street Tunnel.
  
• Easier handling  - As FRC™ pipes are approx. 50% lighter than steel reinforced pipes, they were easier to handle.
  
• Excellent fire performance - FRC™ pipes provide up to four-hours fire rating.
  
• Smart solutions – Delivered in safety crates along the length of the tunnel, FRC™ pipes provided a safe and manageable solution during construction.

Photo courtesy of
Baulderstone
Hornibrook