Bruthen Intersection Rehabilitation AustStab Awards of Excellence 2014 QRCG INNOVATION OR EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY Sponsored by

Objectives of the Initiative  Reduced social/community impact  Reduced burden on resources  Reduce social impact  Greater Safety for work crews  Reduced aftercare hazard potential  Alternate pavement design to treat deficiencies in the proposed pavement design  Associated cost savings

Operating environment/context  Link between Bairnsdale, Omeo and Orbost  Alternative for long haul traffic avoiding the tourist town of Lakes Entrance.  At the heart of Bruthen, with the pavement abutting several local businesses  Timescales conflicted with both the long-haul traffic and tourist traffic

Contract Details The contract awarded by Vicroads was for the rehabilitation of the pavement with the predominant treatment of dig out and replace. A portion of the job was earmarked for some stabilisation to treat a reduced depth of existing pavement. There were several problems with the specified treatment including:  Length of program approximately 2 weeks  Disruption to local businesses  Aftercare hazards  Expensive Environmental Impact

Supporting data for the application Process Following the review of a pavement investigation, the design requirements were confirmed with the client – VicRoads – and an alternative pavement design was proposed. The alternative design addressed some of the deficiencies of the specified pavement design, with greater use of lime to change both the physical properties of the material and to increase the subgrade strength, and consequently, reducing the amount of excavation required and the amount of importation of new asphalt for the site. Alternative Design It was proposed that a deeper stabilised subgrade be provided throughout the limits of the work allowing the design assumptions made for the specified pavement to be altered. In doing so, the required depth of asphalt necessary to provide the strength of the original pavement design was reduced by a third.

Benefits to the community Economic Benefits of Initiative  Significant cost saving  Economic benefit of safer environment for traffic Social Benefits of Initiative  Reduced cartage requirements of new pavement material  Length of project reduced by half  Work during chaotic tourist weekends avoided  Access maintained to local shop owners at all times  Reduced impact on Victorian road network Environmentally Sustainable Benefits of Initiative  Increased amount of road pavement to be recycled  Reduced CO2 pollution  Reduce burden on precious raw materials  Reduced amount of pavement to be disposed