Location

Gold Coast, Queensland

Client

Department of Transport and Main Roads

Sector

Transport

Roads

Duration

2014 – 2015

Contract value

$50 – 75 million

Back to projects

Smith Street / Olsen Avenue Interchange

Fast facts

7,700 m2

of native eucalyptus trees saved through innovative design

100,000 no.

motorists, pedestrians and cyclists through the site daily

4 months

ahead of schedule

95 %

local industry participation

70,000 t

of asphalt

30,000 m2

foamed bitumen stabilised base (FBSB) pavement

About

The Smith Street and Olsen Avenue Interchange Upgrade project is the third phase, of a series of staged road upgrades and improvements, to provide access to the Gold Coast University Hospital, cater for expansion of the Griffith University campus and service the Gold Coast’s first light rail public transport system.

The GC Connect Joint Venture, a design and construct joint venture between Seymour Whyte and Parsons Brinckerhoff, is unique. Both constructor and designer will share the risks and opportunities presented by the project, allowing for a greater focus on collaboration and delivery through the design and construction phases.

The project comprises of an upgraded interchange including the introduction of a free-flowing loop on-ramp, new off-ramps, provisioning of cycle lanes to Olsen Avenue and a new signalised intersection for the Commonwealth Games Village site, an additional auxiliary lane to the Smith Street Motorway over a length of 2 km, and the widening of both the Smith Street Motorway and Olsen Avenue from four to six lanes.

“During both the design and construction phases, I was impressed with GC Connect JV’s personnel and their ability to deliver the project safely, with transparency and ahead of time. The JV team exceeded my expectations for project delivery and contract management, using honesty and openness as the foundation for project management.”