Projects

Booral Road Bridge and Monkerai Road Bridges (x2), Bombah Point Road Bridge and Manning Hill Road Bridges (x2). This project is a total of 6 bridges: 2x single lane T-beam bridges; 1x dual lane T-beam bridge; 2x single lane plank bridges; and 1 dual lane plank bridge.

The Alice River Rail Bridge was replaced within just 6 days. Utilising precast headstocks and the innovative Direct Fix for the rail-lines, VEC and the crew of just 8 were able to complete the project within the limited closure. This project is part of the 22 Timber Bridge Replacement, Designed and Constructed by VEC for Queensland Rail.

Rio Tinto Wharf is used to unload alumina powder, with a single point unloading powder, with a single point unloading system (grab and hopper), that requires frequent shop warping movements alongside with the wharf during unloading. A wharf upgrade and new breasting dolphin where required to increase the capacity of the wharf for larger vessels.

The Devonport 3 East wharf was subject to accidental collision by a ship, causing significant damage to the berth. the work under this contract involved removal of damaged sections and the reconstruction of the wharf to its original condition, as well as works required to repair of the wharf structure. VEC utilised our in-house structural remediation capabilities and plant to deliver an aesthetically pleasing and functional result for the client.

Outstanding client engagement by VEC’s design and onsite teams allowed this project to circumvent onsite issues. This lead to the project being delivered significantly ahead of schedule.

The Blythe River Rail Bridge Replacement is being undertaken on the Western Line as part of the $20M ‘Four North West Bridges’ rehabilitation and replacement projects contracted out by Tasmanian Railway (TasRail). The project is located 500 m south of the mouth of the Blythe River where it discharges into Bass Strait in north west Tasmania. The bridge is in an exposed location and is subject to salt laden sea breezes.

This project entails the re-routing of the existing fuel transfer line from BP’s North yard to their South yard in River Road, Burnie from above ground to underground.

The $191 million Brighton Bypass is the largest road project in Tasmania’s history. It was divided into two sections, to be delivered by two separate joint ventures for the Tasmanian Government. Having built many bridges and with significant civil construction experience, VEC was awarded the Northern Section in joint venture with Thiess.

As part of Queensland Rail's quest to replace numerous timber rail bridges on the North Coast Line between Brisbane and Townsville, Cabbage Tree Creek near Lowmead and Redbank Road Bridge near Tiaro were to be replaced with concrete rail bridges.

The long low lying Capella Creek Rail Bridge was replaced by a pre-cast concrete structure. It was part of the 22 Timber Bridge Replacement Program, Designed and Constructed by VEC for Queensland Rail.

After having completed numerous projects for Local Tasmanian Governments and having branched our business into Queenlsand, we are proud to have completed our first structures for the Banana Shire Council in the Capricorn region of Queensland.

The 22 Timber Bridge replacements are a prime example of how the VEC team are able to complete the replacement of a timber bridge with a precast bridge in the limited closure time of just 48 hours. By awarding all 22 bridges in 1 contract allowed for a design that was similar for the majority of the project - creating efficiencies for the client.

VEC’s team understands the requirements of achieving the hour by hour program targets to enable a project to keep on program, in particular during track closures..

The Isaac Regional Council engaged VEC to construct a newly designed bridge to replace the existing low lying bridge which is over-topped often each year. Just in 2017 alone Cherwell Creek flooded and the road was blocked for approximately 2 days from the deluge following Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

The Cockle Creek Bridge is located about 3km south of Catamaran on the Cockle Creek. It has the distinction of being the most southerly road bridge in Australia.

VEC has completed many bridges throughout the state of Victoria. In particular, VEC has completed a number for Colac Otway Shire Council.

This project for Queensland Rail entailed the Design and Construction for the replacement of 6 existing concrete culverts on the rail line between Colton and Benaraby, in limited closure timeframes and under electrified line.

Since 1994, VEC has been building bridge structures throughout Tasmania. There are 29 Councils in Tasmania; VEC have completed projects for almost everyone of these councils over the years. With our head office continuing to thrive in Ulverstone, the majority of works performed over the years has been in Tasmania. There are very few bridges you cross that haven’t had some form of work done to them in the past by a VEC employee! The attached project profile is just a brief overview of a few.

VEC have completed many bridges throughout the state of Victoria and Tasmania over the last few years. Below is a short summary of a selection of these bridges, including construction time and labour needed to complete the project.

Through VEC’s strategic management, the time required for the bridge closure was limited and detour impacts on local community stakeholders were minimal. The original bridge was a tight single lane timber structure. It was replaced with a safer solution, being a dual lane concrete bridge with increased line of driving sight.

Princes Wharf 3 is located in Battery Point, Hobart, Tasmania and was understood to be originally constructed in the 1930’s and housed the CSIRO research labortory on top of it.

The wharf construction comprises of over 200 concrete reinforced piles with lower and upper transverse beams supporting a concrete deck. Chloride induced corrosion of the reinforcement has caused reinforcement steel section loss within the concrete, leading to cracking and eventually spalling.

CSIRO Princes Wharf # 4 was constructed in 1963. The wharf comprises of prestressed concrete piles, cast in-situ pile caps, prestressed concrete beams and deck planks with a cast in-situ concrete deck on the top. Investigations detected some concrete corrosion and spalling and a corroded fender system on the berthing face of the wharf.

To commemorate 150 years of rail in Queensland, Queensland Rail’s heritage steam train – fondly known as “Bety” – travelled from Brisbane to Longreach from the 10th - 17th of April 2015. Bety carried almost 2000 excited passengers, with hundreds of people welcoming them into the local town stations along the way. Bety crossed over the Darr River Rail Bridge; a milestone that drove the completion of the repairs to the bridge that VEC was undergoing.

VEC have completed several projects for the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DWELP - formally Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE)) over the past several years. These diverse projects range from culvert design and construction projects, to the replacement of multiple bridges.

The Don River Rail Bridge Superstructure Replacement was undert aken on the Western Line as part of the ‘Four North West Bridges’ rehabilitation and replacement projects contracted out by Tasmanian Railway (TasRail). This project was the winner in Category 2 at the 2013 Tasmanian CCF Eart h Awards.

VEC has completed 40+ projects for the Dorset Council over the past few years. The attached project profile shows a summary of a selection of these bridges.

A truck carrying an excavator struck the East Arm Rail Bridge badly damaging it. The incident caused the closure of the East Tamar Highway and significant disruption to road and rail freight in and out of Bell Bay.

Significant and unseasonal rainfall in early June 2016 resulted in damage to the integrity of the State Road Network across Tasmania. In particular, pavement, embankment and cutting failures occurred at various locations along St Mary’s Pass on Esk main Road in Tasmania’s North East.

VEC’s experience in Design and Construct bridge projects meant design challenges were overcome, whilst managing stakeholder requirements.

The Forth River Rail Bridge Replacement is being undertaken on the Western Line as part of the $20M ‘Four North West Bridges’ rehabilitation and replacement projects contracted out by Tasmanian Railway (TasRail). The bridge is located on the Forth River and is approximately 1 km south of the river’s entrance to Bass Strait.

The Four North West Bridges rehabilitation and replacement projects was contracted out by Tasmanian Railway (TasRail). VEC Civil Engineering (VEC) designed and constructed the four structures in 2011 - 2014. These four structures have been a key milestone in VEC’s rail structure history. The Don River Rail Bridge was the winner in Category 2 at the 2013 Tasmanian CCF Earth Awards.

As the Grafton Wharf was severely dilapidated, it required demolition to make place for the construction of a new wharf and docking ramp. This project is a wharf refurbishment consisting of earthworks, concrete demolition/reinstatement and sheet piling for a boat ramp.

The Huon Highway Summerleas Road Interchange Upgrade Project is located on the Huon Highway; a key intra-regional corridor in Southern Tasmania, connecting major industry sectors such as forestry, aquaculture and agriculture to central Hobart and other destinations. The intersection has become a known crash-zone with 48 Serious crashes at this intersection over the past 10 years.

The Heritage Council of Victoria and Engineers Australia have commended the Hepburn Shire Council, and in turn VEC, for what they have achieved by being able to retain the existing bridge for the local community. The Council expressed their gratitude to the way VEC went about their work and delivered the project on time, and by making it possible to retain the heritage bridge.

A joint venture project in Tasmania has undertaken what is believed to be Australia’s longest ever simply supported single span bridge launch. VEC Civil Engineering, with joint venture partner Thiess (VTJV), launched the 70 metre long single span over the Jordan River Levee on the federally funded Brighton Bypass project in southern Tasmania.

This project involved the replacement of three timber rail bridges on Queensland Rail’s North Coast Line. With crocodile infested waters near Sheep Station Creek and a simultaneous lift using nine cranes at Killymoon Creek, the projects were unique in their own rights.

On the 6th of June 2016, Tasmania’s North West Coast was hit with devastating floods that destroyed several structures along the coast. The rail line affected between Burnie and Brighton, is the busiest in the state, carrying 65% of freight along the corridor. The Tasmanian Government estimated damages of up to $100m across the state. The floods took the lives of two people and destroyed properties, roads and structures across the entire coast. 173 buildings were affected and 52 homes damaged.

The Kindred North Motton Irrigation Scheme (KNMIS) comprised of two components, the KNMIS system of pump stations and pipelines and the Sprent holding dam. VEC was awarded the pumps stations and pipelines component of the scheme.

To reduce crashes and decrease peak period congestion at the junction of the Midland Highway southbound ramps and Kings Meadows Main Road the Department of State Growth sought to convert this junction to a roundabout.