GPS Guides Smarter, Safer Trackwork

  • Track work from 7pm, Friday, 9 June – 3am, Tuesday, 13 June
  • More than $20 million worth of maintenance

GPS technology will help keep rail track workers safe during the Australian Rail Track Corporation’s (ARTC) upcoming maintenance blitz on the Hunter Valley Railway Network.

More than $20 million worth of essential maintenance will see sections of the track shut down to ensure works can be completed promptly and safely, and navigation technology will be deployed to keep workers safe while increasing efficiency.

ARTC will undertake a range of scheduled maintenance tasks including full track reconstructions, new rail being laid, level crossing improvements, ballast cleaning, rail corridor tidy up works and signalling maintenance.

To minimise disruption to our neighbours this maintenance will be carried out as quickly as possible and earthworks will be completed with the help from GPS survey technology, said Jonathan Vandervoort Executive General Manager – Hunter Valley.

“This involves first calculating quantities and scoping out any possible problems then using GPS equipped machines to carry out onsite earthworks.

“The system allows plant operators to figure out the depth of excavation and means a surveyor does not have to be continuously around plant to assess and communicate the levels.

“The clever use of technology has allowed us to minimise the disruption to the community by completing work faster and increased safety by reducing the number of workers around mobile plant,” Mr Vandervoort said.

“We’d like to thank the community for their patience with us while this important work is delivered and we also ask motorists to take extra care and be cautious of trucks entering and exiting work sites,” Mr Vandervoort said.

Works will take place:

    • From Islington to Telarah and from Port Waratah and Kooragang to Maitland (7pm, Friday, June 9 – 3am, Tuesday, June 13)
    • From Maitland to Muswellbrook (10am, Saturday, June 10 – 3am, Tuesday, June 13 (note. this is a correction to original release)
  • From Muswellbrook to Ulan (3pm, Saturday, June 10 – 8pm Monday, June 12)
  • From Muswellbrook to Narrabri (6am, Saturday, June 10 – 8pm, Monday, June 12)

ENDS

Note to editors. There are road closures during this shutdown, please see below for details.

Media Contact: Bas Bolyn, ARTC, 0477 340 658

Road closures

    • Scone – Turanville Road Level Crossing – Closed 11am – 4:30pm, Monday, 12 June
    • Quirindi – Nowland Street Level Crossing – Closed 4am, Saturday, 10 June – 4pm Tuesday, 13 June (please note there will be truck movements from Nowland Street to Bells Gate Road)
    • Farley – Wollombi Road Clsoure – Closed 6am, Friday, 9 June – 6pm, Wednesday, 14 June (detours via Sawyers Gully Road, Kurri Kurri and Old North Road, Lochinvar) (note correction)
  • Bylong Valley Way, Sandy Hollow – Delays 4:30pm, Sunday 11 June to 12:30am Monday, 12 June

Please plan ahead for the disruptions these closures may cause and try avoid these areas around the proposed works periods to avoid inconvenience.

 

 

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