Construction World November 2015

CONSTRUCTION WORLD

NOVEMBER

2015

PROJECTS AND CONTRACTS

With due processes finalised, global

construction and management

consultants Turner & Townsend

have been appointed by Bombela

Concession Company as project managers to

manage this prestigious turnkey expansion

project. The duration of the construction

project is approximately 12 months with antic-

ipated completion by mid 2016.

Bombela says the expansion of the

Gautrain Station platform at the OR Tambo

International Station will allow the current

horizontal two-car system for the airport line

to be increased to at least four rail cars.

The airport platform extension works will

inevitably increase system capacity and

forms part of a medium to long term plan to

attract more users onto the Gautrain System.

Noluthando Molao, associate director of

Turner & Townsend, says construction itself

will be carried out with pre-cast elements

and with the establishment of a storage area

for materials close by, in order to minimise

activity on site. An interesting aspect of the

project is that the tower crane to be used

on site is one of the biggest in the country,

which can lift 32 tons at a radius of 27,8 m

and can pick up a maximum load of 20,6 tons

at a radius of 40 m. Initially procured for the

Medupi Power Station, the crane will be relo-

cated to the OR Tambo construction site.

“One of the key challenges of the project

is that the trains must be fully operational at

all times to ensure there is no disruption to

the Gautrain service.

Coupled with this, the construction is

being carried out at approximately

18 metres above ground level, with the

access road directly beneath the construc-

tion site needing to remain operational

as an airport entry point. What makes the

construction more challenging is that the

crane can only operate from one side of

the viaduct structure and safety will be a

key priority.

“Furthermore, the close proximity of the

City Lodge parking facility right next to the

construction site presents another challenge.

Noise and dust will be minimised

with most of the work being completed

off site and the use of acoustic boards,

while construction will only be under-

taken during specific times as agreed.

“Given the issue of cable theft, the safety

and security management systems require

that the highest security measures are in

place at all times.”

The design and construction in terms

of the project incorporates a number of

aspects which include extending the existing

roof canopy, and – with the use of precast

concrete slabs – horizontally increasing

either side of the platform as well as

extending the platform length by a total of

55 metres. In addition, the concrete parapet

wall will be extended and two fire escape

towers constructed.

Adds Molao: “Not surprisingly, the

contractor tender process had a technical

requirement for a grading of nine, which is

the highest level according to the Construc-

tion Industry Development Board. A BEE

Level 3 minimum requirement was also

stipulated and the successful contractor,

Stefanutti Stocks, will have to achieve 80% of

the scorecard for technical criteria.

Turner & Townsend has considerable

experience in rail and other major transport

programmes, having worked on a number

of projects with Intersite Asset Investments,

a subsidiary of the Passenger Rail Agency of

South Africa (PRASA).

The OR Tambo Station platform expan-

sion is one of a series of projects that Turner

& Townsend has recently been involved in

with Bombela. These include the extension

of Gautrain parkades, parking garages and

additional parking at Midrand and Rhodes-

field Gautrain Stations.

At King Shaka International Airport

in KwaZulu-Natal, Turner & Townsend

were involved as bid managers as well as

programme manager and project managers

for the pre and post contract works for this

modern ‘greenfield’ development. They also

provided procurement advice and training to

the building and civil contractor.

Globally, and with a network of 90

offices, Turner & Townsend has an extensive

track record in major projects, and more

specifically in the air sector having helped

formulate and implement the agreement for

the build of British Airways Terminal 5

at Heathrow Airport (the biggest free-

standing structure in the UK) and playing

an integral role in bringing the project in

on time and on budget.

Turner & Townsend has also been

involved in providing master planning,

procurement strategy and risk manage-

ment services for the development of the

new three-runway system at Hong Kong

International Airport and delivering cost

estimating services, scheduling and risk

management for the expansion of Abu Dhabi

International Airport.

AIRPORT GAUTRAIN STATION

expansion announced

Recently the Gauteng MEC

for Roads and Transport,

Dr Ismail Vadi, announced

that the Gautrain Station

platforms at OR Tambo

International Airport would

be expanded, enabling

passengers to embark

or disembark from a full

four-car train set, which

is currently limited to two

cars. This is subject to future

operational consideration

and implementation.