‘In these unprecedented times’, the various Australian State Governments are investing billions of dollars on new infrastructure to help the country out of this Covid-19-driven recession. A great deal of this money is being spent on new motorways and tunnels such as the M4, M5, M8, WestConnex and NorthConnex tunnels and other major road projects. These tunnels are being built as part of a move to a national ITS road network. Traffic Tech, a Sydney-based ITS barrier manufacturer is contributing to the technology used in these projects. With help from their technology partner Schneider Electric, TT have supplied numerous remotely controlled, Automated Rapid Movable Barriers (ARMB) into these NSW projects and will be supplying three larger VEVA3 Automated crash barriers onto the Westgate tunnel project in Melbourne later this year.
In the case of an emergency closure or programmed maintenance, Traffic Tech’s ARMB allows for the quick and safe closing of tunnel entrance lanes, with traffic then diverted to the surface road.
The ARMB simplifies the diversion of traffic lanes and increases the safety of both workers and drivers by offering remote control and position sensing technology which minimises the need for human intervention on the road, keeping everyone safer.
Production of the 24 (3,600mm long by 600mm wide) galvanised steel barrier modules commenced in mid-2019, with this contract work won by NZ firm 3 Way Solutions. All the ARMB controllers are built at Traffic Tech’s factory in Hornsby NSW, with Schneider Electric supplying the major electronic components. The entire operation of the barrier was FAT’d before the controller left the factory.
The Control Cabinet was installed on the M5 in March 2020 and all 24 barrier modules delivered to site and installed in just one day shift soon after.
Now when ever the tunnel needs to be closed, the operators can do it from the Tunnel control centre, with just one push of a button.
