Lachlan Shire Council (LSC) is managing required road upgrade design works to facilitate the construction and operation of a $2.4 billion nickel, cobalt and scandium mine and battery materials processing / recycling facility being developed near Condobolin in Central West region of New South Wales (NSW).
LSC required D&N to undertake a geotechnical investigation to assess subsurface conditions and the nature of existing pavement(s) (thickness and condition), to assist preliminary design of widening / upgrade works required to support additional traffic loadings associated with the planned Sunrise Mine Development.
D&N utilised pavement coring and Falling Weight Deflectometer (FWD) methods to assess suitability of some 18 km of existing pavement alignment and advise of necessary improvement/upgrade and widening works.
The site is in regional NSW with fieldworks carried out during the peak of summer. Site conditions were challenging and required careful planning to manage site conditions and workers welfare.
Access to suitable pavement construction materials in the area is generally limited, such that outside of the box thinking was required to inform cost effective upgrade works.
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