Level Crossing Removal Projects – TAVAS NUORA PTY LTD

May 26, 2023May 27, 2026

January 2023 – Brunswick 8 Level Crossing

Project Overview

The project involves the proposed removal of eight level crossings along the Upfield rail line, extending from Park Street in Parkville to Albion Street in Brunswick. The scope includes the construction of a new rail bridge and the delivery of new stations, designed to integrate with and complement the recently completed Bell to Moreland level crossing removals.

Role and Responsibilities

Seconded to KBR as Technical Advisor and Civil Structures Lead, contributing to the development phase of the North West Program Alliance. Responsibilities include providing specialist technical input, overseeing civil structural considerations, and supporting design development to ensure alignment with project objectives.

Project Status

The project is currently on hold.

May 5, 2020May 27, 2026

May 2020 – Pakenham 3 Level Crossing

Seconded to KBR as Technical Advisor and Civil Structures Lead, contributing to the North West Program Alliance for the removal of three level crossings at McGregor Road, Main Street, and Racecourse Road along the Pakenham Line. My involvement spanned from development of the Target Outturn Cost (TOC) through detailed design and into the construction phase.

The project comprised the delivery of a ~2 km long elevated rail viaduct, consisting of twin U-trough structures formed by 68 spans of precast, prestressed and post-tensioned girders. Key elements included the introduction of 30 m long U-trough beams, the construction of a new premium station at Pakenham, the extension of the metropolitan rail line, and the delivery of the new East Pakenham Station underpass. The scope also incorporated approximately 5 km of architecturally treated retaining walls.To meet challenging corridor constraints and maintain continuous dual-line rail operations during construction, several innovations were implemented. These included the use of 2.7 m diameter monopile foundations and long-span (30 m) prestressed beams, enabling efficient construction while minimising disruption to the surrounding community.

August 14, 2019May 27, 2026

August 2019 – Bell to Moreland Level Crossing

The Level Crossing Removal Project at Bell, Munro and Reynard Streets in Coburg, and Moreland Road in Brunswick, involves the elimination of four level crossings through the elevation of the Upfield rail line. This will be achieved via the construction of a 68-span, 1.8 km twin viaduct comprising pre-stressed and post-tensioned U-trough structures.

The rail-over-road solution extends between Moreland and Coburg stations and is designed to deliver significant community and transport benefits. These include the creation of new activated open spaces beneath the viaduct, enhanced east–west connectivity, and upgrades to the Upfield Bike Path, including a continuous dedicated cycling corridor.

To minimise disruption to the local community, all four level crossings will be removed concurrently. The project also includes the construction of two new stations at Coburg and Moreland, while preserving and repurposing the existing heritage-listed station buildings.

A key challenge of the project is the delivery of the viaduct within a constrained and highly congested urban environment, including major construction activities undertaken during a 90-day rail occupation period, as well as staging works alongside live rail operations.

Dex Arounsavat is seconded into KBR as a Technical Advisor, serving as Structures Lead for the Additional Works Package 4 (Bell to Moreland). In this role, he is responsible for leading and delivering the structural design packages through to Issued for Construction (IFC), ensuring adherence to program and budget constraints while driving value engineering outcomes and optimising design efficiency.