Located in South Brisbane, the Queensland Children’s Hospital is a single paediatric health centre that unites the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Mater Children’s Hospital. Costing $1.5 billion, it comprises 12 storeys and a multi-level basement car park and a total floor space of 80,000 m².

PSM was engaged to provide geotechnical advice regarding the impact on the Queensland Children’s Hospital of three levels of basement excavation on the adjacent Vulture Street Bus Tunnel.

Ensuring public safety and protecting the operational efficiency, functional safety, and structural integrity of the busway tunnel during basement construction was a key consideration of this project.

Following a rigorous assessment and modelling, PSM’s tailored approach included:

• Detailed analysis to predict potential movement of tunnel lining
• Monitoring of baseline data before basement construction including tunnel dilapidation survey
• Provision of a PSM engineer on call 24/7 for rapid assistance and decision making
• Real-time monitoring including vibration, tiltmeter, crack gauges, extensometers (inside tunnel) and inclinometer instruments (outside tunnel)
• Provision of detailed and timely advice to Queensland Health and the Department of Transport and Main Roads regarding the interaction between the works and the existing tunnel structure.

PSM provided investigation, design, analyses, 24-hour real-time monitoring and on-call critical decision making for safe operation of the busway. PSM also provided detailed and timely advice to Queensland Health and the Department of Transport and Main Roads regarding the interaction between the works and the existing tunnel structure. The project was successfully completed with all tunnel operator requirements met.

Services: #Geotechnical