Rydal Level Crossing Upgrade (Bodan Panel)

The upgrade involved the use of a new style of system for the Country Regional Network; the Bodan Panel Level Crossing System. Bodan is a modular style panel level crossing system that transfers the traffic loads of the road by frameless concrete panels through the rail sleeper and into the ballast bed below. The panels are constructed from polymer concrete and all precast prior to coming to site. The system is put together on-site with various components coming together to form a large level crossing system. The crossing at Rydal was a single line crossing and due to the shape of the road, the panels were able to accommodate the crossing with a staggered design. The system has been used in 20 countries around the world, including Austria, Germany and Japan.

Rydal presented a short possession timeframe for the work to be completed. Therefore, to ensure the work could in fact be completed, a TWA arrangement for safe working was undertaken to extend the possession. The flexibility of the panels and the TWA meant work could be undertaken with little interruption from rail traffic. The TWA arrangement prevented long windows of time being lost to TOA style safe working arrangements. The panels allowed quicker install than a concrete in situ option and instantly provided a sturdy level crossing with no concrete dry time.

A temporary bypass road was constructed on-site to ensure local traffic could still flow through the area. This was important due to the work occurring in a small town where an alternative detour was lengthy. Due to the temporary detour road constructed on-site, this resulted in a tight area for plant and people to traverse in. Plant and people separation was carefully thought out and executed on-site to ensure safety was paramount.

The Rydal level crossing upgrade also involved a full depth track reconditioning with new sleepers, rail and ballast installed. New road approaches were installed to accommodate the lift of the crossing, including line marking. Lycopodium provided project management for the level crossing upgrade with involvement for approximately 12-months prior to the construction occurring. This began at the scoping phase and ended with onsite project management during the construction itself. The project required extensive stakeholder management, design management, procurement of all materials and sub-contractors, on-site project management, project documentation and approvals (internal and external), budget and cost management, community engagement and practical completion of the project.

Lycopodium have an ongoing relationship with JHRCRN and have been involved in the project management of numerous level crossing upgrades and other projects on the CRN. Stakeholder management and community engagement was crucial to ensure the project occurred with no disruption to the community and the high stakes of the project reflected well on the client and their role they play in small communities across regional NSW.