WestConnex M4 East
Innovative acoustic treatments for Sydney’s newest motorway
In July 2019, the M4 East segment of Sydney’s new WestConnex motorway opened to the public. The tunnels extend the M4 Motorway, stretching about 6.5km between Homebush and Haberfield via Concord, with 5.5km of tunnels.
This is the first underground section of WestConnex, intended to alleviate traffic delays and gridlocks on Parramatta Road.
John Holland, CPB Contractors and Samsung C&T, working together in a joint venture, successfully tendered and won the design and construct contract for the WestConnex M4 East Motorway worth approximately $3.8 billion.
Renzo Tonin & Associates played a lead role in assisting the joint venture as the lead acoustic modelling, assessment and design consultant.
We worked on the construction and operational detailed design stages, which involved noise mitigation measures like acoustic sheds and noise barriers at tunnel support sites and road noise barriers and quiet pavements for traffic noise mitigation.
Our team also advised on building treatments to minimise noise disruptions for local residents and other places in the community such as churches, hospitals, schools and childcare centres.
Our team also helped design innovative acoustic solutions for mechanical services, like tunnel jet fans and ventilation stations to extract vehicle exhaust out of tunnels. Similarly, noise and vibration services were provided throughout the construction phase.
“We looked at novel solutions that helped the client overcome obstacles, focusing on cost-effective approaches that met policy requirements,” says Michael Chung, Director at Renzo Tonin & Associates.
“Now that the project is built and operating, we will be focusing on a post-construction assessment to make sure the project continues to meet its requirements.”