Hunter Expressway

The western section of the Hunter Expressway Project commenced in 2011 and involved the design and construction of approximately 26.6kms of dual carriageway highway including 26 bridges, interchanges, local access roads and associated works. Issues to be considered included construction of long span bridges over a significantly utilised and important coal rail line, mine subsidence, resource constraints, environmentally sensitive areas, and a late aboriginal heritage find that stopped work on this part of the project for over 12 months. 

MIEngineers was engaged to provide commercial support services to Roads and Maritime Services (RMS). This included provision of monthly contract program review and analysis services to ensure contractual programming obligations were met, and to assist RMS with any actual or potential program related claims. As part of our role, we also proactively looked for contract program betterments. 

The Contractor’s monthly programs utilised Primavera critical path software. There were multiple critical paths, over 2000 fully resourced activities and 10,000 links. Each month the program was assessed for compliance against contractual obligations, including a site visit to assess the accuracy of their submitted ‘as constructed’ program. A report was then issued to the client for consideration and a letter drafted for the client to send to the Contractor on any issues or potential issues for their attention. 

A significant component of program claims related to delays associated with the aboriginal heritage find. Utilising extensive programming, construction and time related claims knowledge and experience, these were assessed and determined fairly for all parties. Additionally, alternate programming solutions were provided to the Contractor to help mitigate these delays. Works also included significant reviews and reconciliation assessments before agreement was reached with the Contractor. All claims were resolved fairly and without dispute.

Through this proactive approach, value was added by providing alternate solutions and programming options for increased productivity and reduced project durations for the betterment of the project as a whole. Time related claims were fairly resolved utilising rigorous contractual requirements and programming techniques. Numerous potential claims were also averted using pre-emptive analysis.