Project:
Airport Link & Northern Busway Tunnels
Location:
Brisbane, Queensland
Asset Owners:
Department of Transport and Main Roads
Client:
Thiess John Holland Joint Venture
Project Completed:
1 November 2011
Project Background
The Airport Link and Northern Busway Tunnels form one of Australia’s largest road infrastructure projects, delivering a 6.7km toll road and 3km dedicated busway connecting Brisbane’s CBD with the northern suburbs and airport precinct. The project included extensive underground works comprising 8.7km of roadheader tunnelling and 4km of twin TBM tunnels, along with caverns, ramps, cross-passages, substations, and sump pits. Given the scale and urban setting, a high-performance waterproofing system was critical to ensure long-term durability, protect surrounding ground conditions, and support ongoing tunnel operations.
The Challenge
The project required strict control of water ingress to minimise impacts on local groundwater conditions and prevent settlement in densely populated areas above the tunnel alignment. With a large and complex underground network, the waterproofing system needed to perform consistently across both mined and TBM sections, while also reducing long-term pumping and maintenance requirements over the life of the asset.
The Bluey Solution
Bluey Technologies delivered a complete BluSeal PVC Tunnel Liner System across all mined and TBM tunnel sections, designed to meet stringent project specifications and long-term performance requirements. The system incorporated both drained and tanked waterproofing profiles, supported by integrated groundwater drainage and external compartmentalisation. This approach enabled effective management of water ingress while maintaining system reliability across varying ground conditions. The waterproofing solution was designed to be compatible with both in situ concrete and shotcrete-lined tunnels, with fully tanked connections between mined and TBM sections to ensure continuity throughout the network. Bluey’s project managers and supervisors provided ongoing onsite support, ensuring the system was installed, tested, and verified in accordance with international standards and project requirements.
Client Benefits
Controlled groundwater ingress through a combined drained and tanked system, reducing hydrostatic pressure and minimising risk of settlement in surrounding ground conditions
Reduced long-term operational and maintenance demands through integrated drainage design and effective management of tunnel inflows across the network
Consistent waterproofing performance across both mined and TBM tunnel sections, ensuring continuity of the membrane system across complex interfaces and transitions
Engineered system design supported by onsite supervision and QA verification, ensuring installation aligns with international standards and project specifications