GREAT OCEAN ROAD

Rockfall protection and scaling works along the Australian National Heritage listed coastal road

Project Overview

The Great Ocean Road is an Australian National Heritage listed 243-kilometre (151 mi) stretch of road along the south-eastern coast of Australia between the Victorian cities of Torquay and Allansford. Built by returned soldiers between 1919 and 1932 and dedicated to soldiers killed during World War I, the road is the world's largest war memorial. VicRoads geotechnical engineers identified an unacceptable level of rockfall risk present on the Great Ocean Road from a series of large, weathered cuttings near Lorne.

The installation of rockfall drape was proposed as a feasible solution to mitigating these risks. The high traffic flow of this critical tourism route, and the heritage listed nature of the site required construction methodology that maximised solution aesthetics and minimised disruptions to traffic

Geovert Solution

Geovert was awarded the contract by VicRoads as the Main
Contractor, based on an alternative solution involving a higher specification mesh product from both an aesthetic and structural point of view. With a team of IRATA rope access technicians, Geovert were able to successfully scale and clear the cliff faces of loose material and extensive vegetation with minimal disruption to traffic flow. Rope access technicians drilled and installed crest anchors at heights of up to 30 metres above road level. High production rates of mesh installation were achieved through the use of crane support and rope access techniques. The proven aesthetics and efficient installation of mesh on contract scope of work areas led to VicRoads extending the contract to include the installation of rockfall mesh to additional cuttings, increasing the total installation to 21,000 m2. Works were completed on program and without incident.