b'2003 A signature projectLane Cove Tunnel Lane Cove Tunnel was indicative of how big had become mega. Following on from The ThiessJohn Holland joint venture the game-changing Epping to Chatswood rail link job, this tunnel project was valued is appointed to design and construct at $1.1 billion. It was the largest design and construction contract in Thiess history, the largest design and constructionrequiring twin 3.6-kilometre tunnels and 3.5 kilometres of bridge and road upgrades in project in the companys history. a very complex urban setting. It was also the companys first major road infrastructure It is also Thiess first major road BOOT (build operate own and transfer) project and represented a significant milestone. infrastructure BOOT (build operate Construction was subject to stringent conditions: management of water and air own and transfer) project. quality; noise and dust control, and other environmental factors; traffic management; community consultation; and community information programs. Challenges included working on a route that catered for around 90,000 vehicles per day and the requirement that there be no reduction in traffic lanes during peak hours. The tunnel opened to traffic on 25 March 2007, seven weeks ahead of the contract delivery date.Thiess long history in tunnelling and road building meant that it had the experience and confidence to approach such a complicated project. Roads are in the Thiess DNA, and tunnelling records have been repeatedly broken since the very first in 1959the Snowy Mountains Schemes Tooma-Tumut Tunnel, in which 526 feet was excavated in six days. Many other tunnels were built during twenty-five years on that iconic project in some of Australias harshest terrain. During the 1960s, Thiess took its expertise to New Zealand for tunnelling work on New Zealands hydro project.Numerous dam jobs during the 1960s, 70s and 80s involved a tunnelling component, but none were more high-profile than the Sydney Harbour Tunnel in 1988, Australias first immersed tube road tunnel.As part of the Lane Cove Tunnel planning process, managers set out to make the tunnel the yardstick against which future projects would be measured; everyone who came on board that project was inducted into this way of thinking and was asked to sign a contract committing to this mentality. Overall, the project was successful, despite a partial collapse. People just kicked into gear, Project Director Brendan Donohoe at the time says. It was a real example of the Thiess can-do spirit and respect for people. Asignature project indeed.81'