The overpass at the junction of Tiger Brennan Drive and Berrimah Road in Darwin will improve road safety, reduce traffic delays and enhance important freight transport links.

Nearly 20,000 vehicles travel on Tiger Brennan Drive each day, commuting between Darwin, Palmerston and the rural areas.

The busy intersection has been the scene of many crashes and even fatalities.

Born-and-bred Territory civil construction company Sitzler has carried out the challenging job efficiently and safely – all the while looking after the environment.

Project Director Rod Jeffrey says: “We are all very fortunate to have worked on and contributed to this vital and iconic project, which will leave an enduring legacy to the Territory. The team have worked tirelessly in complex and challenging environments and have collectively succeeded resoundingly.

“We’re in the final stages now and the project should be finished very soon.”

Sitzler has an unsurpassed reputation for supporting local business, investing in it where it matters the most.

The project created nearly 2350 full-time equivalent jobs – all of them local – and they worked more than 550,000 hours.

Forty eight apprentices and trainees worked on the overpass.

“Some started their apprenticeships on this project and have nearly finished them on it,” says Mr Jeffrey.

“That’s a great start in your working life – gaining experience and skills only afforded to projects such as
this. This experience has significant enduring value to the individual, the company and the local industry well into the future.”

More than 100 Indigenous workers were employed.

Sitzler used more than 260 subcontractors, all but 13 of them Territorian, for work ranging from concreting to engineering, from painting to landscaping.

Many were suppliers, delivering everything from cleaning materials to office equipment.

“Most of the subbies were small mum-and-dad businesses,” says Mr Jeffrey. “The only contractors we used from interstate were mainly those supplying specialist equipment that isn’t available in the Territory, such as piling.

“We’ve got a pool of trusted subbies, but we also go out to the open market. We’re willing to give local people a go. We’re always looking for good local contractors.

“All the subcontractors should be proud to put working on this project in their capabilities documents.”

Sitzler employed dozens of its own local staff and workforce, including multiple skilled operators, supervisors and engineers full time on site.

Two companies working on the final stages of the massive project are commercial landscapers ARMS and
“road furniture” firm Arjay’s, both Territory family businesses.

ARMS, which is owned by Silas Thorney and his wife Vanessa, has employed 15 workers on landscaping the overpass.

Only native seeds and plants have been used.

“It will take a couple of years for everything to grow and then it will look beautiful,” says Mr Thorney.

He started out in business on his own 11 years ago and now has a presence in Darwin and Katherine.

“We’ve had a few $1 million Defence contracts but this is our biggest job so far. It’s challenging but is taking us to the next level.”

Arjay’s has employed eight workers on erecting guardrails, fences and signage at the site.

“It’s a tough job,” says owner Corey Lambert as the temperature hits 35 degrees. “This is one of the three biggest jobs we’ve done.”

A clever system of basins and dykes ensures Tiger Brennan Drive is not flooded during the wet season by channelling water into surrounding bushland.

Traffic was inevitably disrupted during the overpass project but the impact was kept to a minimum by an efficient and safe traffic management regime, and staging the work.

The multi-million-dollar overpass project, which was funded by the Federal and Territory governments, includes:

• a grade separation that will see Berrimah Road passing over Tiger Brennan Drive
• realignment of Tiger Brennan Drive to become free flowing
• entry and exit ramps connecting Tiger Brennan Drive and Berrimah Road
• improvements to Berrimah Road for road trains
• earthworks, drainage works, pavement construction and asphalt works
• street lighting, line marking, and road safety barriers
• traffic signals on Berrimah Road only, and
• improved pedestrian and cyclist accessibility, landscaping, and urban design.

The overpass has a nice Territory touch: the artwork of two Larrakia artists based on the theme Dalay, which is the monsoon in the Indigenous calendar.

From the early days of building in the remotest parts of Australia, Sitzler is now a leading national construction specialist with a project portfolio of achievements spanning various sectors of the economy, including Defence. TQ