Getting their first taste of life on the Victorian Big Build, 25 students from Nossal High School visited the nearby Clyde Road Upgrade recently.
The students, who were chosen for their interest in pursuing STEM careers, took to the job site last week with aplomb.
The students quickly got into the Big Build mentality upon arrival, with the project team giving them a presentation on careers in construction – and the many pathways they could consider.
A panel discussion with various members of the project team, including an environmental adviser, civil engineer, project manager, communications adviser and traffic engineer, provided students with an opportunity to deep dive into each discipline, understand what each role is responsible for, and the study it takes to get there.
From there, the students headed out to the site where the Clyde Road Upgrade crew is placing the concrete footings for the new-look Princes Freeway bridge. A trip to the construction site is never complete without a chance to sit in the heavy equipment and see the scale of these projects up close.
The Clyde Road Upgrade has been in continuous communication with the local stakeholders including Nossal High School – with Federation University, Chisholm TAFE, Casey Hospital and St John of God Hospital receiving frequent updates on the project. This communication ensures everyone knows what is happening on the project before a shovel even hits the ground, allowing school parents, staff and patients to plan their journey around disruptions.
The Clyde Road Upgrade started foundation works to expand the bridge over the Princes Freeway early in March. To complete these works, a piling rig will drill holes up to 17 metres into the ground before filling them with reinforced concrete. These structures will create a stable base for the expanded bridge to be placed on.
