Westkon Boosts Staff as Big Build Hits Construction Industry

 More than 50,000 jobs are expected to be created as Victoria’s Big Build rolls out major road and rail upgrades, and the impact is already being felt locally.

 Melton’s Westkon Precast Concrete has employed an additional 30 staff to keep up with the unprecedented demand for components such pre-made bridge beams for road and rail construction.

The use of pre-made concrete beams and panels helps speed up works at level crossing removal sites, minimising disruption for drivers and train commuters.

 Nearly 450 beams from Westkon have been commissioned across the M80 Upgrade, the Monash Freeway Upgrade, the South Gippsland Highway Realignment and the Mordialloc Freeway.

Over the past few weeks, 30 beams have been installed as part of the M80 Upgrade, forming brand new entry and exit ramps at Edgars Road. The beams each weigh up to 80 tonnes and measure up to 38 metres in length.

By the end of May, 140 beams will have been installed for the twin bridges over Waterways on the Mordialloc Freeway, with another 112 to come across the entire project.

112 of these beams are being installed as part of the Monash Freeway Upgrade, and 48 beams will be installed on the South Gippsland Highway Realignment.

On the Regional Rail Revival program, 36 mega beams were needed for the superstructure of the new Avon River bridge, each weighing 60 tonnes and measuring 28m long and 1.5m high.

Westkon also supplied pre-cast concrete to build platforms, stairs and walls of the new Cobblebank Station, as part of the Ballarat Line Upgrade.

Rachael Altair
Business & Industry Development Officer