ELIWANA MINE AND RAIL PROJECT

CLIENT
Fortescue Metals Group

PROJECT
Eliwana Mine and Rail Project

LOCATION
90 kilometres north west of Tom Price, Pilbara, Western Australia

STATUS
Complete

PROJECT SUMMARY

The Eliwana Mine and Rail project was delivered by NRW Contracting (formerly BGC Contracting).

 NRW Contracting (NRWC) was awarded a bulk earthworks & infrastructure contract with Fortescue Metals Group at its Eliwana Mine and Rail project located in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.

 The project is the second stage of a 143-kilometre rail line extension connecting the Eliwana mine to the existing Fortescue Hamersley Line.

The scope of works included:

    • Construction of 65 kilometres and approximately 3 million cubic metres of rail formation and pavements
    • 55 kilometres of Mine Access Road
    • Fabrication and installation of 11 kilometres of corrugated steel
      pipe culverts
    • 200,000 cubic metres of drill and blast
    • Structural components including the construction of two bridges, one a double span bridge that crosses the existing Rio Tinto main line and the second, being a six-span bridge, crosses Rio Tinto’s Silvergrass infrastructure and HV/LV roads. In addition to this there was also an arch which spans the future Karratha-Tom Price road and significant insitu floodway Reinforced Concrete Box Culverts.

The new rail and access road cross multiple existing roads, rail lines and areas of significant cultural and environmental importance. As such, interface with the various stakeholders was managed efficiently. This included early engagement and various meetings to ensure NRWC met the client’s needs during the construction process.

 This award stands testament to the company’s long-standing track record of delivering mine infrastructure projects in the Pilbara region.