Roads ACT engineers will assess a section of Eastern Valley Way and nearby footpaths on Thursday, after the Belconnen road was closed due to concerns about the stability of excavations at an adjacent construction site.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Two sections of the $80 million Linq Apartments construction site near the corner of College Street were closed after Engineers Australia raised the potential for a serious collapse in the two-storey dirt excavation area after a soil collapse last week.
WorkSafe ACT had already stopped work on the site, despite the collapse occurring on an internal section of the five-metre excavation pit, away from the road.
Construction, Forestry, Mining, Energy Union ACT representatives made several complaints to WorkSafe in recent weeks and a protest at the site saw work halted, with Australian Federal Police called to remove 25 protesters.
No arrests were made.
Concerns that the excavation work's ''zone of influence'' extended under the busy roadway led to immediate action to cease traffic access.
On Wednesday, Creative Building Services director John Katsanevakis hit back at claims he said were ''mischievous and just plain wrong'', including that workers had been put at risk. He said some unnecessary visits to the site by union representatives had slowed progress on the project.
''Three engineers have confirmed the integrity of the site and construction processes,'' he said.
''The facts surrounding events of the past few days seem to have been lost amid sensational claims by parties with vested interests.''
Mr Katsanevakis said a WorkSafe ACT prohibition notice on crane work at the site had been lifted on Wednesday and he was optimistic a further prohibition would be resolved on Thursday.
He said the excavation works were 800mm inside the required depth and there was no safety risk to workers, road users or pedestrians.
An independent report by civil engineering firm Coffey Group made eight recommendations for the site including a ban on work inside the excavation during or following heavy rainfall.
Mr Katsanevakis said the company took the safety of its workers extremely seriously and would await further instructions from WorkSafe ACT.
''We are awaiting advice from the commissioner as to the process following contact with him by an engineer …'' he said.
A Territory and Municipal Services spokeswoman said road closures and detours in the area were precautionary measures and would remain in place until further notice.
Northbound traffic is being diverted via Chandler Street.
