1. Upgrades underway at Sydney Harbour wharves (Australia)
BESIX Watpac is currently working on upgrading marine infrastructure assets at Double Bay and Taronga Zoo as part of the Transport for NSW Wharf Upgrade Program in Sydney Harbour.
The Taronga Zoo Wharf upgrade, recently completed, included a new covered accessway ramp, repairs to the existing jetty, and accessible design features to improve access to the popular tourist attraction and support the zoo's conservation and education efforts.
Work at Double Bay is expected to be finished by the end of the year. It involves demolishing existing timber structures, tidal steps, and piles, as well as installing new steel piles for improved longevity and safety. Additionally, a new gangway and floating pontoon will be installed to enhance the overall functionality and convenience of the wharf.
2. Olympic progress in Paris (France)
While the Paris Olympic Games are still 9 months away, impressive progress has been made at the Saint Denis Pleyel station project site. The weekly advancements are remarkable, and we're starting to see the final result take shape. Last week, scaffolding started to be removed from the facade, gradually revealing the stunning design by renowned architect Kengo Kuma. As you can see in the background, Montmartre adds to the picturesque view!
3. Dubai Waste to Energy plant fully operational (UAE)
In October, we successfully tested the fifth and final incineration line at Dubai Waste to Energy plant. Municipal waste deliveries continue non-stop with an average daily delivery of 3,400 tons. We're nearing completion of the main building as we install the last few facade panels and ventilation fans on the roof. Our team is preparing for the final building inspections by the Client Dubai Municipality, leading to the overall facility's certification.
4. Milestone reached in Valfabbrica tunnels project (Italy)
A significant milestone has been achieved in our project in Italy. For the first time since the start of the project, we have made progress of over 100 meters on all fronts of both tunnels in Valfabbrica! Next big thing on the agenda: the launch of the steel bridge later this month - stay tuned!
As a reminder, we are doubling the state road 318 over a distance of 3.1 kilometers on behalf of the Italian Highway Authority ANAS. This includes the Picchiarella and Casa Castalda tunnels, which measure 874 meters and 1,545 meters respectively, as well as a bridge and a viaduct.
And then this... Celebrating progress at Doel (Belgium)
Here's a photo of some colleagues enjoying lunch together. However, it's not just an ordinary lunch break picture! Due to restrictions, no photos are allowed on the project site of the Spent Fuel Storage Facility at the Doel nuclear power plant - so we had to make do with just this picture to tell you the following...
The client recently organised a festive lunch to express gratitude to our team for their incredible progress over the past months. During this event, the client expressed deep satisfaction with both quality and safety standards achieved so far. Interestingly, they even requested our team to slow down production a bit! Currently, our team is working on ten (10!) work fronts simultaneously - more than originally planned. One contributing factor to this success is the advanced application of LEAN principles, but that's a story for another day!
