CCRC Minor Culvert Program

CCRC Minor Culvert Program

Location: Cassowary Coast, QLD

Client: Cassowary Coast Regional Council

Project Overview:

Stratos Civil was engaged by Cassowary Coast Regional Council to deliver a minor culvert replacement program across six sites between Tully and Innisfail, replacing aged drainage assets with a combination of reinforced concrete box culverts and reinforced concrete pipe culverts.

The works were delivered through the wet season, requiring robust traffic management, disciplined environmental controls, and careful staging to maintain access while reconstructing drainage structures and reinstating the road corridor.

Scope of Works:

• Traffic management setup (side detours / temporary sidetracks and traffic signals)

• Service location and protection

• Erosion and sediment control implementation

• Demolition and disposal of existing culvert structures

• Excavation to underside of new invert level (including dewatering as required)

• Construction of reinforced concrete base slabs

• Supply, placement and installation of new culverts, including:

• RC box culverts (from 1200x600 up to multicell 3 x 1200x900)

• RC pipe culverts (ranging 900 mm to 1200 mm diameter)

• Backfill with cement-stabilised sand and pavement reinstatement with cement-modified roadbase

• Sealing / resurfacing to match existing conditions (where required)

• Headwall construction and installation:

• Precast headwalls for single-cell culverts

• In-situ headwalls/wingwalls for multicell structures

• Scour protection works: Rip rap rock on geofabric & Grouted rock protection on batters

Challenges & Solutions:

Wet season delivery across multiple sites

High rainfall risk, variable site access, and programme exposure during construction.

Solution: Planned works around forecast weather windows, maintained dewatering readiness, and sequenced activities to protect open excavations and maintain quality outcomes.

Maintaining traffic and local access

Works occurred on active road corridors requiring continuous access management.

Solution: Implemented site-specific traffic staging using temporary sidetracks/detours and traffic signals, with clear delineation and progressive reinstatement to reduce disruption.

Environmental controls during drainage works

Elevated runoff/sediment risk during culvert excavation and reconstruction.

Solution: Installed and maintained fit-for-purpose erosion and sediment controls, managing water movement and preventing sediment migration throughout the wet season works.

Project Outcome:

Works commenced in late January 2026 with the program progressing efficiently despite wet season conditions. The team has maintained strong performance across safety, environmental compliance, traffic management, and construction quality, while delivering upgraded drainage capacity and fully reinstated road corridors.